MacOS – Spotlight doesn’t show Finder

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I typed "Finder" in Spotlight. Finder isn't shown. Why?
I use Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks)

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On Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) typing "Finder" in Spotlight does display the finder app.

Best Answer

Because Finder is located inside /System/Library. (Specifically, at /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app.) Everything inside any of the Library folders is considered a "system file", and not normally visible.

Interestingly, Yosemite seems to have made an exception for /System/Library/CoreServices, treating it more like an applications folder than a library folder. Spotlight will show Finder in Yosemite.

In a Finder search window (which is basically Spotlight with more focus on finding files but little or none on finding non-files), you need to add a [System files][are included] search term to see system files. If you don't see System files as an option in that first menu, select "Other..." and find "System files". (Note that you can search for it!) For future convenience, put a checkmark on it to add it to the menu.

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