How to Search for Files on a Mac PC
Files are data assets that Macintosh users can access, view and edit. Most files ares stored in a nested system of folders. One folder may contain others folders, which contain more folders and so on, and each folder may contain zero, one or literally hundreds of files. Because your Mac personal computer, or PC, has thousands of files, its essential that you know how to search for them and keep them organized. Fortunately, there are a few ways to search for files on your Mac personal computer that are common to nearly all of the Mac computers available.
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Instructions
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Click anywhere on your Mac PC's desktop. Note the menu bar at the top left corner of the desktop. Click the "File" button and then the "Find" button. In the window that appears, type in the name of your file. The computer should automatically present a list of files that match the search criteria you entered. Scroll through the list until you find the file you're looking for.
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2
Again click on the "File" button and scroll down to the "Find" button but do not click on it. Look at the hotkey listed next to the "Find" button. The default should be "Apple" button plus "F". Press these two keys at the same time--or the other keys listed as your "Find" hotkey and the Finder window should appear. Type in your search into the search box and look through the list of results for your file.
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3
Scroll your cursor over your desktop Docks and click on the icon that says "Finder." It looks like a face with a profile of another face bisecting it. In the window that appears type your search criteria and look for the name of your file in the resulting list.
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Click on the magnifying glass icon at the top right corner of your screen. Type in the name of the file you're looking for into the Spotlight search box that appears. Select your file among the list that is produced below the search box.
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Tips & Warnings
Organizing your files within relevant folders helps you skip some of the searching process. Instead of using finder, simply click on the folder that holds your file.
