Save Searches in the Finder Sidebar
Mac Tip #374, 04 March 2009

Do you routinely search for the same files? A saved Search will save you time.

In the Finder search for a file and click the Save button.

It could be that every few days I need to search my computer for any file whose name includes ‘MacTip’. It’s a bit tedious to do that same search time after time. In fact, that’s the very tedium that computers should be able to relieve us of.

And, in fact, your Mac can save a search for you, and update it automatically.

Find Files quickly with ready-made Searches, Mac Tip #372, 18 February 2009, showed you how to access some standard searches, but it’s easy to add your own customised searches to the Sidebar too.

Give the saved Search a name and check the Add to Sidebar box.

Open a Finder window and enter a search term in the Search box at top right.

Your Mac will start showing you potential matches for your search. Use the buttons in the Search Bar to customise your search.

Once you’re happy with it, click the Save button. A dialog box appears where you can name your search and also check a box called Add to Sidebar.

The saved Search is now available in the Sidebar.

Click the Save button to save this search. The search is saved and an icon appears in the list of Searches in the Sidebar.

If you routinely do the same searches, save them to the Sidebar and call them up at any time with a single mouse click.