Spotlight search not working properly on macOS Sequoia? Try this potential solution

If you’ve recently upgraded your Mac to macOS Sequoia and found Spotlight Search acting up, you’re not alone. Many users have reported issues ranging from missing app results to partial indexing, making it harder to find files, settings, or even third-party apps. Thankfully, a potential fix suggested and confirmed to be working by many users might get your Spotlight Search back on track.

The issue

Users on Apple Support forums and Reddit have shared their frustrations about Spotlight failing to index apps, especially non-Apple ones, after the upgrade. Commands like Cmd+Space only return basic results, such as system apps, while third-party apps remain elusive.

Some users noted that Spotlight appears to focus on web search results instead of local apps or files. For others, the indexing process seems incomplete, with no clear indication of progress.

The fix: Reindex Spotlight

The most recommended solution involves reindexing Spotlight using Terminal commands. This forces macOS to rebuild its search database from scratch. Follow these steps to give it a try:

1. Open Terminal
   • Press Cmd+Space to open Spotlight (ironic, right?) and type Terminal. Hit Enter to launch it.
2. Run the Commands
   Enter the following commands, one at a time, pressing Enter after each:
   • sudo mdutil -Eai off
   • sudo mdutil -Eai on
   • mdutil -as
3. Wait for Reindexing to Complete
   The process should begin immediately. You might notice files and apps reappearing in Finder searches as indexing progresses. For most users, it takes around 20-30 minutes, though it could be longer if you have a large amount of data.

How to know it’s working

You can monitor the reindexing process by performing a test search in Finder. Files should start showing up gradually. If nothing changes after an hour, restart your Mac and check again.

If reindexing doesn’t resolve the problem, here are a few other steps to try:

• Add and Remove Spotlight Folders
  Go to System Settings > Siri & Spotlight > Spotlight Privacy and add the affected folder (e.g., Applications) to the list. Then remove it to trigger reindexing.
• Open Missing Apps
  Some users reported that simply opening the missing apps once made them appear in Spotlight results.
• Update macOS
  Apple has rolled out minor updates (like 15.1.1) that fixed the issue for some users. Check for updates in System Settings > General > Software Update.

Why does this happen?

Spotlight issues like this often stem from compatibility problems during upgrades. The search database may fail to migrate correctly, particularly for third-party apps or large file systems. Apple has yet to provide an official explanation, but reindexing remains the most effective workaround.

Final thoughts

Spotlight Search is one of the handiest tools on macOS, so it’s frustrating when it doesn’t work as expected. While the fix outlined above has helped many users, it’s not foolproof. So if the steps outlined above don’t help fix the issue in your specific situation, you might have to reach out to Apple’s Support team directly.

That said, feel free to let me know if reindexing fixed the problem in the comments section below.