When grouping by "Kind," Finder suddenly categorizes PDFs as "Other"

ikhat wrote:

Updated my Mac for the first time in a few months the other day, and something very annoying has happened with Finder.

For years I've always had Finder in column view, sorted/grouped by "kind", which has been perfect.

All of a sudden, the groupings of what goes in the different "kinds" have changed. I think before it had PDFs all categorized as the "PDF Document" "kind". That option still appears on the list of "Kinds" when you do a search or create a smart folder, for example, but it doesn't actually use it in Finder's groupings.

Notably, a huge amount of my work involves creating and editing LaTeX documents. I like to keep each document in its own folder that compartmentalizes all the auxiliary files, and have a folder structure I've been maintaining in this way for many years. Sorting by "kind" was perfect because it would automatically call the .tex file a "Document", the PDF a "PDF Document", and all the auxiliary files as "Other". It perfectly surfaced the files I always need.

Now, for the first time in all those years, PDF files are grouped in with all the auxiliary files under the "Other" kind. I didn't change any settings or monkey with anything, and I know it's a sudden change because I browse these files dozens of times a day.

Here's a quick grab of what it looks like now:

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/6054b15c-254e-4935-b3be-cb1664b39f07

Before this change, the only difference was that LEC4,5,6.pdf would have been in its own "Kind" group between the top group and the "Other" group.

What's going on here? Some research indicates that I can't define what "Kind" a file is myself, which is the standard sort of minor QOL think that Apple won't let me fix, but it was perfect before. What happened?

I see but one .pdf extension in your screen shot...(?) So I don't get it.

ex. Finder List view sort by kind:

make some change—

macOS 15.3.2

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and toggle the Group between several different options with Kind as the last selection test to see if the problem persists.. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

ikhat wrote:

For years I've always had Finder in column view, sorted/grouped by "kind", which has been perfect.

All of a sudden, the groupings of what goes in the different "kinds" have changed. I think before it had PDFs all categorized as the "PDF Document" "kind". That option still appears on the list of "Kinds" when you do a search or create a smart folder, for example, but it doesn't actually use it in Finder's groupings.

I have Sequoia on two MacBook Pros, one an Intel Mac and the other a silicon Mac. Your post intrigued me because it sounded like you have found a bug. But I can't reproduce it. When I do that grouping by "kind," it always puts the pdf documents under PDF Document category, not in Other. And I use LaTex on the silicon Mac and yes, with LaTex one does produce pdf files and on mine they are sorted into the correct category (both the ones produced by LaTex as well as other pdf files). Maybe do what Leroy suggested which is to check your settings carefully. However in my case, the behavior before and after updating to Sequoia was the same and the sorting was correct.

Do you have this same issue for pdfs produced by something other than LaTex?

I don’t think there is a “PDF” group. At least I don’t remember one. You can Sort by kind and have all of the PDFs together. Grouping and Sorting are different.

I just got to a Mac, and when I Group by Kind, I have a PDF Documents group.

I don't know why except if the Spotlight index is corrupt/incomplete.