issue with spotlight search

By Alicia Krage, 27 February, 2025

Forum
macOS and Mac Apps

This just started yesterday out of the blue, but suddenly my spotlight search can't open my downloads folder. It always either wants to search the web or open the app store. I checked my settings to make sure folders is checked, and it is. I've tried restarting a few times. Does anyone know how to fix this?

Options

Comments

By Brian on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - 14:29

Try doing the following:
1. Go to system settings, then Spotlight, then privacy.
2. There you should find permissions for the Downloads directory.
3. Remove, and then re-add the downloads directory to initiate a re-indexing.

Theoretically, this, should, fix your issue.

HTH.

By Alicia Krage on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - 14:29

I don't see the downloads directory. I see where you can add things you don't want to show up in search results, nothing is listed.

By Tyler on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - 14:29

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

I think to reindex something, like the Downloads directory, you'd add it to this list and then remove it.

HTH

By Brian on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - 14:29

Try doing it Tyler's way. Apologies if I gave poor instructions, it has been a while since I used my Mac. 😥

By Maldalain on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - 14:29

Use cmd+Options+L to move to the Downloads folder directly.

By jim pickens on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - 14:29

CMD plus shift plus O is for documents, H is for home, a is for applications, k is for my computer where you can access other volumes and network drives, command shift L as for the user library

By Bruce Harrell on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - 14:29

Command option l

By Minionslayer on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - 14:29

Additionally all of these and more can be found under the Go menu in Finder. As is customary for Mac, you can rebind these in Settings..