How to search for files from the Finder Window

In the last post, we looked searching for files using the Spotlight feature. Another way to search for files is using the Find Command on the Finder window. While it may at first glance appear similar to the older versions of Mac OS X, it is in fact powered by Spotlight Technology. Using Find, you can search for an item by:

The file name or any part of the file name
The date the file was modified, created or last opened
Text content of the file
Keywords that Spotlight may have indexed
Size of the file
Type of file
Any combination of the above criteria
And much more

Searching for Files from the Finder Window

To begin searching, open any Finder window, enter your search criteria in the Search Box and, if relevant, click the suggestion such as “filename contains text” to narrow the search. Then, press Return. The window is then transformed into a Spotlight window. To directly open a Spotlight window so that you can customize your search, select File > Find from the menu or press the Command +F keystroke combination.

Search box in the Finder Window

You can narrow or broaden your search to specific Servers, your Home folder, Computer (to search your entire Mac) or Others, where you can add specific folders to the list. Select the area you want to search in a Finder window and then select File > Find from the menu to display the Spotlight window. For example, to search only your Home folder, select your Home folder in the Sidebar and select File > Find from the menu. You Home folder will then be displayed as a choice on the Spotlight window. You can choose This Mac to search your entire computer.

To narrow down your search even further, use the criteria boxes.

To Search for a File or Folder using the Find Command

Select File > Find from the Finder menu
Or
Press the Command +F keystroke combination
Or
Type your search criteria in the Search Box of any Finder window.
To search by file name:
a.Click the File Name box.
b.Type the name of the file or part of the name in the Search Box.
c.If desired, click a relevant suggestion that appears as you begin to type.
To search using additional criteria, click the plus (+) sign and then choose the desired criteria from the drop-down boxes. Click Other for a list of all available criteria.
To search only a specific drive or folder:
a.Click the desired disk or folder in any Finder window.
b.Select File > Find from the menu (or use the Command +F keystroke combination)
c.Select the drive or folder on top of the Spotlight window.
d.Type in your search criteria in the Search Box.
To save a search for reuse in the future, click the Save button and provide a name for your search.