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Searching a keyword in spotlight gives document results but the documents do not contain the word searched.
Even after using Find within a Pages document the word searched for in spotlight is not found.
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.6
If you're experiencing issues with Spotlight search returning documents that don't actually contain the searched word, or if you can't find the word within a Pages document despite using the "Find" function, there could be a few reasons for this behavior. Here are some troubleshooting steps:
1. **Indexing Issue**:
- Spotlight relies on an index of your files and their contents. If the indexing is incomplete or outdated, it can lead to inaccurate search results. To rebuild the index:
- Go to "System Preferences" > "Spotlight."
- Click on the "Privacy" tab.
- Drag your hard drive(s) to the list of locations that Spotlight should ignore.
- Remove them from the list afterward. This action will trigger a reindexing process.
2. **File Types**:
- Ensure that the file type you're searching in is indexed by Spotlight. By default, Spotlight indexes a wide range of file types, but there could be exceptions.
3. **Content Not Indexed**:
- Pages documents may contain images and non-text content that Spotlight cannot search within. If your document consists mainly of non-text content, that could explain why the search doesn't find the word.
4. **Pages Document Format**:
- Check the format of the Pages document. If it's in an older format or a non-standard version, it might not be indexed correctly. Try saving it in a more current Pages format.
5. **Search Syntax**:
- Make sure you're using the correct syntax when searching in Spotlight. For example, if you're searching for a phrase, enclose it in quotation marks (e.g., "search phrase").
6. **Document Corruption**:
- If the Pages document itself is corrupted, it may not be searchable correctly. Try opening and resaving the document in Pages to ensure it's in good condition.
7. **Spotlight Privacy Settings**:
- Check if the folder containing the Pages document is excluded from Spotlight search. Go to "System Preferences" > "Spotlight" > "Privacy" and ensure the folder is not listed there.
8. **Pages Settings**:
- In Pages, check if the document is protected, restricted, or if it has any special settings that might affect searchability.
9. **Update Software**:
- Make sure both your macOS and Pages application are up-to-date. Software updates can sometimes address compatibility and indexing issues.
10. **Third-Party Spotlight Alternatives**:
- If the issue persists and you rely heavily on search, you might consider using a third-party search tool like Alfred or HoudahSpot, which provide more advanced searching capabilities and indexing options.
If you're experiencing issues with Spotlight search returning documents that don't actually contain the searched word, or if you can't find the word within a Pages document despite using the "Find" function, there could be a few reasons for this behavior. Here are some troubleshooting steps:
1. **Indexing Issue**:
- Spotlight relies on an index of your files and their contents. If the indexing is incomplete or outdated, it can lead to inaccurate search results. To rebuild the index:
- Go to "System Preferences" > "Spotlight."
- Click on the "Privacy" tab.
- Drag your hard drive(s) to the list of locations that Spotlight should ignore.
- Remove them from the list afterward. This action will trigger a reindexing process.
2. **File Types**:
- Ensure that the file type you're searching in is indexed by Spotlight. By default, Spotlight indexes a wide range of file types, but there could be exceptions.
3. **Content Not Indexed**:
- Pages documents may contain images and non-text content that Spotlight cannot search within. If your document consists mainly of non-text content, that could explain why the search doesn't find the word.
4. **Pages Document Format**:
- Check the format of the Pages document. If it's in an older format or a non-standard version, it might not be indexed correctly. Try saving it in a more current Pages format.
5. **Search Syntax**:
- Make sure you're using the correct syntax when searching in Spotlight. For example, if you're searching for a phrase, enclose it in quotation marks (e.g., "search phrase").
6. **Document Corruption**:
- If the Pages document itself is corrupted, it may not be searchable correctly. Try opening and resaving the document in Pages to ensure it's in good condition.
7. **Spotlight Privacy Settings**:
- Check if the folder containing the Pages document is excluded from Spotlight search. Go to "System Preferences" > "Spotlight" > "Privacy" and ensure the folder is not listed there.
8. **Pages Settings**:
- In Pages, check if the document is protected, restricted, or if it has any special settings that might affect searchability.
9. **Update Software**:
- Make sure both your macOS and Pages application are up-to-date. Software updates can sometimes address compatibility and indexing issues.
10. **Third-Party Spotlight Alternatives**:
- If the issue persists and you rely heavily on search, you might consider using a third-party search tool like Alfred or HoudahSpot, which provide more advanced searching capabilities and indexing options.
A stale Spotlight index will show matches that do not exist, whether the file itself is long gone, or the contents of the file have changed and the sought content is no longer present.
Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support
And pay attention to the Spotlight keywords and how you use them to narrow your search results.
Show me the Pages document that is using a Times-Bold font, created after May 1, 2023, and has an image in it named image1.jpeg
kind:pages font:times-bold created:>05/01/2023 image1.jpeg
1; Done, and redone. The Pages Doc is in a folder on an encrypted USB drive, unlocked of course. Dropped both the folder is should be in and later the drive itself to be rebuilt. Then removed them as per instructions. Really did not see any activity in Activity Monitor or for the 'mdworker - -spotlight process.
2:Page docs show up in search results and I can open them from there.
3:Text doc only.
4:There has been some Pages updates since this doc was opened. There are many docs and I cannot resave it until I find it. Would be a lot of time to open and resave every doc. I have opened and closed many looking for the one doc using find already.
5:Searching using word and "word", with the same results.
6:Again, have to find it to resave it.
7:Did the suggestion above and there is no exclusions then nor now in this setting.
8:I know the document is not protected, but again, would need to find it first.
9:Mac and Pages always up to date, automatically and there shows no new ones in Prefs.
10:Have not tried a 3rd Party software but may have to resort to that.
Thank you.
I have the opposite issue...a file I know exist, and in a copy and perhaps a PDF, is not returned in search.
And, Spotlight shows a multiple files to contain the word...but they do not when I use Edit/Find in that pages doc opened from the Spotlight search.
And, I know the doc exist. There is no reason it should not. Itis about 2 years old but no deletions.
Some reshuffling of files but has been weeks or a month ago.
All should be reindexed by now. This drive is online and open most of the time.
Thanks.
Reindex Spotlight
Did. For folder where file should be and the entire drive. (USB SSD)
Why is spotlight results wrong?
