msr1986

Q: Finder search and spotlight problem

Finder search and spotlight don't find some of my files although they exist in the search directory and I'm searching the exact name. Anyone has experienced a similar problem?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Oct 6, 2015 7:02 PM

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Q: Finder search and spotlight problem

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  • by Carolyn Samit,Solvedanswer

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Oct 6, 2015 7:17 PM in response to msr1986
    Level 10 (121,929 points)
    Apple Music
    Oct 6, 2015 7:17 PM in response to msr1986
  • by msr1986,

    msr1986 msr1986 Oct 6, 2015 7:22 PM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 6, 2015 7:22 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

    Thanks a lot, this solved my problem

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Oct 6, 2015 7:37 PM in response to msr1986
    Level 10 (121,929 points)
    Apple Music
    Oct 6, 2015 7:37 PM in response to msr1986

    You're welcome

  • by DaveDub79,

    DaveDub79 DaveDub79 Nov 12, 2015 3:34 PM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 12, 2015 3:34 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

    I just started having this issue today. I've re-indexed every drive on my system and certain search parameters aren't working still.

     

    An example I have a filed named "1250 S" in a folder. If I open Finder, go to that folder and Search "12", or "125" it shows up in the results. If I type "1250" nothing shows up! It's the strangest bug/issue I've run into for years.

  • by Hakaider,

    Hakaider Hakaider Nov 23, 2015 2:48 PM in response to DaveDub79
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 23, 2015 2:48 PM in response to DaveDub79

    I have the exact same problem. My art files start with 4 digit numbers so it's getting a little frustrating.  If I'm searching for say "2150File" and I type (as you stated) 215 the file shows up in the results.  Once I type the 0 after 215 they all disappear.  I thought perhaps I originally typed a capital O instead of a 0 but as soon as I type "2150F" the file pops up again!  And I agree, it's the freakiest bug I've ever encountered. I can't imagine a setting that would cause that. Re-indexing doesn't seem to help. What makes it even weirder is that it does it on a late 2012 MBP and a late 2013 iMac. Both upgraded to El Capitan 10.11.1.

  • by DaveDub79,

    DaveDub79 DaveDub79 Nov 23, 2015 3:01 PM in response to Hakaider
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 23, 2015 3:01 PM in response to Hakaider

    First I want to say I'm sorry to hear you're suffering the same issue. That said. THANK YOU for proving I'm not going crazy. I spent over a week with a senior level Applecare engineer that couldn't figure out how to fix the issue despite their best efforts. I re-indexed, ran terminal commands to kill/delete all indexes, then more commands to reinstate spotlight on my drives, completely wiped my machine and without installing any other apps it still had the same issue which means it's definitely an El Capitan filename bug. I even booted from an old Yosemite clone and finder worked perfectly. This is the buggiest release ever.

     

    Here's a video I made showing the issue for anyone else that wants to know.

     

    https://youtu.be/xBhekTsvxOg

  • by HelgeKreutz,

    HelgeKreutz HelgeKreutz Dec 15, 2015 6:15 AM in response to DaveDub79
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 15, 2015 6:15 AM in response to DaveDub79

    You are not alone! Since El Capitan I also experience the related indexing problems:

     

    - when in Photos I export a picture to the desktop or to documents, it initially does not show up there. With Spotlight I can, however, find it and afterwards Finder is also showing it correctly.

    - When I scan through system preferences -> printer & scanner using my Epson WF-3520, I select "desktop" as the file location but it continues to send the file to "pictures".

     

    I have rebuilt the index but it did not help.

  • by mackensteff,

    mackensteff mackensteff Feb 17, 2016 7:27 AM in response to HelgeKreutz
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 17, 2016 7:27 AM in response to HelgeKreutz

    I guess this thread proves I am not crazy as it seems others are fighting this as well, but it is driving me crazy!  I also have numbers in my file names, and when I search the complete name the file is found, but searching a substring of the file name including the number returns a few files, but not all including the one I am looking for.