SPOTLIGHT searches not including iCloud storage

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Level 1

8 points

SPOTLIGHT searches not including iCloud storage

I have seen no clear remedy to the post last year regarding SPOTLIGHT not "seeing" files on iCloud, or did I miss it? This is a reoccurring problem on my computers, as well. One comment suggested it may be from not first downloading the files to the computer's hard drive, so it they could be cataloged. Isn't it the point of iCloud to provide a place to store quantities of large documents, photos, movies , backups readily available at users' fingertips, so as to not overload storage on internal drives? I pay for extra terabytes on iCloud for that privilege. One would think there would be a remedy for the amazing Apple creators to include iCloud drives in the Spotlight searches. Strange, because it used to be no issue in the past. Apple is continually extolling the virtues iCloud, yet they seem to make files stored there inaccessible through (e.g.) iMovie and Spotlight. So, if someone has a remedy, without involving awkward keystroke codes for we less literate users, I'd appreciate it. Otherwise, tell me to explore other platform options. Thanks.

MacBook Pro 14″

Posted on Sep 10, 2024 3:46 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 11, 2024 8:15 AM in response to boomertooner

boomertooner wrote: ... Isn't it the point of iCloud to provide a place to store quantities of large documents, photos, movies , backups readily available at users' fingertips, so as to not overload storage on internal drives?

No.

The point of iCloud is to synchronize files so that they can be used on multiple devices. The files remain on the devices. iCloud Drive is just a folder on your Mac. Files in there are copied to iCloud and then copied to other devices. If you have "Optimize Storage" selected, then in "emergency" cases, like when the free space on a drive gets less than 10% or so, some of the lesser used files may be removed from local storage, but they will be restored locally as soon as they are needed.

iCloud is not a place to put files that you don't want to keep on your computer. If this is not what you want ,then, like any other service, you should look around for one that provides what you need.

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Answer 2

boomertooner Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 11, 2024 9:08 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

I appreciate the reply and for your clarifying the purpose of iCloud. But, my question regarding Spotlight searches remains. Perhaps what I should have focused my question more clearly on how I can make these files that are synchronized through iCloud visible to my spotlight searches. Past search results included virtually every place the given file was located. Now, I have to manually sort through folders. Am I doing something wrong?

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Answer 3

Sep 11, 2024 9:26 AM in response to boomertooner

Spotlight searches iCloud Drive fine for me. I have Desktop and Documents in iCloud Drive, and searches work just as they did before I included them.

Perhaps this is it: iCloud Drive really is just a folder on your Mac, just like any other folder. If you dragged a file or folder from some other folder on your Mac to iCloud Drive, then, just like any folders, it is transferred to the new folder and no longer exists in the previous folder. So a document in my Documents folder is in iCloud/Documents, not anyplace else. Unless I make a copy, of course.

By the way, I almost never use Spotlight-- I much prefer the Finder search.

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