Bought Outlook for Mac... now Finder searches includes Emails

Question

Hi there -
I have a macbook pro. I often use the Finder's search feature to locate a word document or something on my machine.
BUT since I have installed outlook for a mac it includes searching my emails which is ridiculous. I get a ton of emails for work and even though sometimes they do really point me to an email related to what I am searching this is NOT HELPFUL.
I want to search my computer like word, excel, images, pdfs, etc. Anything but NOT outlook emails. How can I prevent that?
It's so annoying and makes it harder to find what I am looking for.
Much thanks!
xoxo

Answer 1

Hi Nicole FS,
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
Find and Spotlight are two excellent features in the operating system. Each function works a bit differently from the other.
Let's deal with SpotLight which uses indexing. I takes a bit of time to set up; but, it does that in the background. It will slow your work down as it indexes your files in the beginning, only. Here's how to begin to get the MOST out of SpotLight.
Open System Preferences > Spotlight > Search Results.
The first thing you can do is deselect the mail messages in the list of things to search. While you're there deciding what you want to display for results, you can also click-drag the items into a preferred search order.
That alone should fix your concern; but, there's more.
Click System Preferences > Spotlight > Privacy.
The second thing to you can do is decide where Spotlight will work and what volumes you wish to have indexed for FAST and complete searches.
Note that Spotlight will find instances of type inside PDFs and even in some artwork! That's nothing short of astonishing, IMHO.
Here's how to AMAZE YOURSELF:
This Spotlight preferences window shows a list of locations to "Prevent Spotlight from searching these locations:"
First, Add ALL the items that you WANT to index (using the + button under the window or drag a folder or disk into the list).
2. Close the System Preferences window.
3. Reopen System Preferences > Spotlight > Privacy.
4. REMOVE all the items you just added.
5. Close the System Preferences window to reset the Spotlight database.
Spotlight will then begin to index the folders and volumes you just removed from the Privacy List.
(Leave the items in the list that you do NOT want to search.)
You'll see a small black throbbing dot inside the Spotlight logo as it indexes. It may take some time.
You may hear the fans go on to keep the heat down from the increased CPU activity.
When the indexing is finished, you'll be able to find practically anything FASTER than you can type. (I'm a two-hand touch typist and it's faster than I am.)
I hope this helps. I wasn't crazy about Spotlight until I learned how to use it. Now, I'd be lost without it.