Mike123!

Q: Files seem to be gone in finder

I updated my El Capitan osx and after I was trying to find a file in my folders but they ALL seem to be gone / deleted.  It's very odd because all the folders are still there in the structure but just files inside those folders seem to be gone.  I restarted and turned my laptop off and on but still no success.

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Mar 26, 2016 7:09 PM

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Q: Files seem to be gone in finder

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  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Mar 26, 2016 7:10 PM in response to Mike123!
    Level 10 (122,225 points)
    Apple Music
    Mar 26, 2016 7:10 PM in response to Mike123!
  • by Mike123!,

    Mike123! Mike123! Mar 26, 2016 7:12 PM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 26, 2016 7:12 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

    I can search the files in spotlight but cant view in my finder. Do you know why??

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 26, 2016 9:03 PM in response to Mike123!
    Level 10 (207,990 points)
    Applications
    Mar 26, 2016 9:03 PM in response to Mike123!

    If all your files are missing

    You may have logged in as a different user, such as Guest. Please open the Users & Groups pane in System Preferences. Your name should be at the top of the user list, under Current User. See also this support article.

    If files are missing from one folder

    Please change the Finder view mode; for example, from icon view to list view, or vice versa.

    If files are present, but seem outdated

    You may have started up from a different volume (disk.) Please open the Startup Disk preference pane and check the selection.

    If none of the above applies, see below.

    This procedure will delete certain temporary and cache files. The files are automatically generated and don't contain any of your data. Occasionally they can become corrupt and cause problems such as yours.

    Please back up all data.

    Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

    /var/folders

    Right-click or control-click the highlighted line and select

              Services Open

    from the contextual menu.* A folder with the odd name "folders" should open.

    Inside "folders" are several subfolders, each with a two-character name. Drag all the subfolders except the one named "zz" to the Trash. Don't delete the subfolder named "zz". You'll be prompted for your administrator login credentials.

    Restart the computer and empty the Trash.

    *If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination  command-C. In the Finder, select

              Go Go to Folder...

    from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You may not see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.