If I search for an item I know exists, the finder does not find it. Just to be sure I opened a folder. Typed the name of an item in that folder, and finder still does not find it. I have run searches from within the laptop and on external drives. Finder has located some older files, but nothing new.
I did find a few discussions on this issue, but all were 10+ years old.
I am on a 2019 MacBook pro; Catalina 10.15.5
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15
So far none of this is helping. As mentioned, I have updated to the most recent Catalina update (10.15.7) just recently.
What puzzles me is that it was working in part, but since I followed the directions How to rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support, Finder is not finding anything at all.
Should I attempt to rebuild the Spotlight index again? Is there any way to know that the index has been rebuilt (or not). I've had macs for decades, but never had this issue. (Actually I've never had a mac so buggy until the one I purchased last year.)
Boot into Safe Mode (How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support) by booting with the Shift key held down and check there to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.
NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing the following;
• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed
• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party extensions from loading)
• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically
• Disables user-installed fonts
• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files
You may need to re-build the spotlight index:
How to rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support
.
Ok, I tried rebuilding according to the link Grant provided. Since I was rebuilding all of my drives I figured this would take some time, so I've given it more than a month. The problem still persists. I recently updated to the most recent version of Catalina. Nothing has changed. See the images below: one is the contents of a folder, and the other is search results for the first item in the folder.
You need to inform Finder that it should search in the current folder first. Finder Preferences : Advanced :
Here is an example, where I switch to a folder named LaunchAs in my home folder. I then enter the name screen in that FInder window search, and the results are shown below:
If I also wanted to see other "screen" items outside of the LaunchAS folder, I could click on This Mac. The most appropriate search would have been name:screen which would have found that string in the filename only.
Check System Preferences > Spotlight > Search Results tab. Are the appropriate categories for what you’re searching for checked? On the Privacy tab, is the location (or your entire drive) listed to prevent searching?
We seem to be getting some where. Since the safe-mode reboot, I have been able to search the internal HD, and most of my externals. The issues seems to be with one external drive. (Of course it is the external I use the most.) I've added the drive to the Privacy list once more. -- let's see if it works.
You're two system updates behind and there have been many bug fixes as well as new features since 10.15.5. Download and apply the macOS Catalina 10.15.7 Combo Update.
Is Spotlight able to find it?
I thought the finder used Spotlight. Am I wrong in this?
Nothing is listed in "Privacy", and all categories are selected in "Search Results" tab.
Ok, got a better understanding of Spotlight. -- No. Spotlight does not find the files either.
Does it find it if you search by name specifically, e.g. by typing
Name:Cochin
?
FINDER not finding
