Sudden missing file tags.

I have many files that I had tagged to sort later for different projects. Suddenly, when I search by tag, finder reveals nothing and when I find a file that I know I had tagged, the tag is gone. I have several projects that I have sorted via tags and now I have to blind search to find each individual file. I have tried -https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201716 . It did not help.

MacBook Air (2020 or later)

Posted on May 8, 2021 8:58 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 8, 2021 9:49 PM

Hey again, yeah I’d say safe mode is a good test.


If you do think it’s a search malfunction though, besides the Spotlight re-indexing, I’d also try:


Quitting all apps.

Open the hidden/user library:

Finder, while holding Option, press Go > Library.


Open:

/Metadata/CoreSpotlight/,


Within that folder, select all, click File > New Folder (With Selection).


Restart, test the issue.


Otherwise, if you flag new files, does it retain and find the new changes?


Cheers.

9 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 8, 2021 9:49 PM in response to Cgsmith99apple

Hey again, yeah I’d say safe mode is a good test.


If you do think it’s a search malfunction though, besides the Spotlight re-indexing, I’d also try:


Quitting all apps.

Open the hidden/user library:

Finder, while holding Option, press Go > Library.


Open:

/Metadata/CoreSpotlight/,


Within that folder, select all, click File > New Folder (With Selection).


Restart, test the issue.


Otherwise, if you flag new files, does it retain and find the new changes?


Cheers.

May 9, 2021 4:20 AM in response to Cgsmith99apple

You are using the following syntax in a Finder search field, or Spotlight, correct?


tag:purple


or Germanic language countries:


kMDItemUserTags:purple



In the Finder Preferences > Tags panel, are all of the tags marked with a blue checkmark in the right column opposite the tag name? At any time, did you use select tags in the preceding panel and remove them via the [-] button?


Did the files that now are missing tags get moved on to a non-Apple Cloud service, a Linux or Windows filesystem, or onto an exFAT storage medium?

May 8, 2021 9:09 PM in response to Cgsmith99apple

Hey there!


Can you say if this started after any event, as an update or software installation?


Did you happen to also try relaunching Finder?


Apple Logo > Force Quit > Finder Relaunch.


I may also try starting in safe mode, to test, restart, see if it’s fixed. Likewise testing in a new user is also a good step.


Otherwise, are all the tags missing from Finder? Or just some? Thanks!

May 10, 2021 2:15 PM in response to DiZoE

I can not seem to start in safe mode. I have tried every fix that I could find on the web. Shift at power up, control-command-right shift at power up. Control at power up. Still cant start in safe mode. Well, if it is, I cant tell. When I look at apple icon>about this Mac>system report ...... boot mode is not an option in the pane.


Yes, new tags appear and are searchable


I will try the Meta tonight

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Sudden missing file tags.

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