Show only your files, or just PDFs, in Spotlight results

Why it happens

Spotlight searches everything at once, so a search for a document can come back full of apps, actions and clipboard items. Spotlight has separate views for each kind of result. Switching to the files view and adding a filter leaves only what you're after.

How to fix it

1. Press Command-Space to open Spotlight, or click the magnifying glass in the menu bar if you have it there.

2. Type a word from the file's name or contents.

3. Press Command-2. Spotlight switches to showing files only, without apps or actions.

4. Type / (slash) to see the filters you can add, and choose one, such as a file type. The list shrinks to files that match. You can also type kind:pdf after your search words to show only PDFs.

5. Press Return to open the highlighted file, or use the arrow keys to move through the list first.

Still not fixed?

1. Need a longer list you can sort? In Finder, press Command-F, then set the Kind pop-up to PDF or another type. You can sort the results by name or date.

2. If a file you know is there never shows up, check Search Privacy in Spotlight settings. Anything listed there is left out of every search.

   Spotlight›Search Privacy…

3. Just moved lots of files or connected a new drive? Give Spotlight some time to add them before you search again. A restart can help it catch up.

4. If Spotlight still can't find files after a day and a restart, contact Apple Support, as the search index may need a closer look.