Search Everywhere

Very often I see people searching for something and they can't find it using Spotlight UI or Finder search. That is because both do not reveal things in system folders by default. However, you can make Finder's search reveal them by using two options in the search criteria, System Files and File Visibility. Another option is to start the Finder search inside a system folder, such as the user Library. That will then find items that you it would not normally find.

For the search criteria method, when you use the Find command (cmd-F) a search window opens with one criteria in it, Kind is Any. If you click on the Kind popup menu, you will see several options, pick Other…

A sheet will open with all of the searchable attributes. Find System Files and check the In Menu checkbox. Do the same for File Visibility. These two options will now appear in every search window criteria menu. By using these options, you can find some of the excluded items.

For System Files, you can choose either are included, or aren't included. For File Visibility you can choose Visible Items, Invisible Items, or Visible or Invisible.

Getting back to the title of this User Tip, how do you search everywhere for everything?

First, start a new Finder search (cmd-F).

• To the right of the Kind is Any criteria, Option-click the + button. When you hold down the Option key, the + turns into …
• You will now have a criteria "group." Set it to Any of the following are true.
• Change the first sub-criteria to System Files are included.
• Add a new criteria by clicking on the + button to the right of the criteria you just changed.
• Set it to File Visibility Visible or Invisible.
• Delete the original criteria, Kind is Any, by clicking on the - button to the right of it.
• At the top, set the Search scope to This Mac.
• Click the Save button across from the Search scope.
  • Set the name to something descriptive such as, "Search Everywhere."
  • Set the checkbox to put the Search Folder in the Sidebar so it is always handy.

Your completed search criteria will look like this:

If you then click on the Search Everywhere search folder in the Sidebar, you can then type some search text into the Search box and it will find things that match throughout your Mac.

You could also refine this by adding additional criteria like File Extension. Just change the original Kind is Any to some criteria you wish to use to limit the files returned.

I haven't tested extensively, but I have found things all over my Mac using this method.

An oddity which I can't explain is that an empty search window without any search text will slowly populate with items. The files are random from all over without any matching details.

If you find shortcomings or additional useful modifications, please reply here and I'll update the Tip as needed.