I recently found that when I search from the Finder, I don't get any results except from "This Mac" - this is true even when I've selected "Search the Current Folder" from the Finder's Advanced Settings. This has persisted after restarting the mac, deleting the Finder's PLIST file, restarting the Finder - still no results except when searching "This Mac". What else should I try?
My Mac is a 2023 Studio; my operating system is 13.6.1 (Ventura).
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srb
Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.
NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 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 kernel/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
NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.
Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.
NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 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 kernel/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
NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.
Have you reset the Spotlight index: How to rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support,
Have you installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your Mac?
You can reinstall the system without having to erase by booting into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down - Intel Macs) or (How to Boot an M1 Mac into Recovery Mode) and installing the system from there.
In Finder Preferences : Advanced panel have this set:
and in the Finder View menu : ✓ Show Path Bar.
Once you have that set, you will see the following since my Finder search began on my Desktop:
The apparent duplicates are in separate locations. One on the Desktop and the second one in a folder on my Desktop. Clicking any of these will cause Finder to display the document path (e.g. Path Bar) along the bottom of the Finder window. I think this also answers the issue of Spotlight drilling into subfolders as the Desktop folder is a subfolder of your home directory and one of the above files is in yet a deeper folder of the Desktop.
I had been putting this off, because I'm brand new to Apple Silicon, but no time like the present - right? Anyway, it didn't work - if anything, the issue was worse since the Finder didn't seem to be able to search my Mac at all (and all of Spotlight's results had to do with the web). It still didn't work after exiting Safe Mode, either. Thanks for trying, though.
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srb
Thanks for trying to help, but it doesn't work for me.
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srb
I'm afraid that didn't work, either. I'm beginning to think that Ventura hates me.
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srb
Nope. I'm beginning to think I should reinstall the operating system. I'm also beginning to think I should just learn to live with it.
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srb
I still haven't decided to go this route. If I do, though, I'll report back here.
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srb
Thanks, but this is unfortunately well out of my comfort zone. It may be something I have to learn to live with.
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srb
Can't Search Subfolders in Ventura
