Search scope

Search current folder vs subfolders, and choose Spotlight or file system search.

Search scope (current folder vs subfolders)

Explorer search can be narrow (just this folder) or broad (this folder + everything inside it).

Where to change it

Open Preferences → Search:

  • Search scope
  • Spotlight vs file system scan
  • Result limit

Choose a scope

  • Current folder: fastest, predictable, and great when you already know “where”.
  • Include subfolders: best when the folder is a project root and you don’t want to click down.

If you’re seeing “too many results”, switch to Current folder first - it’s usually the right default.

Spotlight vs file system search

Explorer can search using:

  • Spotlight (fast, relies on macOS indexing)
  • File system scan (no index required, but slower on large trees)

If Spotlight results look incomplete, try switching Spotlight off for a test - it helps separate “index issue” from “Explorer issue”.

Result limit

Search is capped (by default) so results stay fast and usable. If you routinely search huge trees, increase the limit in Preferences.

Next steps