Why Is My Finder Showing Only Recents- Unveiling the Mystery Behind This Annoying Issue

Why is Finder Only Showing Recents?

In the world of Mac users, one common issue that often arises is when the Finder only shows recent files and folders. This can be quite frustrating, especially when you’re trying to locate a specific document or project. So, why does this happen, and what can you do to fix it? Let’s delve into the reasons behind this problem and explore the possible solutions.

1. Incorrect Finder Preferences

One of the most common reasons why Finder only shows recents is due to incorrect Finder preferences. By default, the “Show Recently Used Files” option is enabled in the Finder preferences. This feature allows you to quickly access files you’ve recently worked on. However, if this option is enabled, it might restrict your view to only recent items.

To check if this is the issue, follow these steps:

1. Open the Finder and click on “Finder” in the menu bar.
2. Select “Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
3. Go to the “General” tab.
4. Look for the “Show these items in the sidebar” section.
5. Make sure that “Recent Items” is checked.

If it’s not checked, select it, and your Finder should display all files and folders again.

2. Corrupted Spotlight Database

Another possible reason for this issue is a corrupted Spotlight database. Spotlight is a feature in macOS that allows you to search for files, folders, and applications quickly. If the Spotlight database is corrupted, it might cause the Finder to only show recent items.

To fix this, you can try rebuilding the Spotlight database:

1. Open the Terminal app by searching for it in Spotlight or by navigating to /Applications/Utilities.
2. Type the following command and press Enter: sudo mdutil -E /
3. Enter your administrator password when prompted.
4. Wait for the process to complete. It might take a few minutes.

After rebuilding the Spotlight database, restart your Mac and check if the Finder is displaying all files and folders again.

3. Other Possible Causes

If the above solutions don’t work, there might be other reasons why Finder is only showing recents. Some of these reasons include:

– A third-party application that modifies Finder behavior.
– A corrupted file or folder in your Home directory.
– An outdated macOS version.

To troubleshoot these issues, you can try the following steps:

1. Check for third-party applications that might be affecting Finder behavior.
2. Try moving a corrupted file or folder to a different location.
3. Update your macOS to the latest version.

In conclusion, if you’re wondering why Finder only shows recents, it’s most likely due to incorrect Finder preferences, a corrupted Spotlight database, or another underlying issue. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to resolve the problem and regain access to all your files and folders.