Finding Files Larger Than 10 MB By Name in Linux (+macOS)

Finding a specific file on your computer can often feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack, particularly if you have a lot of files and folders. Luckily, there are several effective ways to search for a file by name on different operating systems. In this guide, we will look at various methods for macOS and Linux users.

Finding Files Larger Than 10 MB on macOS

Using Finder

Finder has a robust search feature that allows you to look for files by size.

• Open Finder: Click on the Finder icon in the Dock.
• Start a Search: Press Command + F to open the search function.
• Add Size Criteria: Click on the “+” button to add search criteria. Select “File Size” from the drop-down menu, then choose “is greater than” and enter 10 MB.
• Refine by File Name: You can type the specific file name in the search bar to narrow down your results further.

Using Terminal

For those comfortable with command-line tools, Terminal can be a powerful option.

• Open Terminal: Use Spotlight (Command + Space) to find and open the Terminal.
• Run the Search Command:

find / -type f -name "*filename*" -size +10M 2>/dev/null

Replace filename with the name or part of the name of the file. This command searches the entire file system for files larger than 10 MB.

Finding Files Larger Than 10 MB on Linux

Using the find Command

Linux users can utilize the find command in the terminal to locate files efficiently.

• Run the Command:

find / -type f -name "*filename*" -size +10M 2>/dev/null

Using the locate Command

The locate command is a quick way to find files by name, but it requires an updated database.

sudo updatedb

locate filename | xargs du -h | grep '[0-9\.]*M' | awk '$1 > 10'