Spotlight not working in macOS Tahoe [Fixed]

In this guide, we will show you various methods to fix the issue of Spotlight not working in macOS Tahoe. Numerous users on the latest iteration of the OS have voiced their concern that Spotlight is just not able to find the files on their Mac, even though they’re right in front of their eyes. In some instances, it ends up taking ages while performing a search, but users still let it happen in anticipation that they will get the result in the end. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen. If you are also getting bugged by this issue, then fret not, this guide will help you rectify this issue. Follow along for the fixes.

• Fix Spotlight not working in macOS Tahoe FIX 1: Re-Build Indexing Here’s what the commands mean FIX 2: Toggle Files and Folders in Spotlight Search Categories FIX 3: Rebuild Indexing for Preboot Here’s what these command does: FIX 4: Reset Spotlight Indexing Here’s what both the commands do: Key Differences

Fix Spotlight not working in macOS Tahoe

FIX 1: Re-Build Indexing

Your first course of action should be to rebuild the indexing by disabling and then re-enabling it using the commands given below. We have also explained what each of these commands do, so make sure to go through them if you’re having any doubts.

1. Launch Terminal and type in the following three commands: sudo mdutil -Eai off sudo mdutil -Eai on mdutil -as
2. Wait for the reindexing to complete, which might take a while.
3. Once done, retry performing a search and check out the result.

Here’s what the commands mean

• mdutil → Manages Spotlight indexing
• -E → Erase the existing Spotlight index
• -a → Apply to all volumes
• -i off → Turn OFF Spotlight indexing
• -i on → Turn ON Spotlight indexing
• mdutil -as -a → All volumes -s → Show status

So the first two commands will disable and then re-enable Spotlight on your Mac. Whereas after entering the last command [mdutil -as], you’ll be able to see the current Spotlight indexing status for all mounted volumes [which should show as Enabled].

FIX 2:Toggle Files and Folders in Spotlight Search Categories

Your next course of action should be to toggle the Files and Folders option in the Spotlight Search Categories. This will refresh its underlying settings with respect to those two [files and folders] and could rectify the underlying issue. So let’s give it a try and check out the result:

1. Launch System Settings and select Spotlight from the left-hand side.
2. Scroll down to Files and Folders, disable them, then re-enable them.
3. Check if it fixes the issue of Spotlight not working on macOS Tahoe.

FIX 3: Rebuild Indexing for Preboot

Some users have reported that they also had to rebuild the indexing for Preboot as well. So let’s try it out using the steps given below:

1. Launch Terminal and then type in the following commands: sudo mdutil -Eai on sudo mdutil -Eai off sudo mdutil -X /System/Volumes/Preboot mdutil -as
2. Wait for the reindexing to complete, which might take a while.
3. Once done, retry performing a search and check out the result.

Here’s what these command does:

• sudo → Run with admin privileges
• mdutil → Spotlight index management tool
• -X → Delete the Spotlight index and metadata store for the specified volume [given below]
• /System/Volumes/Preboot → The Preboot system volume used by macOS (APFS)
• -E → Erase the existing Spotlight index
• -a → Apply to all volumes
• -i off → Turn OFF Spotlight indexing
• -i on → Turn ON Spotlight indexing
• mdutil -as -a → All volumes -s → Show status

FIX 4:Reset Spotlight Indexing

If none of the tweaks worked in your favor, then your last course of action is to reset the Spotlight Indexing [rebuilding the spotlight from scratch will take some time, so please be patient]. Here’s how it can be done: [We have explained what these commands do, so please go through them once before using them]

1. Open Terminal and type in either of the two commands sudo rm -rf /.Spotlight-V100 OR sudo mdutil -E /System/Volumes/Data
2. Once done, restart your Mac and check out the results.

Here’s what both the commands do:

sudo rm -rf /.Spotlight-V100

• rm -rf → force-delete files/folders recursively (no prompts)
• /.Spotlight-V100 → The Spotlight index database folder at the root of a volume

sudo mdutil -E /System/Volumes/Data

• mdutil → Official Spotlight tool
• -E → Erase and rebuild the Spotlight index
• /System/Volumes/Data → Your main data volume (apps, users, files)

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