Finder search not finding files

[raymanh]

I don't know if this is an issue with my computer, or just that the finder search isn't very powerful.

I uninstalled an app and wanted to see if it left any files behind so I typed the name of the app in the finder search bar and got no returns. A few days later I was browsing though my library folders and I spotted some left over files from the uninstalled app. Why didn't the search bar find this?

If the issue is that the search bar is not powerful enough, is there an alternative app?

EDIT: It seems like I've answered my own question- there's a plus arrow below the search where you can choose to include system files. Although finding this has made me realise there seems to be a bug. When I'm in the recents folder and press cmd + f to search something, there is not a + symbol below the search bar, instead it is a - symbol. However on every other folder (e.g. airdrop, pictures, documents etc.) the + symbol is there when I search. Why?

 

[prisstratton]

I have always used the following procedure:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/best-way-to-fully-delete-a-program.999635/#post-11171082

 

[Weaselboy]

I don't know if this is an issue with my computer, or just that the finder search isn't very powerful.

I uninstalled an app and wanted to see if it left any files behind so I typed the name of the app in the finder search bar and got no returns. A few days later I was browsing though my library folders and I spotted some left over files from the uninstalled app. Why didn't the search bar find this?

If the issue is that the search bar is not powerful enough, is there an alternative app?

EDIT: It seems like I've answered my own question- there's a plus arrow below the search where you can choose to include system files. Although finding this has made me realise there seems to be a bug. When I'm in the recents folder and press cmd + f to search something, there is not a + symbol below the search bar, instead it is a - symbol. However on every other folder (e.g. airdrop, pictures, documents etc.) the + symbol is there when I search. Why?

Even with system files selected it won't find files in the Library folder for example, unless you go to that folder and search. I find it easier to just use a third party app to do one search and find everything without having to mess about with multiple searches in Finder.

I recently started using FindAnyFile. It has a beta that has been updated to work with APFS under High Sierra.

http://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/

 

[kohlson]

We've been using EasyFind, from Devon Tech. Free.

It's one of the programs we load onto our Macs when we refresh.