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Finder command F advance search

When I use spotlight the search function works, but if I want to use a more advance search function, I use Finder (and) Command-F following with some criteria on my search. To my surprise, after installing Sequoia yesterday and leaving my MacBook Air M1 on standby all night and all day, the function still doesn't work. Even with the simple search as "Type+pdf" there is no results despite I know the folder is fill with PDF files. Please help me, the advance search function is a vital function and the reason to use a Mac computer.

MacBook Air 13″

Posted on Nov 15, 2024 7:26 PM

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9 replies

Nov 16, 2024 2:39 PM in response to Arcticfox5

"NO ADVANCE SEARCH RESULT" just concentrate on that,

Sorry, I have this thread convoluted with another. I thought I had suggested reindexing Spotlight.


Have you rebuilt the Spotlight Index?

There is no functional problem in sequoia as to your simple search. If it is formed as I indicated, and that isn’t returning PDF’s, then your Spotlight index is the problem.

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support



Nov 15, 2024 9:18 PM in response to Barney-15E

Exactly like you explain...sorry, my bad. First criteria is "type" second is "PDF" there should be all the PDF files listed from the folder I choose from and root down the tree (Assuming there is sub folder, but in my case there is no other folder down the tree from where I was looking for) So for this one I was interested to see the search function to work, but it doesn't at all...they broke it!!!!

Nov 16, 2024 10:13 PM in response to Arcticfox5

Well, yes, (Fr)= French. Somehow, the system is fixed. As you can see on the screenshot, I have the result for a very basic search as well as a more elaborate search criteria. I guess who ever has this problem I mentioned above and elsewhere you will find in the community from others with the same concern, I'm thinking you need to wait a few days for the computer to catalog all of the data. I need to specify I didn't download any fixed for this fix, It was still not working this PM, but it is tonight. Thank you for this community and the people that get involves at helping others.

Nov 21, 2024 11:29 PM in response to Barney-15E

I just read your comment. This page is not keeping the answers in a timely order as I belived. Anyway, How relevant is your answer if I tell you the problem Never Been Spotlight. If you look the attached picture, the problem was in the what I call "Advance Search" (Command + F) giving NO Result. Somehow, it started to work after a few days, don't know why, but the Tags don't work anymore...just saying.

Nov 22, 2024 4:22 AM in response to Arcticfox5

Arcticfox5 wrote:

I just read your comment. This page is not keeping the answers in a timely order as I belived. Anyway, How relevant is your answer if I tell you the problem Never Been Spotlight. If you look the attached picture, the problem was in the what I call "Advance Search" (Command + F) giving NO Result. Somehow, it started to work after a few days, don't know why, but the Tags don't work anymore...just saying.

All search on the Mac is Spotlight. Whether you search in the Spotlight interface the finder window or the storage display it is all spotlight.

Finder command F advance search

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