Spotlight makes finding files quick and easy, but Apple dumbed down the search results by only including non-system files in Spotlight’s search results. There are several instanced when you need to search your entire system for files, currently, the quickest way to display search results is by selectively searching in the “Library” folder.

But now you can search your entire system (including system files), and here’s how…

For this example, we’ll be searching for an application titled “hueyAmbient.app” in ~/Library/Application Support/huey/. For those wondering, this is a color calibration utility for OS X which constantly monitors the room’s color temperature and adjusts the display profile as necessary (with aid from a hardware sensor).

First, open Finder and search for anything, in this example I’m looking for “huey”.

Click the “+” under the search field, you’ll get a new line which allows you to refine your search.

Now, from the drop-down titled “Kind”, select “Other…”, you’ll get a sheet window, search in the sheet window for “system”, and check the “In Menu” option for “System files”.

Select “Other…”.

The options to refine your search will change from “Kind” to “System files”, change the drop-down with “don’t include” currently selected to “include” and your spotlight search results should change to reveal system files.

Select “include” to include system files.

Finder and Spotlight will not remember these options for future searches, you will need to use the click the “+”, select “System files” and choose to “include” them each time you want system files included in your search results.