Fix Mac Finder Search Not Working in 5 Proven Ways

Finder is one of the best default file management applications on Mac, which has essential tips & tricks and merges well with cloud storage platforms, offering tags to schedule files like a professional. This in-built application has a robust search tool to find your crucial files. However, nowadays, users have been complaining about the Mac Finder search not working issue.

Due to technical glitches or bugs, the Finder search may not show up, or it may not work appropriately. This hassle leads to effectiveness and wastage of time; therefore, this article has come up with 5 proven fixes to resolve the Mac Finder search not working error. Let's get started!

Fix 1. Check Finder Search Settings

One of the best ways to fix the "Mac finder search not working" issue is to check the Finder search settings. These are the steps to follow:

Step 1. Commence a Finder window, hit "Finder" in the menu bar, and opt for "Settings" from the dropdown.

Step 2. Navigate to the "Advanced" tab in the fresh window.

Step 3. You will notice the "When performing a search" option at the bottom. Therefore, you must ensure that the "Search this Mac" is ticked.

This method also works when your Mac Finder is not showing files. In case it's already selected, and you keep facing this problem in Finder, follow the subsequent fixes.

Fix 2. Rebuild the Spotlight Index to Fix Finder Search Not Working

Do you know that Finder search and Spotlight search employ a similar search index? If you don't, you may check Spotlight search settings to see if every folder is added to the search index. In this part, we provide detailed steps that can solve the Mac Finder or Spotlight search not working issues on a Mac.

You might have accidentally excluded a folder or two utilizing the privacy settings in macOS. These are the steps to follow:

Step 1. Hit the Apple logo from the menu bar.

Step 2. Hit "System Settings" or "System Preferences".

Step 3. Select "Siri & Spotlight > Spotlight Privacy".

Step 4. Take the folders off the drop-down list if you notice ones that you want Spotlight and Finder Search to search through. After selecting the folder to be indexed, select the "-" icon. Hit "Done".

Fix 3. Delete the Corrupted Finder PLIST File

In case you have a damaged Finder PLIST file on your MacBook, the functions and the applications might not work as anticipated. Therefore, it's important to delete the file, reboot, and try your luck from the beginning. The steps to delete the corrupted Finder PLIST file are the following:

Step 1. Launch "Finder" and hit "Command + Shift + G" together.

Step 2. Navigate to the path: ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist.

Step 3. Search for the Finder PLIST file (com.apple.finder.plist) from the list, control-click it, and hit "Move to Trash" or use the moving to Trash shortcut.

That's where your file will be quickly eliminated. After you've rebooted your Mac to force the modifications to take effect, try using Finder to determine if you can receive the appropriate search outcomes.

You should note that the deleted files will be moved to the Trash bin and stay for only 30 days before being permanently deleted. If you want to recover permanently deleted files on a Mac, consider using the professional data recovery tool.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can help you recover files without the Mac Trash bin, including deleted Word documents, photos, videos, Excel files, emails, etc. Download this powerful file recovery tool and recover your deleted/lost files in only 3 steps!

Add this post to your bookmark if it is informative, and share it on social media to help others learn how to fix the Mac Finder search not working error.

Fix 4. Boot Your Mac in Safe Mode

Booting a Mac into Safe Mode may resolve the issue of finder search not working precisely. Booting up is one of the hassle-free processes, which can be done in just a few minutes. Using safe mode is important to dig out every trouble or error that has stopped your PC.

If you own an Apple Silicon Mac or an Intel Mac, these are the steps to boot your Mac in safe mode:

Boot your Apple Silicon Mac in safe mode:

Step 1. Shut down your Mac, and wait for a few seconds to boot up.

Step 2. Hit the power button until you notice loading startup options on the screen.

Step 3. Opt for your startup disk.

Step 4. Press down the "Shift" key and opt for "Continue in safe mode".

Boot your Intel Mac in safe mode:

Step 1. Shut down your MacBook and wait for 10 seconds to boot the system up again.

Step 2. Keep pressing the power button to boot up your Mac and hold the "Shift" key.

Step 3. The "Shift" key needs to be released when you notice the login window.

Fix 5. Check the Software Update to Fix Finder Search Not Working

An out-of-date software may cause the Mac Finder search not to work properly. Therefore, users should update the software of their Macs as the latest updates possess every crucial bug fix and can help resolve your issue without any hassle. Go through the steps below to update your Mac to macOS Sonoma:

Step 1. Navigate to the Apple logo by hitting the "System Settings" button at the upper edge of the screen.

Step 2. Search for the option "General Tab" and then opt for "Software Update".

Step 3. Select "Update" or "Upgrade Now".

Or you can go to the App Store, type the macOS version you want, and check for the update.

This fix will look for available updates for your MacBook and install them directly on your device.

Why Doesn't Search Work in Mac Finder?

There are a few reasons the search doesn't work in Mac Finder, which are shown below:

❌Temporary glitches: When you start searching for any file in Mac Finder, there might be some temporary glitches that may prevent you from finding the file.

⚠️Older software: If your MacBook's software isn't updated yet, the outdated software may lead to Mac Finder not working properly. Therefore, updating your MacBook is necessary.

😫Imprecise settings: If the finder setting is incorrect, it leads to the Mac Finder search not working error.

Conclusion

If you're having problems with the Finder search on your Mac, the solutions we mentioned above can assist. So go ahead and give each one a shot at your own pace. It might be necessary for you to bring your Mac to a local Apple Store for in-person hardware support if neither of these troubleshooting techniques resolves the issue for you.

If all else fails, you could try factory resetting your Mac, but be careful—this will erase all of your data. In that case, you should install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to retrieve every type of deleted data on your Mac.

Mac Finder Search Not Working FAQs

These are the FAQs to understand the topic better:

1. Why does my Mac Finder search not work?

One of the most vital reasons for the "Mac Finder search not work" error is outdated software. If you can't use Finder to search your files, it's recommended that you install the latest software.

2. Why can't I search for files on my Mac?

On your Mac, launch the Finder application. Navigate to the "Advanced" section. Select one of the other two alternatives to alter the Finder application's default search behavior when conducting a query. Employing the "Previous Search Scope", finding the "Current Folder", or "Search This Mac" are some instances of this.