Spotlight not searching hidden files/folders

[Tech198]

Anyway to do this ?

Would third part apps pick up hidden folders ?

I've shown all hidden files from Terminal, but i am unable to locate the hidden folder(s) i want to delete...


If only Spotlight could search these, it would be allot easier. But from Apple's point of view, that's why their hidden so users wouldn't stuff up the OS.

The hidden folders i want to delete are not system specific, just app specific..

Things were never meant to be easy ......

 

[Weaselboy]

I just use the free app iFileX instead of Finder for searches like this. It will find a hidden folder.

I agree Finder for search is awful.

 

[deGenova]

I just use the free app iFileX instead of Finder for searches like this. It will find a hidden folder.

I agree Finder for search is awful.

Thanks for the tip - just installed iy and its fine.....

 

[adnbek]

You can set it to search hidden files and even system files, which by default do not show up.

If you do a search with spotlight, hit the + on the right, tap the first drop down menu where it says kind, select "other" and add "file invisibility" and "system files" by putting a checkmark next to each one.

Then you can do this:

 

[Weaselboy]

You can set it to search hidden files and even system files, which by default do not show up.

Finder search seems to be kind of borked in Mavericks. Or it was restricted on purpose. Even with the changes you made there it still fails to find things in the /Library folders for example.

Edit: See this thread.

 

[adnbek]

Finder search seems to be kind of borked in Mavericks. Or it was restricted on purpose. Even with the changes you made there it still fails to find things in the /Library folders for example.

Edit: See this thread.

Ah, didn't know this. That is weird indeed. Seems to only be certain folders in Library as I've been able to find certain files within /Library but depends on the subfolder.

Thanks for the heads up.