Cataloging drives and folders
The setting separates the boot-drive index from the catalogs you explicitly choose.
Search this Mac is on by default for the familiar Everywhere experience. Turn it off when you want ⌥Space to search only catalog entries and selected folders. Existing catalogs remain available; the switch controls the core boot-drive scanner and watcher, not whether a catalog can be browsed offline.
Open Catalog… from Everywhere’s menu bar item and add the drive or folder that matters. Let the first catalogue finish, then search by filename and browse the recorded folder tree. When the source is disconnected, the catalogue remains available and results are labelled offline so you know why opening the file requires reconnecting the drive.
Keep the original drive unchanged, use a clear catalogue name, and rescan after a large round of changes. Catalogues are for the places you choose; they do not silently turn a whole-Mac search into a second scan.
No. It stops using the core Mac scan for search; catalog entries remain separate.
Yes. Re-enable Search this Mac when you want the boot drive included again.
Everywhere keeps track of every file on your Mac — including the folders Spotlight hides and drives you have unplugged. Free for a day, then $19 once.
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