diff --git a/.github/workflows/stale_bot.yml b/.github/workflows/stale_bot.yml
index f87d561db9..49e3473e63 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/stale_bot.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/stale_bot.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ name: Close stale issues and PRs # https://github.com/actions/stale
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
   schedule:
-    - cron: '*/30 * * * *' # Every 30 mins
+    - cron: "*/30 * * * *" # Every 30 mins
 
 jobs:
   stale:
@@ -10,20 +10,37 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/stale@v8
         with:
-          # stale rules
-          days-before-stale: 60
+          operations-per-run: 1
+          # stale rules for PRs
           days-before-pr-stale: 7
           stale-issue-label: stale
-          stale-issue-message: "This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any activity for 60 days."
-
-          # close rules
-          # days after being marked as stale to close
-          days-before-close: 30
-          close-issue-label: closed-stale
-          close-issue-message: This issue has been automatically closed it has not had any activity in 90 days."
-          days-before-pr-close: 7
-
-          # exemptions
           exempt-pr-labels: pinned,security,roadmap
 
+          days-before-pr-close: 7
 
+      - uses: actions/stale@v8
+        with:
+          operations-per-run: 3
+          # stale rules for high priority bugs
+          days-before-stale: 30
+          only-issue-labels: bug,High priority
+          stale-issue-label: warn
+
+      - uses: actions/stale@v8
+        with:
+          operations-per-run: 3
+          # stale rules for medium priority bugs
+          days-before-stale: 90
+          only-issue-labels: bug,Medium priority
+          stale-issue-label: warn
+
+      - uses: actions/stale@v8
+        with:
+          operations-per-run: 3
+          # stale rules for all bugs
+          days-before-stale: 180
+          stale-issue-label: stale
+          only-issue-labels: bug
+          stale-issue-message: "This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any activity for six months."
+
+          days-before-close: 30
diff --git a/lerna.json b/lerna.json
index 51c702a2f6..0dd6abdc46 100644
--- a/lerna.json
+++ b/lerna.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "version": "2.11.31",
+  "version": "2.11.34",
   "npmClient": "yarn",
   "packages": [
     "packages/*"
diff --git a/packages/backend-core/src/users/users.ts b/packages/backend-core/src/users/users.ts
index a7e1389920..b087a6b538 100644
--- a/packages/backend-core/src/users/users.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-core/src/users/users.ts
@@ -14,13 +14,14 @@ import {
 } from "../db"
 import {
   BulkDocsResponse,
+  ContextUser,
+  SearchQuery,
+  SearchQueryOperators,
   SearchUsersRequest,
   User,
-  ContextUser,
 } from "@budibase/types"
-import { getGlobalDB } from "../context"
 import * as context from "../context"
-import { user as userCache } from "../cache"
+import { getGlobalDB } from "../context"
 
 type GetOpts = { cleanup?: boolean }
 
@@ -39,6 +40,31 @@ function removeUserPassword(users: User | User[]) {
   return users
 }
 
+export const isSupportedUserSearch = (query: SearchQuery) => {
+  const allowed = [
+    { op: SearchQueryOperators.STRING, key: "email" },
+    { op: SearchQueryOperators.EQUAL, key: "_id" },
+  ]
+  for (let [key, operation] of Object.entries(query)) {
+    if (typeof operation !== "object") {
+      return false
+    }
+    const fields = Object.keys(operation || {})
+    // this filter doesn't contain options - ignore
+    if (fields.length === 0) {
+      continue
+    }
+    const allowedOperation = allowed.find(
+      allow =>
+        allow.op === key && fields.length === 1 && fields[0] === allow.key
+    )
+    if (!allowedOperation) {
+      return false
+    }
+  }
+  return true
+}
+
 export const bulkGetGlobalUsersById = async (
   userIds: string[],
   opts?: GetOpts
@@ -211,8 +237,8 @@ export const searchGlobalUsersByEmail = async (
 
 const PAGE_LIMIT = 8
 export const paginatedUsers = async ({
-  page,
-  email,
+  bookmark,
+  query,
   appId,
 }: SearchUsersRequest = {}) => {
   const db = getGlobalDB()
@@ -222,18 +248,20 @@ export const paginatedUsers = async ({
     limit: PAGE_LIMIT + 1,
   }
   // add a startkey if the page was specified (anchor)
-  if (page) {
-    opts.startkey = page
+  if (bookmark) {
+    opts.startkey = bookmark
   }
   // property specifies what to use for the page/anchor
   let userList: User[],
     property = "_id",
     getKey
-  if (appId) {
+  if (query?.equal?._id) {
+    userList = [await getById(query.equal._id)]
+  } else if (appId) {
     userList = await searchGlobalUsersByApp(appId, opts)
     getKey = (doc: any) => getGlobalUserByAppPage(appId, doc)
-  } else if (email) {
-    userList = await searchGlobalUsersByEmail(email, opts)
+  } else if (query?.string?.email) {
+    userList = await searchGlobalUsersByEmail(query?.string?.email, opts)
     property = "email"
   } else {
     // no search, query allDocs
diff --git a/packages/builder/src/pages/builder/portal/account/auditLogs/index.svelte b/packages/builder/src/pages/builder/portal/account/auditLogs/index.svelte
index a6dba59196..a5b0b19c9b 100644
--- a/packages/builder/src/pages/builder/portal/account/auditLogs/index.svelte
+++ b/packages/builder/src/pages/builder/portal/account/auditLogs/index.svelte
@@ -123,7 +123,10 @@
     prevUserSearch = search
     try {
       userPageInfo.loading()
-      await users.search({ userPage, email: search })
+      await users.search({
+        bookmark: userPage,
+        query: { string: { email: search } },
+      })
       userPageInfo.fetched($users.hasNextPage, $users.nextPage)
     } catch (error) {
       notifications.error("Error getting user list")
diff --git a/packages/builder/src/pages/builder/portal/users/groups/_components/EditUserPicker.svelte b/packages/builder/src/pages/builder/portal/users/groups/_components/EditUserPicker.svelte
index da4b12f7f9..cc524f1acf 100644
--- a/packages/builder/src/pages/builder/portal/users/groups/_components/EditUserPicker.svelte
+++ b/packages/builder/src/pages/builder/portal/users/groups/_components/EditUserPicker.svelte
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@
     prevSearch = search
     try {
       pageInfo.loading()
-      await users.search({ page, email: search })
+      await users.search({
+        bookmark: page,
+        query: { string: { email: search } },
+      })
       pageInfo.fetched($users.hasNextPage, $users.nextPage)
     } catch (error) {
       notifications.error("Error getting user list")
diff --git a/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/RelationshipField.svelte b/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/RelationshipField.svelte
index 52faf46615..544a1a8434 100644
--- a/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/RelationshipField.svelte
+++ b/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/RelationshipField.svelte
@@ -105,19 +105,25 @@
     }
   }
 
-  $: fetchRows(searchTerm, primaryDisplay)
+  $: fetchRows(searchTerm, primaryDisplay, defaultValue)
 
-  const fetchRows = (searchTerm, primaryDisplay) => {
+  const fetchRows = async (searchTerm, primaryDisplay, defaultVal) => {
     const allRowsFetched =
       $fetch.loaded &&
       !Object.keys($fetch.query?.string || {}).length &&
       !$fetch.hasNextPage
-    // Don't request until we have the primary display
-    if (!allRowsFetched && primaryDisplay) {
-      fetch.update({
-        query: { string: { [primaryDisplay]: searchTerm } },
+    // Don't request until we have the primary display or default value has been fetched
+    if (allRowsFetched || !primaryDisplay) {
+      return
+    }
+    if (defaultVal && !optionsObj[defaultVal]) {
+      await fetch.update({
+        query: { equal: { _id: defaultVal } },
       })
     }
+    await fetch.update({
+      query: { string: { [primaryDisplay]: searchTerm } },
+    })
   }
 
   const flatten = values => {
diff --git a/packages/frontend-core/src/api/user.js b/packages/frontend-core/src/api/user.js
index 6c616d7baf..95c2167721 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-core/src/api/user.js
+++ b/packages/frontend-core/src/api/user.js
@@ -10,24 +10,28 @@ export const buildUserEndpoints = API => ({
 
   /**
    * Gets a list of users in the current tenant.
-   * @param {string} page The page to retrieve
-   * @param {string} search The starts with string to search username/email by.
+   * @param {string} bookmark The page to retrieve
+   * @param {object} query search filters for lookup by user (all operators not supported).
    * @param {string} appId Facilitate app/role based user searching
-   * @param {boolean} paginated Allow the disabling of pagination
+   * @param {boolean} paginate Allow the disabling of pagination
+   * @param {number} limit How many users to retrieve in a single search
    */
-  searchUsers: async ({ paginated, page, email, appId } = {}) => {
+  searchUsers: async ({ paginate, bookmark, query, appId, limit } = {}) => {
     const opts = {}
-    if (page) {
-      opts.page = page
+    if (bookmark) {
+      opts.bookmark = bookmark
     }
-    if (email) {
-      opts.email = email
+    if (query) {
+      opts.query = query
     }
     if (appId) {
       opts.appId = appId
     }
-    if (typeof paginated === "boolean") {
-      opts.paginated = paginated
+    if (typeof paginate === "boolean") {
+      opts.paginate = paginate
+    }
+    if (limit) {
+      opts.limit = limit
     }
     return await API.post({
       url: `/api/global/users/search`,
diff --git a/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/cells/BBReferenceCell.svelte b/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/cells/BBReferenceCell.svelte
index 4e76c264a1..48b1279346 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/cells/BBReferenceCell.svelte
+++ b/packages/frontend-core/src/components/grid/cells/BBReferenceCell.svelte
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
     const email = Object.values(searchParams.query.string)[0]
 
     const results = await API.searchUsers({
-      email,
+      query: { string: { email } },
     })
 
     // Mapping to the expected data within RelationshipCell
diff --git a/packages/frontend-core/src/fetch/UserFetch.js b/packages/frontend-core/src/fetch/UserFetch.js
index 5372d0ec33..b1478c3a6d 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-core/src/fetch/UserFetch.js
+++ b/packages/frontend-core/src/fetch/UserFetch.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { get } from "svelte/store"
 import DataFetch from "./DataFetch.js"
 import { TableNames } from "../constants"
+import { LuceneUtils } from "../utils"
 
 export default class UserFetch extends DataFetch {
   constructor(opts) {
@@ -27,16 +28,25 @@ export default class UserFetch extends DataFetch {
   }
 
   async getData() {
+    const { limit, paginate } = this.options
     const { cursor, query } = get(this.store)
+    let finalQuery
+    // convert old format to new one - we now allow use of the lucene format
+    const { appId, paginated, ...rest } = query
+    if (!LuceneUtils.hasFilters(query) && rest.email) {
+      finalQuery = { string: { email: rest.email } }
+    } else {
+      finalQuery = rest
+    }
     try {
-      // "query" normally contains a lucene query, but users uses a non-standard
-      // search endpoint so we use query uniquely here
-      const res = await this.API.searchUsers({
-        page: cursor,
-        email: query.email,
-        appId: query.appId,
-        paginated: query.paginated,
-      })
+      const opts = {
+        bookmark: cursor,
+        query: finalQuery,
+        appId: appId,
+        paginate: paginated || paginate,
+        limit,
+      }
+      const res = await this.API.searchUsers(opts)
       return {
         rows: res?.data || [],
         hasNextPage: res?.hasNextPage || false,
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/row.spec.ts b/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/row.spec.ts
index 0a80253210..4c2e7a7494 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/row.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/row.spec.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
   RelationshipType,
   Row,
   SaveTableRequest,
+  SearchQueryOperators,
   SortOrder,
   SortType,
   StaticQuotaName,
@@ -1141,7 +1142,9 @@ describe.each([
         )
 
         const createViewResponse = await config.createView({
-          query: [{ operator: "equal", field: "age", value: 40 }],
+          query: [
+            { operator: SearchQueryOperators.EQUAL, field: "age", value: 40 },
+          ],
           schema: viewSchema,
         })
 
diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/viewV2.spec.ts b/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/viewV2.spec.ts
index 6d893c1c7f..40060aef48 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/viewV2.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/routes/tests/viewV2.spec.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import {
   CreateViewRequest,
   FieldSchema,
   FieldType,
+  SearchQueryOperators,
   SortOrder,
   SortType,
   Table,
@@ -89,7 +90,13 @@ describe.each([
         name: generator.name(),
         tableId: table._id!,
         primaryDisplay: generator.word(),
-        query: [{ operator: "equal", field: "field", value: "value" }],
+        query: [
+          {
+            operator: SearchQueryOperators.EQUAL,
+            field: "field",
+            value: "value",
+          },
+        ],
         sort: {
           field: "fieldToSort",
           order: SortOrder.DESCENDING,
@@ -184,7 +191,13 @@ describe.each([
       const tableId = table._id!
       await config.api.viewV2.update({
         ...view,
-        query: [{ operator: "equal", field: "newField", value: "thatValue" }],
+        query: [
+          {
+            operator: SearchQueryOperators.EQUAL,
+            field: "newField",
+            value: "thatValue",
+          },
+        ],
       })
 
       expect((await config.api.table.get(tableId)).views).toEqual({
@@ -207,7 +220,7 @@ describe.each([
         primaryDisplay: generator.word(),
         query: [
           {
-            operator: "equal",
+            operator: SearchQueryOperators.EQUAL,
             field: generator.word(),
             value: generator.word(),
           },
@@ -279,7 +292,13 @@ describe.each([
         {
           ...view,
           tableId: generator.guid(),
-          query: [{ operator: "equal", field: "newField", value: "thatValue" }],
+          query: [
+            {
+              operator: SearchQueryOperators.EQUAL,
+              field: "newField",
+              value: "thatValue",
+            },
+          ],
         },
         { expectStatus: 404 }
       )
diff --git a/packages/server/src/integration-test/postgres.spec.ts b/packages/server/src/integration-test/postgres.spec.ts
index bcd1c14389..84c19f8bbc 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/integration-test/postgres.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/integration-test/postgres.spec.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ describe("postgres integrations", () => {
     )
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    await databaseTestProviders.postgres.stopContainer()
+  })
+
   beforeEach(async () => {
     async function createAuxTable(prefix: string) {
       return await config.createTable({
diff --git a/packages/server/src/integrations/tests/utils/postgres.ts b/packages/server/src/integrations/tests/utils/postgres.ts
index 036e81bbd8..b749551721 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/integrations/tests/utils/postgres.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/integrations/tests/utils/postgres.ts
@@ -36,3 +36,10 @@ export async function getDsConfig(): Promise<Datasource> {
     },
   }
 }
+
+export async function stopContainer() {
+  if (container) {
+    await container.stop()
+    container = undefined
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/shared-core/src/filters.ts b/packages/shared-core/src/filters.ts
index ab43e86279..1839a53525 100644
--- a/packages/shared-core/src/filters.ts
+++ b/packages/shared-core/src/filters.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 import {
   Datasource,
+  FieldSubtype,
   FieldType,
-  SortDirection,
-  SortType,
   SearchFilter,
   SearchQuery,
   SearchQueryFields,
-  FieldSubtype,
+  SearchQueryOperators,
+  SortDirection,
+  SortType,
 } from "@budibase/types"
 import { OperatorOptions, SqlNumberTypeRangeMap } from "./constants"
 import { deepGet } from "./helpers"
@@ -273,22 +274,30 @@ export const runLuceneQuery = (docs: any[], query?: SearchQuery) => {
     }
 
   // Process a string match (fails if the value does not start with the string)
-  const stringMatch = match("string", (docValue: string, testValue: string) => {
-    return (
-      !docValue || !docValue?.toLowerCase().startsWith(testValue?.toLowerCase())
-    )
-  })
+  const stringMatch = match(
+    SearchQueryOperators.STRING,
+    (docValue: string, testValue: string) => {
+      return (
+        !docValue ||
+        !docValue?.toLowerCase().startsWith(testValue?.toLowerCase())
+      )
+    }
+  )
 
   // Process a fuzzy match (treat the same as starts with when running locally)
-  const fuzzyMatch = match("fuzzy", (docValue: string, testValue: string) => {
-    return (
-      !docValue || !docValue?.toLowerCase().startsWith(testValue?.toLowerCase())
-    )
-  })
+  const fuzzyMatch = match(
+    SearchQueryOperators.FUZZY,
+    (docValue: string, testValue: string) => {
+      return (
+        !docValue ||
+        !docValue?.toLowerCase().startsWith(testValue?.toLowerCase())
+      )
+    }
+  )
 
   // Process a range match
   const rangeMatch = match(
-    "range",
+    SearchQueryOperators.RANGE,
     (
       docValue: string | number | null,
       testValue: { low: number; high: number }
@@ -304,7 +313,7 @@ export const runLuceneQuery = (docs: any[], query?: SearchQuery) => {
 
   // Process an equal match (fails if the value is different)
   const equalMatch = match(
-    "equal",
+    SearchQueryOperators.EQUAL,
     (docValue: any, testValue: string | null) => {
       return testValue != null && testValue !== "" && docValue !== testValue
     }
@@ -312,46 +321,58 @@ export const runLuceneQuery = (docs: any[], query?: SearchQuery) => {
 
   // Process a not-equal match (fails if the value is the same)
   const notEqualMatch = match(
-    "notEqual",
+    SearchQueryOperators.NOT_EQUAL,
     (docValue: any, testValue: string | null) => {
       return testValue != null && testValue !== "" && docValue === testValue
     }
   )
 
   // Process an empty match (fails if the value is not empty)
-  const emptyMatch = match("empty", (docValue: string | null) => {
-    return docValue != null && docValue !== ""
-  })
+  const emptyMatch = match(
+    SearchQueryOperators.EMPTY,
+    (docValue: string | null) => {
+      return docValue != null && docValue !== ""
+    }
+  )
 
   // Process a not-empty match (fails is the value is empty)
-  const notEmptyMatch = match("notEmpty", (docValue: string | null) => {
-    return docValue == null || docValue === ""
-  })
+  const notEmptyMatch = match(
+    SearchQueryOperators.NOT_EMPTY,
+    (docValue: string | null) => {
+      return docValue == null || docValue === ""
+    }
+  )
 
   // Process an includes match (fails if the value is not included)
-  const oneOf = match("oneOf", (docValue: any, testValue: any) => {
-    if (typeof testValue === "string") {
-      testValue = testValue.split(",")
-      if (typeof docValue === "number") {
-        testValue = testValue.map((item: string) => parseFloat(item))
+  const oneOf = match(
+    SearchQueryOperators.ONE_OF,
+    (docValue: any, testValue: any) => {
+      if (typeof testValue === "string") {
+        testValue = testValue.split(",")
+        if (typeof docValue === "number") {
+          testValue = testValue.map((item: string) => parseFloat(item))
+        }
       }
+      return !testValue?.includes(docValue)
     }
-    return !testValue?.includes(docValue)
-  })
+  )
 
-  const containsAny = match("containsAny", (docValue: any, testValue: any) => {
-    return !docValue?.includes(...testValue)
-  })
+  const containsAny = match(
+    SearchQueryOperators.CONTAINS_ANY,
+    (docValue: any, testValue: any) => {
+      return !docValue?.includes(...testValue)
+    }
+  )
 
   const contains = match(
-    "contains",
+    SearchQueryOperators.CONTAINS,
     (docValue: string | any[], testValue: any[]) => {
       return !testValue?.every((item: any) => docValue?.includes(item))
     }
   )
 
   const notContains = match(
-    "notContains",
+    SearchQueryOperators.NOT_CONTAINS,
     (docValue: string | any[], testValue: any[]) => {
       return testValue?.every((item: any) => docValue?.includes(item))
     }
@@ -433,7 +454,7 @@ export const hasFilters = (query?: SearchQuery) => {
     if (skipped.includes(key) || typeof value !== "object") {
       continue
     }
-    if (Object.keys(value).length !== 0) {
+    if (Object.keys(value || {}).length !== 0) {
       return true
     }
   }
diff --git a/packages/types/src/api/web/searchFilter.ts b/packages/types/src/api/web/searchFilter.ts
index 6980bc117b..ac3c446e36 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/api/web/searchFilter.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/api/web/searchFilter.ts
@@ -10,43 +10,57 @@ export type SearchFilter = {
   externalType?: string
 }
 
+export enum SearchQueryOperators {
+  STRING = "string",
+  FUZZY = "fuzzy",
+  RANGE = "range",
+  EQUAL = "equal",
+  NOT_EQUAL = "notEqual",
+  EMPTY = "empty",
+  NOT_EMPTY = "notEmpty",
+  ONE_OF = "oneOf",
+  CONTAINS = "contains",
+  NOT_CONTAINS = "notContains",
+  CONTAINS_ANY = "containsAny",
+}
+
 export type SearchQuery = {
   allOr?: boolean
   onEmptyFilter?: EmptyFilterOption
-  string?: {
+  [SearchQueryOperators.STRING]?: {
     [key: string]: string
   }
-  fuzzy?: {
+  [SearchQueryOperators.FUZZY]?: {
     [key: string]: string
   }
-  range?: {
+  [SearchQueryOperators.RANGE]?: {
     [key: string]: {
       high: number | string
       low: number | string
     }
   }
-  equal?: {
+  [SearchQueryOperators.EQUAL]?: {
     [key: string]: any
   }
-  notEqual?: {
+  [SearchQueryOperators.NOT_EQUAL]?: {
     [key: string]: any
   }
-  empty?: {
+  [SearchQueryOperators.EMPTY]?: {
     [key: string]: any
   }
-  notEmpty?: {
+  [SearchQueryOperators.NOT_EMPTY]?: {
     [key: string]: any
   }
-  oneOf?: {
+  [SearchQueryOperators.ONE_OF]?: {
     [key: string]: any[]
   }
-  contains?: {
+  [SearchQueryOperators.CONTAINS]?: {
     [key: string]: any[]
   }
-  notContains?: {
+  [SearchQueryOperators.NOT_CONTAINS]?: {
     [key: string]: any[]
   }
-  containsAny?: {
+  [SearchQueryOperators.CONTAINS_ANY]?: {
     [key: string]: any[]
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/types/src/api/web/user.ts b/packages/types/src/api/web/user.ts
index 85e2d89ad1..a1e039cfd7 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/api/web/user.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/api/web/user.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { User } from "../../documents"
+import { SearchQuery } from "./searchFilter"
 
 export interface SaveUserResponse {
   _id: string
@@ -51,10 +52,10 @@ export interface InviteUsersResponse {
 }
 
 export interface SearchUsersRequest {
-  page?: string
-  email?: string
+  bookmark?: string
+  query?: SearchQuery
   appId?: string
-  paginated?: boolean
+  paginate?: boolean
 }
 
 export interface CreateAdminUserRequest {
diff --git a/packages/worker/src/api/controllers/global/users.ts b/packages/worker/src/api/controllers/global/users.ts
index 822a16d33e..8de3a1444e 100644
--- a/packages/worker/src/api/controllers/global/users.ts
+++ b/packages/worker/src/api/controllers/global/users.ts
@@ -197,7 +197,12 @@ export const getAppUsers = async (ctx: Ctx<SearchUsersRequest>) => {
 export const search = async (ctx: Ctx<SearchUsersRequest>) => {
   const body = ctx.request.body
 
-  if (body.paginated === false) {
+  // TODO: for now only one supported search key, string.email
+  if (body?.query && !userSdk.core.isSupportedUserSearch(body.query)) {
+    ctx.throw(501, "Can only search by string.email or equal._id")
+  }
+
+  if (body.paginate === false) {
     await getAppUsers(ctx)
   } else {
     const paginated = await userSdk.core.paginatedUsers(body)
diff --git a/packages/worker/src/api/routes/global/tests/users.spec.ts b/packages/worker/src/api/routes/global/tests/users.spec.ts
index e4504eccfe..a446d10ed0 100644
--- a/packages/worker/src/api/routes/global/tests/users.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/worker/src/api/routes/global/tests/users.spec.ts
@@ -544,6 +544,36 @@ describe("/api/global/users", () => {
     })
   })
 
+  describe("POST /api/global/users/search", () => {
+    it("should be able to search by email", async () => {
+      const user = await config.createUser()
+      const response = await config.api.users.searchUsers({
+        query: { string: { email: user.email } },
+      })
+      expect(response.body.data.length).toBe(1)
+      expect(response.body.data[0].email).toBe(user.email)
+    })
+
+    it("should be able to search by _id", async () => {
+      const user = await config.createUser()
+      const response = await config.api.users.searchUsers({
+        query: { equal: { _id: user._id } },
+      })
+      expect(response.body.data.length).toBe(1)
+      expect(response.body.data[0]._id).toBe(user._id)
+    })
+
+    it("should throw an error when unimplemented options used", async () => {
+      const user = await config.createUser()
+      await config.api.users.searchUsers(
+        {
+          query: { equal: { firstName: user.firstName } },
+        },
+        501
+      )
+    })
+  })
+
   describe("DELETE /api/global/users/:userId", () => {
     it("should be able to destroy a basic user", async () => {
       const user = await config.createUser()
diff --git a/packages/worker/src/tests/api/users.ts b/packages/worker/src/tests/api/users.ts
index e96209eca6..b2a19bcb28 100644
--- a/packages/worker/src/tests/api/users.ts
+++ b/packages/worker/src/tests/api/users.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import {
   InviteUsersRequest,
   User,
   CreateAdminUserRequest,
+  SearchQuery,
 } from "@budibase/types"
 import structures from "../structures"
 import { generator } from "@budibase/backend-core/tests"
@@ -133,6 +134,15 @@ export class UserAPI extends TestAPI {
       .expect(status ? status : 200)
   }
 
+  searchUsers = ({ query }: { query?: SearchQuery }, status = 200) => {
+    return this.request
+      .post("/api/global/users/search")
+      .set(this.config.defaultHeaders())
+      .send({ query })
+      .expect("Content-Type", /json/)
+      .expect(status ? status : 200)
+  }
+
   getUser = (userId: string, opts?: TestAPIOpts) => {
     return this.request
       .get(`/api/global/users/${userId}`)
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index a6aa9b7d30..d8515e0c42 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -21862,7 +21862,7 @@ vlq@^0.2.2:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/vlq/-/vlq-0.2.3.tgz#8f3e4328cf63b1540c0d67e1b2778386f8975b26"
   integrity sha512-DRibZL6DsNhIgYQ+wNdWDL2SL3bKPlVrRiBqV5yuMm++op8W4kGFtaQfCs4KEJn0wBZcHVHJ3eoywX8983k1ow==
 
-vm2@^3.9.19:
+vm2@^3.9.19, vm2@^3.9.8:
   version "3.9.19"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/vm2/-/vm2-3.9.19.tgz#be1e1d7a106122c6c492b4d51c2e8b93d3ed6a4a"
   integrity sha512-J637XF0DHDMV57R6JyVsTak7nIL8gy5KH4r1HiwWLf/4GBbb5MKL5y7LpmF4A8E2nR6XmzpmMFQ7V7ppPTmUQg==