Why is spotlight not finding items I know are there?

I am using spotlight to find items on my Mac, on most searches it comes up empty even when I know the subject I am looking for is there.

Check Finder preferences, Advanced, to see that searches are for yoour "Mac" as opposed to "current folder" or "previous search scope".
You need to spell what you are looking for exactly.
Make sure the desired drives are not in the Privacy settings for Spotlight system preferences.
Also try using the Finder's Find (command-F).  It also uses spotlight but allows more specific kinds of searches (e.g., search for just a filename as opposed to the normal spotlight search which seaches filenames and file contents).
You might find using a utility like Find any File more convenient and easier to use to qualify searches.

Similar Messages

  • Why is Spotlight not finding files in Applications Support

    Why is Spotlight not finding files in Users/UserName/Library/Applications Support ?
    What needs to be configured to do that?
    Thanks.

    CMD+F, click on Kind, select Other, and enable additional criteria. See http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/stopspotlightindex.html and http://homepage.mac.com/francines/articles/Leopard/leospot.html for starters.

  • Why is spotlight not finding files in a folder (I know the files are there)

    I've been having trouble with spotlight. I've done all the possible means of resetting spotlight folders via pref pane and via command line. Either way I go about it spotlight is not working properly.
    My test for this is to search in folder for a file I know is in there. But, spotlight in finder isn't finding the file. Why? What prevents SPotlight in FInder from seeing files that are there? None of my drives are in the privacy section of the spotlight preferences.
    Leopard 10.5.6 Mac Pro

    this is certainly not normal. it looks like spotlight indexing is choking on something. if this continues you should probably stop it. look in the console log. there may be a record of what it's choking on. you can try deleting the hidden spotlight folder at the top of the drive. this will restart indexing and delete all the current spotlight data. if it keeps doing this I don't really know what to suggest. you can try excluding various folders on the drive from spotlight to see if you can isolate where the problem is.

  • Spotlight not finding items in Home

    I have my home folder encrypted using Security in Sys Preferences. When I use Spotlight to find any item in my Home folder, it does not find. It finds only items that are not in Home folder. In that case I click on Show All option and click on Home in Where options (right bottom). Spotlight then finds the items. How to make this work always ? or is this a bug ? I am using MBP. Had no problem before moving from PB. I am wondering if this got something to do with Universal build ...

    Issue the command
    <pre>
    sudo mdutil -s /
    </pre>
    and if you see a reply that looks like
    <pre>
    Status: Indexing Enabled
    </pre>
    Then it should be working.
    You can turn on/off indexing of specific directories under / by editing, with root permission, the file
    /.Spotlight/_rules.plist

  • Why is Spotlight not finding images based on filename?

    I have 25,000 photos that I have meticulously named, but when I try to do a Spotlight search based on filename, nothing shows up.  For example, if I type "Disney," then about 200 photos with "Disney" in the file name should appear, but they don't. I can find the images on my own, for example "091012 CA Disney Family Vacation2," but Spotlight can not. Why?

    Hi there tau_ataina,
    Based you the issue you are describing, you may need to re-index Spotlight. Take a look at the article below for more information. 
    Spotlight: How to re-index folders or volumes
    -Griff W. 

  • Spotlight not finding items on connected servers

    when I connect to a server with various files within folders spotlight will not produce nay find results searching the server

    Issue the command
    <pre>
    sudo mdutil -s /
    </pre>
    and if you see a reply that looks like
    <pre>
    Status: Indexing Enabled
    </pre>
    Then it should be working.
    You can turn on/off indexing of specific directories under / by editing, with root permission, the file
    /.Spotlight/_rules.plist

  • Library not seeing songs I know are there

    I had to wipe out external HD (i.e. reformat as Mac only) and then I put the iTunes Music folder back on it, but that I don't believe that should make a difference.... All the music is there, and the Preferences>Advanced shows that as the location for the music folder, yet there are thousands of songs with the exclamation mark beside them (indicating that the database or whatever isn't fully connecting with the folder where the actual music is). When I double-click on any of those songs with exclamation marks, I can navigate to where the song is (in the iTunes Music folder on the external HD) and away she goes! There are thousands of songs with exclamation marks beside them. What can I do to sync the Library with the music folder?

    Send 2 mails - try http://www.dougscripts.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=itunestrackcpr from 2nd mail first.

  • HT201303 Why I can not purchase item in the game,always let me contact apple story support.

    Why I can not purchase item in the game,always let me contact apple story support.

    You will need to contact iTunes support to find out why, it could be due to a number of reasons (these are user-to-user forums so nobody on here will know) : http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact/ - click on Contact iTunes Store Support on the right-hand side of the page

  • Why can I not move items within a playlist?

    why can I not move items within a playlist?
    I should be able to drag songs up and down - and I can in other lists - but not on a new one I just created. ??

    Brandcast, I'd suggest you post in a new topic. Although your question is the same, apparently the answer isn't. Any topic that was originally started over 2 months ago may relate to a different version of iTunes (neither you nor the original poster say which version you use) and who knows what may happen between versions.
    Message was edited by: Limnos - user has started a new topic

  • YIKES! "Searching" & Spotlight not finding

    OK, I'm scared. I copy the name of a file. I do a Cmd + F and paste the name of the file into the "Search for" field. Nothing. I have only one criteria, "Kind" "Any" I ask to search the directory it's in. No response. I remove and add the directory to the parameters continually. No response.
    Spotlight not finding it either.
    I try others. Same thing. Spotlight preferences are factory default and include "Music."
    I have two files with the string I am looking for, one in a directory on my hard drive, not locked, I read and write to it daily. The other file is on a CD.
    I ask to search both places. Spotlight finds the string on the CD but not on my hard drive. I started trying other files in other directories and I'm getting the same thing in the Finder Search. Spotlight not as bad, but still has problems.
    This string is "stoddard." The file on the drive is actually located in two different directories and is labeled "1.01_stoddard.mp3" The one that it does find on the CD is "AUGUST 6 STODDARD.mp3"
    Help me. This is scaring me. I've got tons of people I am converting to Mac. This is not going to go over well.
    I've been looking and I just can't find any options or parameters I should be checking that would affect this. This is pretty simple stuff.
    I tried looking for envelope.rtf which is in a completely different directory and Search did not find it though Spotlight did.
    -Wm

    My results are disturbing. My eMac G4 doesn't seem to have a problem with finding files. My G5 definitely does. And it has a few other funny glitches, like a couple of my Mail filters are wonky. I've set up hundreds of them and there are three that are just plain stuck and send the mail to unexpected places or don't filter at all.
    Since the Spotlight glitch is intermittent, I don't think we can set up any benchmarks between us. Because Spotlight might not find envelope.rtf on my system, doesn't mean it won't find the filename on yours.
    What you need to do is search for various files on your system and see if Spotlight finds them.
    I doubt this is a string recognition problem, it's likely a search program error at the processor level. Probably something to do with the logic that makes the search appear speedy. Likely there's something in that programming that "falls out" when G5 is processing.
    Apple is ****-bent on getting the G6 out there pronto. These anomalies may be why.
    -Wm
    Your results are strange.
    If I try using your "1.01_stoddard.mp3" filename I
    find the file with the Spotlight menu, the Spotlight
    window and a smart folder.
    If I delete the file, then search for it again
    "1.01_stoddard.mp3" it is, of course not found, then
    I create a new file and rename it to
    "1.01_stoddard.mp3" Spotlight finds it immediately.
    Do you want to try to debug this here in the
    discussion?
    multi  
    Mac OS X (10.4.3)  
    www.DiscoverYourMac.com
    iMac G5 iSight 20" 2g RAM   Mac OS X (10.4.3)   eMac 700, iMac slot, original iMac, PowerMac.
    iMac G5 iSight 20" 2g RAM   Mac OS X (10.4.3)   eMac 700, iMac slot, original iMac, PowerMac.
    iMac G5 iSight 20" 2g RAM   Mac OS X (10.4.3)   eMac 700, iMac slot, original iMac, PowerMac.

  • Why Siri can not find places in Saudi Arabia?

    Why Siri can not find places in Saudi Arabia? How Can I use  Siri in Saudi Arabia?

    This is a MAJOR diappointment
    Apple has to work on this instead of launching other new devices
    One of the major reasons i bought the 4s was cause of siri
    And to know that it only works in the u.s is a disappointment

  • Why I can not find field:Level in Project Hierarchy in BAPI_BUS2054_NEW?

    Dear experts,
        Why I can not find the field of "Level in Project Hierarchy" in structure BAPI_BUS2054_NEW?
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    PROJECT DEFINITION
    PROJECT DESCRIPTION
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    Can you tell me which fields must to upload?
    Looking forward to your reply.
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  • I have upgrade ios 6 to ios7 on my iphone 5.  I do NOT like it.  I want to come back to the previosu version.  why is it so complicated.  Why can I not find the instruction strait from apple? This is the worst possible upgrade ever.

    I have upgrade ios 6 to ios7 on my iphone 5.  I do NOT like it at all.   I want to come back to the previous version.  why is it so complicated? Why can I not find the instruction strait from apple? This is the worst possible upgrade ever.  It make me think of when ericsson got sold to Sony....drastic PC change.
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    It feel like a change that I did not ask for , ok I push the upgrade buttom, but really this is the worst update aver!
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    iPhone User Guide (For iOS 7 Software)Sep 20, 2013 - 23 MB

  • Can not find item

    Went to upgrade my library. It said I had 429 songs to upgrade for $99.40. Went back a few minutes later and it said I had 429 songs to upgrade for $100.60. Try to upgrade and then received "Can not find item. Try again later" error message. This morning I checked and I have only 3 songs to upgrade. Hmmmm.

    I'd wait a few days and see if the tracks then appear as upgradable. With millions of tracks to be upgraded, not all of them will be instantly available and there may be some errors (quite likely, I would say). Plus it's quite likely that the iTunes Store is getting hammered with all the people wanting to upgrade, so there may be intermittent glitches due to the heavy load. If the problem doesn't correct itself in a few days and you're certain that the same album it available as iTunes Plus, contact the iTunes Store Customer Service department using the form at the bottom of the Purchase Issues FAQ web page and explain the problem to them.
    Regards.

  • RENAME:  When I rename a photo why can I not find it doing a search?  The photo obviously keeps its old name even though it has a new one   IPhoto 09

    When I rename a photo why can I not find it doing a search?  The photo obviously keeps its old name even though it has a new one>  IPhoto 09

    Thanks, that makes sense.  If I do a search in IPhoto I find it.  I have 6 grand children and also have had my camera for quite awhile and it starts file names over again after 10,000 pictures. (I don't have all these on the computer) but now I have some files with the same name  ie  img_4   and img_4
    Thanks again for your help!!
    HC

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