How to Find Files on a Mac | Top 5 Best Ways for 2024

By default, where are Mac files stored?

Before you learn how to find files on a Mac, it's important to understand the default locations where files are stored. Typically, files created on a Mac are saved in different folders depending on their type and how they were made.

Documents, downloads, screenshots, and videos are all stored in different places. Where are screenshots saved on a Mac? When you take a screenshot on a Mac, the image is saved to your desktop by default. If you download something from the internet, those files will be saved in the "Downloads" folder. All of your Mac files are stored on your Mac's hard drive, and you can find them easily using several methods.

You can preview the following table to learn quickly how to find files on your Mac:

Method 1: How to Find a File on Your Mac with Recovery Software

In some cases, using a recovery tool to find files on Mac should be the best solution, especially if you're not sure whether the file has been deleted. When you can't find a file on your Mac, it's recommended to scan the entire Mac disk with professional Mac data recovery software.

With the help of the Mac Data Recovery Wizard, you won't waste your time looking for files on your Mac. The recovery tool lets you filter files by type and path, so you can locate your lost items quickly.

Please feel free to download the software. You can experience a trial version. Don't hesitate to click on the button below; the link is secure, and so is the software.

This Mac recovery software can help you in many ways:

• ?️Recovering deleted screenshots on Mac is much easier without a backup. You can restore lost PNG, JPEG, GIF, CR2, PSD, and other image files from your Mac or MacBook.
• ?Find documents that are missing on your Mac. This recovery tool supports various file types, including DOC, XLS, PDF, PPT, HTML, and more.
• ?Recover deleted AVI video files on your Mac, along with other video formats such as MP4, MOV, M4V, 3GP, WMV, and more.

After the installation, you can run it and first back up Mac to prevent further data loss.

Step 1: Search for the Lost File

Select the disk location where you want to search for lost files (it can be an internal HDD/SSD or an external hard drive), and then hit the “Search Lost Files” button.

Note: Before data recovery, it's better to click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar and create a backup of your HDD/SSD to prevent further data loss. After the backup, the software can recover data from your disk image, and then you can use the HDD or SSD again.

Step 2: Browse the scan results

The software will immediately scan the volume you select and show pictures, documents, audio, video, and email on the left.

Step 3: Select the files and recover them

Click on Preview Data, and then hit the Recover button to get them back.

If you found your lost files on a Mac, share this page on Twitter or Facebook to help other readers learn about it!

Method 2: How to Use MacSpotlight to Search for Files

Similar to the Windows search box, Mac Spotlight can search for files on your Mac and Safari results. This built-in tool is quite powerful, and you can learn how to use Spotlight to search for files by checking out the information below.

Step 1: Invoke Spotlight using the Command + Space shortcut, or click the magnifying glass icon in your menu bar.

Step 2: Type the name of the file you're looking for. If you're not sure of the name, type in 1-2 keywords. Or, type in the file type, like .jpeg.

Enter different keywords to search for the file; the best match will appear at the top of the results list. If Spotlight doesn't find your file, keep reading for instructions on how to search for a file on your Mac using Finder.

Method 3: How to Search for Files on a Mac Using Finder

The best way to view and search all files on a Mac is by using the Mac Finder. This tool functions similarly to the File Explorer in Windows and helps you view all files and folders on your computer. The Finder displays detailed information about files/folders, including size, creation date, type, and more parameters.

Let's see how to use the Finder to locate the files you need on your Mac:

Step 1: The Finder icon can be easily located on the Dock. Double-click it to launch.

Locate “Finder” on the Dock

Step 2 All of your frequent folders will be displayed in the sidebar. You can manually check each folder to find the file on your Mac. As with the second method, you can also use the Finder's search function to locate the file more quickly.

Step 3: If you want to make it easy to find these files later, right-click and add a label to them. You can also rename the files to describe their contents in more detail.

If you could share this page and all the methods on social media, it would help more people find their files on a Mac or MacBook!

Method 4: How to View Files in the Mac Trash

From its icon, you can easily tell what the Mac Trash does. The Trash folder temporarily stores files/folders deleted from your Mac. You don't need to worry about where is Trash on Mac. After reading this guide, you can locate it effortlessly.

Step 1: The Trash can be found quickly on the Dock. Hover your pointer over the icon to display the words “Trash.” Click it twice to open the Trash folder.

Step 2: Recently deleted files/folders move to the Trash, where you can also search for them. To restore them, right-click and select Put Back, which will return the files to their original location.

Step 3: We recommend that you drag these files from the Trash directly to your desktop so you can find them later.

Note: If you have emptied the Trash by accident, go back to Method 1 for Trash recovery on Mac. Read on for more information:

Please provide the English content you would like translated, and I will do my best to translate it into Chinese.

How to Recover Emptied Trash on Mac | Complete Guide

Are you looking for free ways to recover deleted files from Mac's Trash? Follow these two methods for Mac Trash recovery in this guide. Read More >>

Method 5: Search for files on a Mac using the Terminal On a Mac, you can use the built-in Terminal application to search for files via the command line. Follow these steps: 1. Open the "Applications" folder. 2. Navigate to the "Utilities" subfolder. 3. Double-click on "Terminal" to open it. 4. In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter: ``` find [Starting Directory] -name "[File or Directory Name]" ``` Replace `[Starting Directory]` with the path of the directory where you want to start the search (e.g., `/Users/YourUsername`) and `[File or Directory Name]` with the exact name of the file or directory you're looking for (wildcards * are supported). For example, if you want to search for a file named "example.txt" in your current user directory, the command would be: ``` find ~ -name "example.txt" ``` 5. The Terminal will display the paths of all files and directories that match your input. Keep in mind that this method is more suitable for users comfortable with command-line operations. For casual users, the graphical interface tools like Spotlight, Finder, or Alfred might be more preferable.

We saved this method for last because it's the most complex. It's easy to enter the wrong command line in the terminal and create more problems for yourself. If you want to use the Mac Terminal to find files on your Mac, make sure you copy the correct command.

Step 1: Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock.

Step 2: Click the “Other” folder, then click “Terminal.”

Step 3: You need to input find / -name, followed by the name of the file you're looking for, to search for the target file on your Mac disk.

If you encounter issues like "Operation not permitted" while using the terminal, you can find solutions in the following article:

Of course, I'd be more than happy to help. Please provide the English text you would like translated, and I'll do my best to translate it accurately into Chinese.

Mac Terminal Operation Not Permitted?

Encountering an error of not having sufficient permissions to execute commands in the Mac Terminal? Many Mac users have come across this issue. Read More >>

How to Make Files Easier to Find on Your Mac

There are a few tips you can follow to make your files or folders easier to find on your Mac:

• ⭐ Avoid cluttering your desktop — organize files into separate folders.
• ? Use descriptive file names instead of meaningless words or numbers.
• ? Add specific labels to files and folders to enhance organization.
• ?️ Create Smart Folders to automatically collect files that meet certain criteria.
• ?️ Regularly delete unnecessary files and folders to keep your system tidy.
• ? Download third-party file organization software to assist with managing files and folders. Make sure to choose secure software.

Remember to download the tool Data Recovery Software to effectively recover deleted file from Mac Trash, you will find it easier to get back lost files on Mac with this powerful tool.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Find Files on a Mac

Learn more about finding files on your Mac in this FAQ section:

1. Where are files stored on a Mac?

On a Mac, files are stored in the Finder. Your files and folders are usually kept in the directories under your User name folder (this is the main folder). You can also move a file by dragging it to the desired folder.

**2. Why can't I find my folder on my Mac?**

You can open the Mac Finder to view all folders on your Mac, or use Spotlight search to locate the targeted folder. It's also advisable to check your Mac's Trash, where you might be able to recover deleted folders with the help of a tool like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.

**How to Find Files on a Mac Using Finder?** To search for files on your Mac using Finder, follow these steps: 1. Open Finder: Click on the blue smiling face icon in the Dock at the bottom of the screen, or press `Command + Space` on your keyboard to open Spotlight, type "Finder," and then hit Enter. 2. In the Finder window's left sidebar, select the location where you want to search. For instance, choose "Macintosh HD" (your main hard drive), "Documents," "Desktop," and so on. Alternatively, click on the "Go" menu and select "Computer" or "All My Files" to view the entire system. 3. Click on the top menu bar's "Go," then select "Find" (or press `Command + F`). 4. In the resulting Find window, type the name of the file or keywords related to what you're looking for. Finder will display matching results in real-time. 5. You can also use advanced search options to filter the results. Click "Show All" (or press `Option + Command + F`), which will reveal more criteria such as file type, size, modification date, and more. 6. After adjusting the filters, click the "Find" button in the bottom-right corner. Finder will then display a list of files that meet your specified conditions. 7. Once you've located the desired file, double-click it to open, or drag it to the desired location. I hope this helps you find files on your Mac!

After opening a Finder window on your Mac, you can quickly find a file by using the search bar at the top of the Finder window. Click “View” in the Finder menu and then select “Show Path Bar” so that you can see the full path to every file on your Mac. This way, the full path of any file you select will be displayed.

**4. How do I search for all files with red tags on a Mac?** To search for files with a specific tag on your Mac, you can use the Spotlight feature. Here's how: 1. Click on the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner of the screen (Spotlight) or press the `Command + Space` shortcut to open the Spotlight search bar. 2. Type `tag:red` into the search box, and then press the Enter key. This will display all files that are tagged as red. 3. If you need to refine your search results, you can add additional keywords after `tag:red`, such as file type or part of the filename, to narrow down your search to the specific file you need. Make sure your files have been correctly tagged with the red label; otherwise, the search might not return any results.

You can search for all files with a red tag in Finder using either of these two methods:

1. Enter the label name or color in the search field, then choose the red label from the suggested labels. 2. Click the Red tag in the Finder sidebar to view all items with that label.