Only adding to the chorus here... took me way too long to figure out the fix for my broken finder search until I found your video. Easy to follow and worked like a charm. THANK YOU!
Been running into this issue since January 2024. Finally found your video to address it and before I could, noticed it started working again. . . Your video is magic.
Thank you so much for the quick fix. I'm just getting back into the Mac World and all these little problems I keep running into are driving me crazy. Thankfully there are knowledgable people like you out there that can help us newbies.
👍 THANK YOU ❤ THANK YOU ❤ THANK YOU ❤ !!! You fixed within seconds a problem that had frustrated my husband for 12 months! 🎉 Just wish we’d seen the video sooner. 😊
I can't thank you enough. My work computer always pulls up random files from the work system I would never use and rarely shows the files that Im working on. It has been the most frustrating thing and I thought it was hopeless. This instantly fixed my issue and even with my work computer locked down with administrative permission to make changes, I was able to do all of your steps easily without issue!
Yes, you solved my big issue! I have been having that searching pain for a year! Some of the readings on web did not help, until I search TH-cam to find your help! It fixed the search results in just a few seconds - Gee, you make this a beautiful day!❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊
This worked great! I had this problem with Finder come up after installing Mac Sequoia 15.1. I can now FIND my ALL my files again. I never new about this indexing function and how to reset it. Thank you!
bro you are life saver just transferred all my files to a new mac and thought stuff got deleted. Then I tested a file I knew the exact name of and was like wait a minute. This helped me out!
@@SignatureEdits On my end this and other solutions (e.g. system restart) only work for a short while and then stop working again. Any thoughts? This is driving me absolutely crazy and I can't get anything done.
Sadly I don't have any other ideas! I've had the same thing... search is way better for a while but then gets funky again. But going in and resetting it doesn't take too long so that's what I do! @@IllusionSector
It worked on macOS Sequoia 15.2 with MacBook Air M2 ! Well deserved thumbs up ! Still in 2024 Now it is however a little bit different Apple menu top left -> System Settings -> Spotlight Button "Search Privacy" Button "+" On Dropdown menu (top middle of the window in blue) select "Macintosh HD" click "Choose" Then as in the video click "-" to remove "Macintosh HD" Problem solved ! Thanks !
Thank you so so much!!!!!! As a preservice teacher in ELA 7-12, I have large files for my content area and create curriculums. I search a lot in finder, and it doesn't show up in finder on my M1 iMac or M2 Macbook Air. Now thanks to you, I can find them again. You have earned a subscription.
Thank you! this is helpful! I have been looking an answer / fix to this annoying issue. I bought another Mac, a MacBook Air M3 that I always carry around at work. With the MacBook Pro I could easily breeze through the files with a simple search button but with MacBook Air, I found that I could not search anything except on Macbook Air itself. I even thought of just resorting to carrying my MacBook Pro with me instead of MacBook Air but I found with portability-wise, MacBook Airs are the best with the workflow I have. I just could not find the answer to the problem. I tried almost everything, reset, hard reset, created another user (as I found in one of the suggestions), etc. etc. Then I found this and watched the video and it worked!! Thanks for this. 🥰 love you! 🤣❤
Fixed my MacBook Pro 2023 M2 13" in seconds! It also fixed my Outlook search not working that I have spent hours trying everything I could find under that issue. I wish I would have started here!!!! You need to index this for fixing a broken Outlook search on Macs as well.
Thank you, this finally worked!! I haven't been able to search in my Downloads folder for a week and kept trying to re-index just that folder like other guides online have suggested. Re-indexing my entire disk finally did the trick!
worked for me setting up my new M2 mac mini. Moved from a 10 year old macbook air that searched perfectly fine then was bummed when i saw my new mini wasn't finding what it should. Solved a big problem for me!
Yes this worked! My problem was not that nothing would appear but finder would be full be full of a long list of files mainly books in my library that were not the precise file name I typed in. The precise file name could appear way down the list. I'm on an M1 2020 running Sonoma 14.0. There was a slight difference in systems preferences Spotlight and Siri are listed together, but I could follow the instructions and they worked! Thanks - I had just accepted that as an unfixable thing about my MAC! delighted that finder search is working properly
Thank you just purchased the new mac book air and it wasn't finding files in search bar from my external hard drive connected, was going crazy until i tried this and it worked and now it finds all the files when i search for them... thank you so much for this quick solution
I really got frustrated with this issue, everytime I was restarting my macbook to use search in finder. But man your video really helped, thank you so much!
Skip to 1:13 to avoid all the fluff ... also, this does not work on for my external hdd ... spotlight was not reindexing files so I unmounted the drive. Unplugged the USB cable, then replugged it in. Then added and removed my hard drive in the Spotlight/Search Privacy button ... this time, it worked!!!
When I choose my hard drive and confirm that I want to remove it a "Privacy List Error" pops up that states "The item couldn't be added or removed because of an unknown error" - is there a fix for this?
My Finder Search is not working even more basically : when I try to type in the field next to the magnifying glass icon NOTHING appears. No text AT ALL in the box.
I have the same problem with the search but it does find files that are located on my mac but not files that r located on my remote drive. I have tries your fix and it didn't work (and not while using safe mode). can you help?
You must delete the external drive if it shows up in the preferences pane with the minus sign. Once it is not there or if it wasn’t there to begin with, then hit the plus sign locate the external dive as an additional location to search. That should take care of the problem.
The issue I have is all my data is stored on external hard drives. No matter what I have tried, my iMac refuses to index my external hard drive. I have the latest iMac running the latest version of Ventura and my external hard drives are formatted exFat. I've been using an iMac for ten years and this has always been an issue. If there's a way to fix this, that would be awesome.
Thank you! I knew about the "add and remove" thing but it didn't work until I added the WHOLE thing like you said. Really appreciate this.
Exactly, that wasn't clear or mentioned in Apple site groups or guidance
Only adding to the chorus here... took me way too long to figure out the fix for my broken finder search until I found your video. Easy to follow and worked like a charm. THANK YOU!
Finder would only search "This Mac" but not any sub folders. I tried your fix, and it worked!!! THANK YOU!!
Been running into this issue since January 2024. Finally found your video to address it and before I could, noticed it started working again. . . Your video is magic.
Thank you so much for the quick fix. I'm just getting back into the Mac World and all these little problems I keep running into are driving me crazy. Thankfully there are knowledgable people like you out there that can help us newbies.
👍 THANK YOU ❤ THANK YOU ❤ THANK YOU ❤ !!!
You fixed within seconds a problem that had frustrated my husband for 12 months! 🎉
Just wish we’d seen the video sooner. 😊
I can't thank you enough. My work computer always pulls up random files from the work system I would never use and rarely shows the files that Im working on. It has been the most frustrating thing and I thought it was hopeless. This instantly fixed my issue and even with my work computer locked down with administrative permission to make changes, I was able to do all of your steps easily without issue!
RIGHT?! So. ANNOYING. Haha. Glad it helped you out!
Yes, you solved my big issue! I have been having that searching pain for a year! Some of the readings on web did not help, until I search TH-cam to find your help! It fixed the search results in just a few seconds - Gee, you make this a beautiful day!❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊
Been puzzled by this problem for several months. Finally I found this, and it works. Thank you!
This worked great! I had this problem with Finder come up after installing Mac Sequoia 15.1. I can now FIND my ALL my files again. I never new about this indexing function and how to reset it. Thank you!
bro you are life saver just transferred all my files to a new mac and thought stuff got deleted. Then I tested a file I knew the exact name of and was like wait a minute. This helped me out!
Saved my life! Thank you
Glad it helped!
@@SignatureEdits
On my end this and other solutions (e.g. system restart) only work for a short while and then stop working again. Any thoughts? This is driving me absolutely crazy and I can't get anything done.
@@SignatureEdits
Even when it works, if I just leave the search results alone they would suddenly disappear on their own.
Sadly I don't have any other ideas! I've had the same thing... search is way better for a while but then gets funky again. But going in and resetting it doesn't take too long so that's what I do!
@@IllusionSector
It worked on macOS Sequoia 15.2 with MacBook Air M2 ! Well deserved thumbs up ! Still in 2024
Now it is however a little bit different
Apple menu top left -> System Settings -> Spotlight Button "Search Privacy" Button "+"
On Dropdown menu (top middle of the window in blue) select "Macintosh HD" click "Choose"
Then as in the video click "-" to remove "Macintosh HD"
Problem solved ! Thanks !
can i ask how long you waited before you tried searching again? i am on a M1 and still nada :(
@ As in the video about 10 seconds to wait between the moment you add “Macintosh HD” and the moment you remove it
Then you can search again
@@FranciscoMalpica mine wasn't working, so i did the ancestors way-- restart the computer and its working like a charm!
Thank you so so much!!!!!! As a preservice teacher in ELA 7-12, I have large files for my content area and create curriculums. I search a lot in finder, and it doesn't show up in finder on my M1 iMac or M2 Macbook Air. Now thanks to you, I can find them again. You have earned a subscription.
Spent hours on the phone with Apple today and they couldn't figure this out! 🥴 Your video solved the problem in less than a minute. Thank you!
It's so good when a youtube tutorial actually works! Thank you!!
Works a a treat after YEARS of not being able to find files! Thanks!
Thank you! this is helpful! I have been looking an answer / fix to this annoying issue. I bought another Mac, a MacBook Air M3 that I always carry around at work. With the MacBook Pro I could easily breeze through the files with a simple search button but with MacBook Air, I found that I could not search anything except on Macbook Air itself. I even thought of just resorting to carrying my MacBook Pro with me instead of MacBook Air but I found with portability-wise, MacBook Airs are the best with the workflow I have. I just could not find the answer to the problem.
I tried almost everything, reset, hard reset, created another user (as I found in one of the suggestions), etc. etc. Then I found this and watched the video and it worked!!
Thanks for this. 🥰 love you! 🤣❤
This has been a MAJOR problem for me. Thank you!
So glad! Thanks for the comment :)
Here 2 years later, and... It worked! (M1 Mac, Sequoia) Thanks, it was driving me crazy.
OMG - thank you. How annoyed I have been for 5 months, till I found your video. Worked great on my MacBook Pro 2023, Sonoma 14.2.1. THANK YOU!!!!!
This bug is very annoying, I've been looking for a solution for a long time and here it is, just a 5 minutes, simple and effective. Thanks!
wow, I am kind of amazed, this worked, thank you, I don't think I have been able to search properly for about two years! Thank you so much.
Ventura 13.3.1 I don't know exactly when my search quit working but it was beginning to drive me crazy. Such a simple fix, Thank You
A tutorial actually worked for once!!! Thank you :D
Thanks, much appreciated. I couldn't search my OneDrive files in finder (Ventura 13.4.1) - follow your steps and it's now working perfectly.
After I tried it today, your solution worked for me - having had the problem for weeks. Thank you!
Awesome! Glad it workedb
Fixed my MacBook Pro 2023 M2 13" in seconds! It also fixed my Outlook search not working that I have spent hours trying everything I could find under that issue. I wish I would have started here!!!! You need to index this for fixing a broken Outlook search on Macs as well.
Thank you, this finally worked!! I haven't been able to search in my Downloads folder for a week and kept trying to re-index just that folder like other guides online have suggested. Re-indexing my entire disk finally did the trick!
Straightforward, super easy, you're a legend mate!
Thank you very much! It works on my Macbook Pro M1 with updated MacOS Sequoia 15.2. Fantastic!!! 🤩👍🏻
Amazing! Thank you for solving this most frustrating dilemma!
You have saved me SO MUCH TIME and headache. Appreciate you brother 👊🏻
OH MY GOD THANK YOU, YOU SAVED ME!!! Mac finally forced the OS update and suddenly I couldn't find a single file!!! Phoooo~ey!
I just did on Sequoia, and was beaultiful, man! Thank you very much!
worked for me setting up my new M2 mac mini. Moved from a 10 year old macbook air that searched perfectly fine then was bummed when i saw my new mini wasn't finding what it should. Solved a big problem for me!
Yes this worked! My problem was not that nothing would appear but finder would be full be full of a long list of files mainly books in my library that were not the precise file name I typed in. The precise file name could appear way down the list. I'm on an M1 2020 running Sonoma 14.0. There was a slight difference in systems preferences Spotlight and Siri are listed together, but I could follow the instructions and they worked! Thanks - I had just accepted that as an unfixable thing about my MAC! delighted that finder search is working properly
You are a goddamn hero! Mac had automatically put my external HDD in this Privacy list without my realizing it and this solved my issue. Thank you!
OMG I've tried looking for an actual solution for months!! Thanks dude!!
Thank you! It was driving me nuts trying to figure out why Finder search was not working. You solution worked on a MBP 2021, running Sonoma 14.1.
had this problem for over 2 years i think, finally great to know that it can be easily fixed! thanks!
I have been hobbling along for a couple of years without this working. Now it does! Thank you!
YES! Glad it worked
This worked for me today for MacBook Air Sequoia. I couldn't search in finder for any of my files, now files are showing up when searching. Thank you.
thank you very much, your video helped me to solve the spotlight problem in less than five minutes
Great tip! Still works 2 years later.
glad it helped ben!
Menus are slightly different due to Mac updates, but the process works! Thank you.
Glad it helped!!
OMG ... even apple chat couldnt fix recents smart folder being empty.. this got it fixed .. thanks alot .. u saved me from reinstalling the macos
Crazy! Glad this saved you the trouble :)
Brilliant! I was getting so frustrated with this problem. It fixed like magic. Thanks Buddy🙂👍
No problem 👍 Glad to hear!
Thank you so much. This was driving me nuts. So easy to follow and worked on my OS 15.1. Thank you again!!!!
Thank you!!! This bug was so frustrating. Slightly different setup under System Settings on Ventura 13.0. But quick and easy to do.
WOW!!! Awesome man! it worked like a charm!!! Finder was so annoying, not it works. Thank you so much man
I've been struggling with this for almost a year, Thanks a lot bro!
No problem! Glad it helped
Thank you! This worked for me with my Mac Mini / OS 15.2!
AAAA THANKYOUUUU, ive been searching every files by sorting the name for a while.. it works on my mba m2, sequioa 15.1.1!!
Thank you just purchased the new mac book air and it wasn't finding files in search bar from my external hard drive connected, was going crazy until i tried this and it worked and now it finds all the files when i search for them... thank you so much for this quick solution
So glad it helped!
Just did this today on Macbook Pro 2022. Works perfectly. Thank you!
Problem solved! THANK YOU SO MUCH! 🙌
You're welcome!
THIS.WAS.AWESOME.THANKS. I had been so frustrated by this problem. Such an easy fix. 2021 MBP with latest OS.
Works great, fixed my issues after installing Sequoia. Thanks man!
Thank u so much!, I've been suffering for months cause this didn't work in my brand new macbook, but now it's fix.
Such simple steps to sort out a problem that really bugged me, thanks
this was exactly what i was looking for. it worked perfectly
Thanks a lot, still works and solved my issue on a McBook pro 2019. Wishing you the best for 2025 :)
OMG , thank you very much. You cannot believe how much I tried to fix this issue to no avail until I found this video. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
HURRAY! Glad it helped you Yasin!
YES !! It worked thanks. MacBook Pro 2020 - Intel - OS Sequoia
Extremely helpful. This has been driving me crazy and your fix worked instantly so thank you very much.
MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) MacOS Montrey, it worked !!!! thank you !!
Great! Thanks Geoffrey!
Having the same problem for months. Glad to come cross your video. Thank you!
Thank you so much, I was baffled why Finder was so bad, and this fixed!
I really got frustrated with this issue, everytime I was restarting my macbook to use search in finder. But man your video really helped, thank you so much!
It worked! Thank you so much. i was tearing my hair out!!
Thanks bro!!! And to think, two weeks ago I got my iMac back from Genius bar (using AppleCare) due to user experience issues. Thanks a lot. Thumbs up.
Thank you so much! Worked on my M3 Macbook air
Worked just as described, also on search in Finder!
MacBook Pro M3, mac OS Sonoma 14.4.1
Thank you so much! I was starting to believe there was a bigger problem but it was just this!
Works! Amazingly easy! November 2024.
Thank you!
Skip to 1:13 to avoid all the fluff ... also, this does not work on for my external hdd ... spotlight was not reindexing files so I unmounted the drive. Unplugged the USB cable, then replugged it in. Then added and removed my hard drive in the Spotlight/Search Privacy button ... this time, it worked!!!
Thank you. Very short and to the point. And yes, it worked in my case (MBP M3 16") Cheers
You're welcome!
When I choose my hard drive and confirm that I want to remove it a "Privacy List Error" pops up that states "The item couldn't be added or removed because of an unknown error" - is there a fix for this?
God bless you! Worked on my MacBook Pro 2021 using Mac OS Ventura 13.4
Glad to hear it! Thanks Taylor
Just got a new 2023 MacBook Pro M2 - worked great!! Thank you so much.
Awesome! This has been broken on my system "forever"! Seems to be working now.
Very helpful! Thank you soooo much! You saved my life!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
thanks! worked! don't get why a 5min video for a 20sec fix. everyone just fast-forward to 2:00. Cheers.
I was about to lose my mind! Thank you soooooo much!!
Man! You're a life saver. Thanks a lot for this. You've earned a new subscriber.
Thanks for the sub!
Yes! One-year-old Mac Studio - worked!
My Finder Search is not working even more basically : when I try to type in the field next to the magnifying glass icon NOTHING appears.
No text AT ALL in the box.
Same
I have the same problem with the search but it does find files that are located on my mac but not files that r located on my remote drive. I have tries your fix and it didn't work (and not while using safe mode). can you help?
You must delete the external drive if it shows up in the preferences pane with the minus sign. Once it is not there or if it wasn’t there to begin with, then hit the plus sign locate the external dive as an additional location to search. That should take care of the problem.
THANK YOU!!! This will save me so much time!
You're welcome!
I've spent hours to search for solution and found your video. Thanks so much!
glad it helped!!
Thank you! This worked on my 16" 2019 MBP running MAC OS SONOMA 👍🏾
Did the trick for me too. Thank you very much for posting this.
The issue I have is all my data is stored on external hard drives. No matter what I have tried, my iMac refuses to index my external hard drive. I have the latest iMac running the latest version of Ventura and my external hard drives are formatted exFat. I've been using an iMac for ten years and this has always been an issue. If there's a way to fix this, that would be awesome.
Worked really good on Ventura 13.3.1 (MacBook Pro). Thanks! and like 332 is my hit ;)
Awesome, thank you! Works on an M1 Ultra Mac Studio! This was driving me crazy
FINALLY!!! love you
Fantastic. Thank you for the quick and easy answer!
THANK YOU!!!!! It's a MiRACLE!!!!!!!! iMAC Retina 5K 27-inch 2020
Superb !! This works ! And let me tell you, this is the only trick which works.
Happy to help!