Spotlight Search Not Working On Your Mac? Here’s the Fix!

Spotlight Search is a robust search software on macOS that helps you discover apps, folders, and information. 

However, it may be annoying when it doesn’t present you what you need. Sadly, that is the case for a number of macOS customers who can’t search for information from Spotlight Search. 

In this information, I’ll present you the way to get Spotlight Search working once more in your Mac. 

1. Wait It Out

Spotlight Search robotically reindexes after an update to account for brand new information, apps, and options. 

If you simply up to date your system, permit Spotlight Search to complete indexing your storage first.

Depending in your storage and information, indexing can take anyplace from a number of hours to as much as 2 days, relying on what number of information you’ve got in your Mac. 

2. Refresh Spotlight Search

A bug or error could have occurred on Spotlight Search, inflicting it to malfunction or not present desired outcomes. 

To rule this out, refresh the service by disabling/enabling it:

1. Go to Apple Menu > System Settings. 
2. Scroll down from the facet menu and entry Siri & Spotlight. 
3. Find Spotlight, and underneath Search Results, uncheck every thing. 

4. Restart your Mac. 
5. Go back to Siri & Spotlight and examine all of the entries. 

Try Spotlight Search once more to examine if the issue is solved. 

Related: How to Fix Spotlight Search Not Working On iPhone and iPad

3. Use Comand + Space

If Spotlight Search doesn’t seem when opening from the Control Center, you possibly can strive using the Command + Space shortcut. 

You may also strive holding the Spotlight icon from the Control Center till Spotlight Search exhibits on the heart of your display screen. 

4. Rebuild Spotlight Index

Spotlight is a selection-based search system that makes use of an index of all information in your system to load them shortly. 

However, this index can get corrupted and trigger Spotlight Search to malfunction. 

To rebuild Spotlight’s index using System Settings, you should: 

1. Go to Apple Menu > System Settings. 
2. Now, click on on Siri & Spotlight from the facet menu. 

3. Scroll down and click on on Spotlight Privacy. 

4. Drag your disk or folder to the listing of areas that Spotlight is prevented from looking. 

5. Restart your Mac. 
6. Return to Spotlight Privacy.
7. Select the folder or drive you added and click on the (-) icon to take away it. 
8. Click Done, and Spotlight will reindex your folder or drive.

You may also use the Terminal to rebuild Spotlight’s index: 

1. Press Command + Space and search for Terminal. 
2. Open the Terminal. 
3. Type sudo -i and hit Enter to run the command. 
4. Enter your password. 
5. Now, run these instructions one after the other: 

mdutil -Ea 

mdutil -ai off

mdutil -ai on

Once you see a message that claims “Indexing Enabled,” you’re carried out. Test Spotlight Search afterward to verify if it really works. 

Related: How to Fix External Hard Drive Not Mounting After macOS Ventura Update

5. Restart SystemUI Server

The SystemUI Server manages system menu gadgets, together with search content material in Spotlight.

Restarting this course of ought to deal with any points with the software program that causes Spotlight Search to malfunction. 

Here’s what you should do: 

1. Open Finder in your Mac. 
2. Now, go to Application > Utilities. 
3. Launch the Activity Monitor. 

4. Type “sys” within the search field on the higher proper nook. 
5. Locate the SystemUI Server course of.

6. Double-click on it and select Quit. 

This robotically restarts the SystemUI Server course of. Once once more, strive using Spotlight Search and see if it’s working.

6. Update Your Mac

The model of macOS you’re using may need a problem associated to Spotlight Search or indexing. 

If not one of the options above labored, strive updating your Mac. 

1. In the higher left nook of your display screen, click on the Apple icon to open the Apple Menu. 
2. Now, click on on System Settings. 
3. Inside settings, navigate to General > Software Update. 
4. If a brand new model is detected, comply with the prompts to put in the update. 

FAQs

How do I allow Spotlight Search on my Mac?

Spotlight Search is enabled by default in your Mac. You can entry the characteristic by doing any of the next: 

• Clicking the Spotlight icon within the Menu bar.
• Pressing Command + Space in your keyboard.
• Pressing the devoted perform key on the keyboard (if obtainable). 

Why is my search not engaged on Mac Finder?

The commonest motive the search characteristic shouldn’t be engaged on Finder is issues with indexing. Your system’s present index of all of your information could have gotten corrupted, which makes it tough for Finder to seek out what you’re in search of. 

Why did Spotlight cease working after an update?

Spotlight Search reindexes your system after an update to account for brand new information and apps. If you’ve simply up to date your Mac, Spotlight could not work accurately for a couple of hours whereas indexing is in course of. 

How do I examine my Spotlight indexing progress?

1. Open Activity Monitor in your Mac.
2. Now, entry the CPU tab. 
3. Click the ProcessName column to type processes alphabetically.
4. Find “mdworker” from the listing.
5. If the method is using CPU assets, Spotlight is indexing.

How lengthy ought to Spotlight indexing take?

Depending in your system, Spotlight indexing can take a number of hours or as much as 2 days you probably have massive information in your Mac. Indexing may also take longer than ordinary you probably have exterior drives related to your Mac. 

If this information helped you, please share it.