Recent Doesn't Show All Recent Files

[A1MB1G]

I've noticed that the RECENTS sidebar option in Finder doesn't always list newly created PDF's or Documents I've saved on my laptop. I recall seeing a way to rectify this issue but cannot recall what it is. Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions?

For example, if someone sends me a PDF that I save to my drive from an email or a web link, it doesn't show up in RECENTS. There are few other scenarios in which this occurs. Would love to find a fix for this. I recall having setup a search criteria back in the day but I recently had to reset my macbook to factory and don't recall how I had it setup.

I also wish there was a way to have a separate sort order for just the RECENTs listing and a different sort order for all other folders on my macbook.

 

[Gregg2]

Well, I've noticed that some files I had just opened don't appear in the drop down menu for Recent Items also. I figure that some sort of action is required in order for it to "stick". Maybe it's the same for Recents.

I turned on Recents in the Sidebar just now, and it populated with 831 items, the oldest of which was from 2009. I'm turning it back off, never to be seen again...