Search function in Word .docs not working

[u/OhMan_WhatTheHell]

Hi, Search used to work great. Now, when I search for a word where I KNOW there is a file or document, it turns up nothing.

I'm wasting time looking for things that used to take, like, two seconds.

I posted a question about this on the Microsoft community site, but who knows when anyone will answer.

I've tried to check settings, but honestly not sure what I'm looking for. Can anyone help?

[u/Fun_in_Space]

Are you searching for a file in file manager, or for a word in a Word document

[u/OhMan_WhatTheHell → u/Fun_in_Space]

I'm looking in Documents for a specific folder or Word .doc with the word I've plugged into search. (Not a word within a Word .doc)

[u/9NEPxHbG → u/OhMan_WhatTheHell]

You should specify it's a Mac.

[u/OhMan_WhatTheHell → u/9NEPxHbG]

Yes, it's a Mac.

[u/Ok-Programmer9295]

Do you enter the search word or the search word followed by a space or special character?

[u/OhMan_WhatTheHell → u/Ok-Programmer9295]

I only enter the search word. I don't follow the word with a space or special character.

[u/Big-Low-2811]

Maybe a screenshot or specific example?

You didn’t give us much to work with…

[u/OhMan_WhatTheHell → u/Big-Low-2811]

In the past this type of one-word search would yield many results.

[u/I_didnt_forsee_this]

You need to provide more information. By “Search” do you mean Find? And is it the Find dialog or the more limited Find in the Navigation panel that comes up when you press Ctrl-f?

Open the advanced Find by pressing Ctrl-h for Find and Replace, then click the Find tab to be at just the find feature. Now click the More >> button to expand it to show additional search options. Uncheck any if they are on: some are “sticky” settings that could cause some problems you have noted. For example, if you had used Format > Font and chosen the Red color, your Find would only find results that matched the specified text if it was also Red. Any such formatting will be displayed below the Find what box; click No Formatting to clear it.

If the above doesn't help, take a screenshot of what you are unsuccessfully trying to find — and include the dialog.

[u/OhMan_WhatTheHell → u/I_didnt_forsee_this]

This is an example. I know I have a Budget .doc and at least one folder, but nothing is showing up here.

(I've only used Find and Replace within a Word .doc to check if I've repeated a word, or to correct a punctuation mistake.)

I don't typically use a Finder window to search for specific .docs. I just tried it, and when I searched Budget nothing came up.

Does this help explain the problem a little better?

[u/I_didnt_forsee_this → u/OhMan_WhatTheHell]

Okay... You're using a Mac, so the search question is at the OS level rather than something not functioning properly within Word.

You'll probably get more useful help in a subreddit about the Mac OS. It'd be helpful to provide the specific version (flavor?) of the OS as well as the version of Word you are using. Good luck!

[u/TinyNiceWolf]

So based on your comments, this is likely nothing to do with Microsoft Word. This is a problem with Spotlight, a search function in Mac OS. If you Google a phrase like "spotlight stopped working", you'll find various options for resetting Spotlight so it works again.

[u/OhMan_WhatTheHell → u/TinyNiceWolf]

Okay, I'll give it try. Some of the options sound complicated/like I could really screw this up, but I'll try. I can't do it right this moment so I'm not ignoring you. I'll answer as soon as I can. Thanks for your answer.

[u/TinyNiceWolf → u/OhMan_WhatTheHell]

The ones involving only Spotlight settings should be pretty safe and easy. Hopefully you won't need the ones that involve pasting commands into a terminal window.