Find the file you just saved or opened on your Mac

Why it happens

Apps often save into whatever folder they used last, so a new file can land somewhere you didn't expect. Finder's Recents isn't a real folder: it gathers the files you've opened, saved or downloaded lately, wherever they are. That makes it the fastest place to look.

How to fix it

1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock to open a Finder window.

2. Click Recents at the top of the sidebar, or choose Go > Recents. From the desktop, Shift-Command-F does the same.

   Finder›Go›Recents

3. Look near the top of the list, as the newest files come first. Found it? Press Command-R, or Control-click it and choose Show in Enclosing Folder, to see which folder it's in.

4. Inside an app, try File > Open Recent. It lists the last files that app opened, which is handy when you know the app but not the file.

Still not fixed?

1. No Recents in the sidebar? Open Finder > Settings, click Sidebar and tick Recents.

   Finder›Settings…›Sidebar

2. The Apple menu has a Recent Items list too, with your latest apps, documents and servers.

3. If you remember part of the name, press Command-Space and type it. Spotlight searches the whole Mac, not only recent files.

4. Downloaded rather than saved? Click Downloads in the Finder sidebar, or press Option-Command-L.

5. If a file you saved appears nowhere, even in Spotlight, check the Trash and your Time Machine backup. If Finder or Spotlight can't find files you know are there, contact Apple Support.