Searching with metadata attributes works in the Spotlight 'window', but not in Finder windows.

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Level 1

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Searching with metadata attributes works in the Spotlight 'window', but not in Finder windows.

macOS 14.8.2. When I do a (text only) search in a Finder window (using the 'search' field), with the scope set to "This Mac", I get results, but when I run a search with metadata attributes, for a search term and kind that exist in my filesystem, e.g.:

shop kind:folder

… I get no results (even waiting for many minutes). When I run that same (metadata attribute) search in the Spotlight 'window' (in the Finder toolbar; also by invoking it from a keyboard shortcut), it works, and does so quickly.

I thought the 'search' field in Finder windows used the same Spotlight technology used in the Spotlight 'window'.

I just did a full Spotlight index rebuild, and that didn't help.

Posted on Jan 1, 2026 3:07 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,204 points

Jan 1, 2026 4:56 PM in response to bob7

bob7 wrote:

macOS 14.8.2. When I do a (text only) search in a Finder window (using the 'search' field), with the scope set to "This Mac", I get results, but when I run a search with metadata attributes, for a search term and kind that exist in my filesystem, e.g.:

shop kind:folder

That's out of order. You should first set the kind token to Folder and then add "shop"

So,

kind:folder <return> shop

I thought the 'search' field in Finder windows used the same Spotlight technology used in the Spotlight 'window'.

It does, but the filters are different, so you will get different results.

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Answer 2

bob7 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 1, 2026 5:16 PM in response to Barney-15E

I constructed the find based on an example here:

Narrow your search results in Finder on Mac - Apple Support (AZ)

… where it gives one example:

trip kind:document searches for the word “trip” in documents only.

Granted, that is not exactly the same as:

shop kind:folder

I tried what you said, and it works. I didn't (even) have to hit return; it worked just typing it all in (but it also works when using <return>).

Thanks for that!

In Spotlight (menu bar), I can't press return, because doing so invokes the search immediately. (But as I wrote, it works just typing text as I originally constructed my search, or in the reverse order.

I'm curious why Apple would construct filters differently for Finder windows and Spotlight (menu bar).

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Answer 3

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,204 points

Jan 1, 2026 5:21 PM in response to bob7

bob7 wrote:

I constructed the find based on an example here:

Narrow your search results in Finder on Mac - Apple Support (AZ)

… where it gives one example:

trip kind:document• searches for the word “trip” in documents only.

I have never seen it work that way.

I'm curious why Apple would construct filters differently for Finder windows and Spotlight (menu bar).

They serve different purposes.

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