# notion-ai-search handles user lookup

By Steven Van · 2026-09-17

Notion's MCP notion-ai-search tool adds a query\_type parameter so it can look up workspace users by name or email, not just content.

[Notion](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/tools/notion>)'s MCP search tool notion-ai-search can now look up workspace users, not just search content.

- Setting query\_type to **user** with a name or email looks up a workspace user; the response reports type: "user\_search", matching what notion-search already returns.

- Omitting query\_type, or setting it to **internal**, keeps the call as a content search.

- Content filters and sorting aren't valid on a user lookup and return a validation\_error.

- A user lookup doesn't require AI access, but both search tools need user information capabilities, and workspace-owned MCP connections must also expose notion-get-users. Switching search tools doesn't bypass these permissions.

Full details are in the [Notion MCP changelog](<https://developers.notion.com/page/changelog#september-17-2026>).

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[Original source](<https://developers.notion.com/page/changelog#september-17-2026>)

[Read notion-ai-search handles user lookup on Creators Toolbox](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/blog/notion-notion-ai-search-handles-user-lookup>)

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Canonical source: https://creatorstoolbox.com/blog/notion-notion-ai-search-handles-user-lookup