Techniques for performing searches by a user equipment (UE) equipped with multiple receive antennas are described. In an aspect, the UE may support multiple receive diversity (RxD) search modes. Each RxD search mode may be different from each remaining RxD search mode in how correlation is performed, how correlation results are combined, and/or how search results are reported for the multiple receive antennas. The UE may select an RxD search mode from among the multiple RxD search modes and may perform at least one step of a search in accordance with the selected RxD search mode. In another aspect, the UE may perform a search with interference cancellation to detect cell(s). The UE may determine multiple complex weights for multiple receive antennas such that signals from interfering cells can be attenuated. The UE may perform a search to detect cell(s) using the complex weights.