High Sierra: search problems (zero results)

Question

High Sierra: search problems (zero results)

See topic at High Sierra: searching the finder returns “0 items”?

I first documented this using High Sierra 10.13.3 and it’s been continuing through current (10.13.6).

Basically, searches (Finder or Spotlight) fail to find non-system documents which meet the search criteria. I’ll repost the images here. First, a failed search (no results for “This Mac” or “Desktop,” where the file is):

And here’s one that shows a positive result, using a name that I know has system-named items.

macOS High Sierra (10.13.6)

Posted on Aug 12, 2018 9:04 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Marco Klobas

Level 6

8,351 points

Aug 15, 2018 2:13 AM in response to Sixten C Abbot

OK, thanks for confirming about APFS.

Even though you've already done a re-indexing (by removing and adding the affected volume in Spotlight preferences), I'd try again invoking directly terminal commands:

sudo rm -R /.Spotlight-V100

sudo mdutil -E -i on /

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Answer 2

Aug 14, 2018 12:28 PM in response to Sixten C Abbot

You're right about EasyFind – thanks for pointing it out. There's another alternative: Find Any File which works with APFS volumes (it's a paid app, though) – Find Any File (FAF) on the Mac App Store

Back to Spotlight: do you have an external drive indexed with Spotlight? Does searching work there? I'm asking just to figure out if the issue is limited to one partition/volume.

Here's a post covering possible fixes for broken Spotlight (yes, it's old, anyway maybe it's helpful): http://osxdaily.com/2007/02/15/spotlight-wont-work-fix-a-broken-spotlight-menu-w ith-these-troubleshooting-tips/

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Answer 3

Aug 14, 2018 2:48 PM in response to Sixten C Abbot

Alternative searching apps like EasyFind and Find Any File are sometimes useful even when Spotlight works. They search all type of files thoroughly – regardless the extensions, hidden files, inside system folders, network volumes, etc. They're more powerful than Spotlight.

For regular users Spotlight is usually enough, it has some limits though.

Yes, my bad, that link I posted covers mainly Spotlight menu issues.

Another thing: you mentioned in the other thread OWC Aura Pro SSD. Are you sure your High Sierra installation is a APFS volume? I'm asking because I've read something about High Sierra/Aura Pro compatibility: A Note on High Sierra Compatibility with Third Party SSDs | Other World Computing Blog

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Answer 4

Aug 12, 2018 10:29 PM in response to Sixten C Abbot

Try to put the searched name inside quotation marks: “bcc site errors”.

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Answer 5

Aug 14, 2018 2:48 PM in response to Sixten C Abbot

I see from the other thread that you already re-indexed Spotlight.

Does this happens only for files stored in the Desktop?

In the meantime you can use a Spotlight alternative like EasyFind: EasyFind on the Mac App Store

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Answer 6

Aug 14, 2018 11:42 AM in response to Marco Klobas

Hi again Marco -- nope, all locations (but thanks for making me confirm that).

Also, there’s this recent comment regarding EasyFind: “Unfortunately, APFS ([the] Apple File System) that came with mac OS High Sierra is not compatible with this software... If you visit the developer’s web site, you’ll see... that they’re not all that concerned with updating a free piece of software.”

At this point I’m mostly curious as to whether ANYONE else is experiencing this...

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Answer 7

Aug 14, 2018 1:32 PM in response to Marco Klobas

Very interesting to see that virtually the first thing FAF says is “Unhappy with Spotlight because it does not find files that you know to be there?” -- I don’t know if $8 is worth clearing up what’s really just an inconvenience (for me), though. Regardless, many thanks for that one!

The old post looks like it just has solutions for Spotlight menu issues, too bad.

The other volume idea is an interesting one. Once I can get to one of my external drives, I’ll try indexing it. Let you know!

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Answer 8

Aug 14, 2018 2:48 PM in response to Marco Klobas

Re: the OWC Aura Pro SSD -- fortunately my machine isn’t one of those listed (for anyone reading this later, just in case, that’s these):

MacBook Air 11-inch (Mid 2013 & Early 2014)
MacBook Air 13-inch (Mid 2013 & Early 2014)
Mac Pro (Late 2013)

Just confirmed that it’s formatted APFS.

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Answer 9

FBC_21CA

Level 1

23 points

Sep 5, 2018 10:15 PM in response to Sixten C Abbot

Yes, I'm seeing it. I have a mix of APFS and OS Extended Journaled disks. I'm old school. I don't use Spotlight, just the finder. And, no offense, but I should not have to buy an app to get the friggin Finder to work!

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Answer 10

Aug 13, 2018 5:36 PM in response to Marco Klobas

No go, but thanks. For the record, not even single words will return a result (except system-named, like the results in image 2 below, which are all within installed Application sub-folders).

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High Sierra: search problems (zero results)

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