I am using macOS Big Sur, and notice if I use Finder and navigate to a folder, and search for a file by name, then it shows me results, but is for the whole Mac. This is really confusing. I will have to remember to click it from "This Mac" back to "FolderName" How do I make it search within that folder and its sub-folders by default?
MacOS – How to not show search results for the whole Mac
findermacmacos
Related Solutions
I've seen this, can't reproduce it, but it's a glitch in Finder's Arrange By options, and can be fixed by leaving Arrange set to None.
The Spotlight window does not include files treated as system files by default. Try setting "System files" to "are included":
Or use mdfind:
$ mdfind -name tweetbot
/Applications/Tweetbot.app
/Users/lauri/Library/Application Support/CrashReporter/Tweetbot_4C49445B-E14E-51E5-87DC-7CE59AE6A841.plist
/Users/lauri/Library/Containers/com.tapbots.TweetbotMac/Data/Library/Application Support/CrashReporter/Tweetbot_4C49445B-E14E-51E5-87DC-7CE59AE6A841.plist
/Users/lauri/Library/Containers/com.tapbots.TweetbotMac/Data/Library/Application Support/Tweetbot
/Users/lauri/Library/Containers/com.tapbots.TweetbotMac
/Users/lauri/Library/Speech/Speakable Items/Application Speakable Items/Tweetbot
/Users/lauri/Library/SyncedPreferences/com.tapbots.TweetbotMac.plist
Best Answer
In Finder Preferences, in the advanced tab you have an option to choose where the search starts from.