Mac Kung Fu, 2nd Edition

Tip 358

Search for System Files

OS X works hard to keep users separate from system files, and this can make tracking down files outside of your Users folder tricky. However, here are two ways to do so.

Using Spotlight

In terms of files, Spotlight searches only those in your personal User folder. This is very limiting, especially if you’re used to the more wide-ranging search tools of other operating systems that can be used to track down system files too.

There’s no way to make the main Spotlight tool search for system files, but you can use Finder’s Spotlight search tool to uncover them. Here’s how.

1. Hit Option+Command+Space to reveal the Finder Spotlight window, no matter which app you’re currently using (if that key combination doesn’t work, ...