Cataloging drives and folders
Both can find files while a drive is attached; only one is designed to remember the drive after removal.
Spotlight is integrated and useful, but its external-volume results depend on the volume being mounted and indexed. Catalog is explicit: you choose the drive or folder, Everywhere retains its inventory after unmount, and the result tells you it is offline. Catalog v1 focuses on file metadata; Spotlight may search content when its importer supports it.
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. Catalog and Spotlight solve different scopes; use the one that matches the source you need.
Catalog v1 searches recorded metadata, not content inside offline catalog files.
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.
Version 2.20.2 · macOS 13+ · 4.7 MB · notarised