Finder cannot search file folders on Monterey 12.1 Mac mini M1

You need to set Finder Preference > Advanced > When performing a search: [ Search the Current Folder ↕︎ ]. Then, from the Finder's View menu, choose Show Path Bar. The following was tested on macOS 11.6.2 on an M1 mini.

When you start your search in the same folder as the file you want to locate, the following works:

if you start the search from the Desktop, then the following will isolate that single testtest.png file using the following syntax:

If you click on either of these icons, Finder's Path Bar will display its location at the bottom of Finder window.

I have this same issue with a new Mac mini M1 running Monterey 12.2. It doesn't;t bring anything when set on the current folder. When set on This Mac, it will show any instance matching the search, including an external backup disk which typically will have numerous copies of files matching the search criteria. So the Search function in Finder is effectively useless.

OMG I don't know how to thank you, when I checked Spotlight>Privacy. Macintosh HD was already added by default to the Privacy Locations List. I removed it then automatically the search on finder showed all the results =D thanks a million