Search not working-Sequoia 15.1 Update

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Level 1

21 points

Search not working-Sequoia 15.1 Update

Good morning. Is it? Today's daily issue: Search is not working after the Sequoia 15.1 update. I used "This Mac," Name contains "......", Everything "....."

I also tested it by pasting in a file name I had copied from a folder and no go. Oh yeah! Usually, files come up that do not correlate with the search wording! By the way, this is an annoyance occurring in previous MacOS's. How do you stop it?? I must delete a letter and type it back in to get Name Contains "....."

Research tells me I have to re-index Spotlight. Why do I have to do this? Isn't an update supposed to make things easier and better? And how does a true Mac user re-index anything- it used to be readily available?

Please help! Search is a vital function.

Mac Studio, macOS 15.1

Posted on Nov 2, 2024 6:26 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

AlWeir

Level 4

3,356 points

Nov 2, 2024 7:37 AM in response to rgbnite

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support (CA)

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Answer 2

AlWeir

Level 4

3,356 points

Nov 4, 2024 12:12 PM in response to Boat Guy

Once you have done that it with take Spotlight sometime to rebuild the index depending how mush data it has to index. If you want to see the progress open Spotlight a enter a letter in it. It should show you a progress bar.

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Answer 3

zbaker96

Level 1

8 points

Nov 5, 2024 1:28 PM in response to AlWeir

I encountered the same issue with the search function when I installed Sequoia 15.1 today on my MacBook Pro. I've followed your suggestion to rebuild the Spotlight index and it appears to be working (thank you!). Fingers crossed...

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Answer 4

LVB286

Level 1

18 points

Nov 26, 2024 7:53 AM in response to rgbnite

I have/had the same problem. I rebuilt the index per the directions here and that worked, but every few days it stops working. The only thing that works quickly to reset the search index is to reboot my computer. Is there a quicker more permanent solution? Needless to say, I use search constantly and this is a huge pain.

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Answer 5

Boat Guy

Level 1

81 points

Nov 4, 2024 11:52 AM in response to AlWeir

I put the entire volume in the privacy list, then removed it. Nothing happened. There is no .Spotlight V-100 folder at the root of the volume.

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Answer 6

rgbnite Author

Level 1

21 points

Nov 5, 2024 4:32 AM in response to rgbnite

Hello! I can't believe it! I keep my transactions in organized folders. So I'm looking for a specific business name's folder, type the business name in the upper right window finder, and get a list of files and absolutely no folders! I had to trick the finder to work with a common word and go through the ridiculous list it came up with.

Attached is a screenshot sample of find results for "23-07":

I'm going to try and rebuild the Spotlight index.

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Answer 7

AlWeir

Level 4

3,356 points

Nov 5, 2024 8:22 AM in response to rgbnite

I use a app called FAF (Find Any File) off of the App Store. I find it better than Spotlight.

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Answer 8

Nov 13, 2024 2:51 AM in response to AlWeir

After two weeks going bananas because of this massive problem with the search function, your recommendation solved my problem in only few minutes. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

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Answer 9

Nov 17, 2024 8:46 AM in response to zbaker96

I followed the same process and it worked for one day only. Seems to need these steps every day. Very time consuming!!

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Answer 10

rgbnite Author

Level 1

21 points

Nov 18, 2024 5:21 AM in response to Boat Guy

I have several older, working Macs that are messed up. Indexing worked on one of them. I think there is a bug that interferes with indexing, and it starts with the word "security." I still have G4s running, and they work fine—steady as a rock—but they are slow and have too little memory storage. I keep them offline, away from the dominion of the software giants. To me, the problems started with MacOS Maverick.

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Answer 11

rgbnite Author

Level 1

21 points

Nov 26, 2024 4:06 PM in response to rgbnite

It's the end of November. I have rebuilt the index using every main folder: Desktop, Desktop that iCloud provided on Desktop, Shared, External Drives, and running a search for "Turkey" from Finder only. The finder only found 19 items. But I have 100's of file names with "Turkey."

I will try again while manually looking up files and folders that bear the word "Turkey." Will there ever be a "cure?" Oh yes, I love it when I run a search and get hundreds of files that have nothing to do with the word I'm searching for. I have to put up a post on that one. Stay tuned for more issues: Why is my desktop not listed under my Main User folder but under "iCloud"? Could that be the issue?

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Answer 12

rgbnite Author

Level 1

21 points

Nov 28, 2024 6:27 AM in response to rgbnite

11.28.24- Well, it's only fair to say I "think" the search is working after I upgraded from Sequoia 15.1. to 15.1.1- ;

And for some reason, I had a hard time upgrading. Why I have to spend time messing around with this year of 2024 is beyond me! Is there no testing on how these application upgrades will affect normal people? There has to be someone who is developing a computer that just works- no gathering of personal info to sell or make deals with the government, no social junk, no advertising- the money people made computing a convenient commercial enterprise! A computer that JUST WORKS: art, graphics, music, spreadsheets, calculations, research, etc. After upgrading to 15.1.1- I followed AlWeir's link (thank you, Al) and now have to re-index the external drives- the main HD took a while to do.

I have plenty of other issues, like random thumbnails coming up blank, but I have to work.

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