Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Turn off email search in finder search

*Is there any way to turn off email content in Finder search?!* I use the Finder to search for files and folders not archaic references to 5 year old email content. There has got to be a way to turn this off by default. Terminal/Command line fix? Any fix? Any solution? Anyone?

iMac27", Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 13, 2011 3:33 PM

Reply
83 replies

Oct 18, 2011 11:08 PM in response to lostonroute66

Which solution is this? Because Im driving myself crazy with this! I have all types of crazy pictures that people have sent me in my emails. So if someone does a search on my computer....all of these inappropriate pictures from email will pop up. THIS IS CRAZY.


You mean to tell me, as advanced as Apple supposedly is, we cannot do a search without it pulling up images from email? I was able to uncheck IMAGES in Spotlight and so it wont do it with Spotlight.


But in FINDERs Seach, it pulls up all the email images! THere is no way to stop it! Why in the world doesnt apple give us something to stop this!

Feb 22, 2012 9:54 AM in response to Philpott

Philpott, I am not quite sure if we are not at crossed purposes. The problem is that finder searches produce a lot of hits to email attachments. You can not drag the attachments folder to the privicy tab in spotlight because of the structure of the Mail folder subfile system.


However, you can turn off the hits to the actual email messages themselves by unclicking the box in the spotlight preferences pane.


I am sure you know this though.

Feb 22, 2012 10:39 AM in response to Philpott

Ah, OK, I agree. I never use the top right 'spotlight'. I just hit command--F or command-shift-F for a contents or a file name search.


Now that you point it out to me it does seem very bizaar. If you search using the top right spotlight tool and then ask to see all results it opens a finder window and you do see mail messages, which you do not see if you hit command-F.


The solution is clear: uncheck the 'mail message' box in spotlight prefernces and then hit command-F when you want to search. I find it much more convenient in any case.


Although it is still annoying to get 15 hits to a pdf attachment that you sent to 15 people on a mailing list. That is really bizaar!


Like I said, I can just see all the developers at Apple sitting there in fornt of their Linxu boxes!

Jun 6, 2012 4:07 PM in response to oxcart

Yeah this really *****. You would think there would be a section in finder preferences where you could omit files from being searchable like spotlight or how you can remove files from being backed up on time capsule.


This isn't a good long term solution, but could we just delete the contents that is in the folder "Mail"? I don't want to try it unless someone with more experience says its okay. That would at least help a little. That folder is 8gb on my hard drive right now.

Jul 10, 2012 9:57 AM in response to DataChris

Here's what works for me:


Go to System Preferences:Spotlight:Privacy


What you want to do is add the "Mail" folder to the Privacy list. Problem is that the Library folder (containing the Mail folder) is hidden in Lion. So you go to Finder under the Go menu you pull down "Go To Folder" and type:


~/Library


The Library folder will appear, click on it and you will see the "Mail" folder. Drag that into the Privacy list. Profit!

Turn off email search in finder search

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.