Spotlight for movie file returns icon in "Photos From Apps"

Question

Level 2

168 points

Spotlight for movie file returns icon in "Photos From Apps"

I'm convinced this a bug I have to report, but maybe someone has a fix or can at least confirm that they see the same behavior in Sequoia.

Let's say I'm trying to find "Nosferatu.2024.mkv". I hit Cmd-Space for Spotlight and type "nosferatu".

Instead of the file in the results, I get a generic icon for MKV without a file name under "Photos from apps" heading. Clicking this icon does in fact open the correct file (keep in mind that normally I would have no idea what file that icon was associated with).

I'm only noticing this now, but it may have started in an earlier macOS version. I've seen mentions of this problem in 2023.

Searching in Finder works, and this is not an issue with Spotlight Privacy.

Thanks for any thoughts you might have.

Screenshot:

Mac mini, macOS 15.3

Posted on Mar 21, 2025 10:02 AM

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Answer 1

dialabrain

Level 10

136,385 points

Mar 21, 2025 9:51 PM in response to Ekstasis

It appears macOS no longer supports .MKV icon previews.

Feel free to send Apple feedback.

Feedback - macOS - Apple

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Answer 2

Ekstasis Author

Level 2

168 points

Mar 22, 2025 7:17 AM in response to dialabrain

I guess you're referring to movie thumbnails not working? I think you're right now that I'm looking at it, but my post is not about thumbnails or icons.

The attached screenshot shows Spotlight search results that are correct (for the text file), and incorrect (for the movie files). My movie files should be listed like the text file. They are _NOT_ "photos from apps" whatever the kfuc that means. And the results are useless without filenames, obviously, thumbnails or not.

For the photos: one result is incorrect (for the jpeg in my home folder), and one is correct (or at least the way Apple intended) for the photo in my Photos library.

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