Mac Spotlight Not Working? How to Fix Search
Spotlight not opening, showing no results, or can't find apps and files? Here's how to fix Spotlight search on any Mac running macOS.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This costs you nothing extra and helps keep this site free.
⚡ Recommended for This Repair
Tools and accessories matched to this guide.
64 bits, pro-grade — for serious DIY repair only
Required for safe electronics cleaning
64 bits, pro-grade — for serious DIY repair only
Required for safe electronics cleaning
Common Spotlight Problems
- Spotlight won't open: Command+Space does nothing
- No results showing: Search returns blank or very few results
- Can't find apps: Installed apps don't appear in search
- Slow or spinning: Spotlight takes forever to return results
- Missing categories: Documents, emails, or contacts missing from results
Fixes to Try
1 Check Spotlight Keyboard Shortcut
The shortcut may have been changed or disabled:
- Go to System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts
- Click Spotlight in the left panel
- Make sure "Show Spotlight search" is enabled
- The shortcut should be Command + Space
- If it's set to something else, click it and press Command + Space to reset
2 Rebuild the Spotlight Index
This is the most common fix — forces Spotlight to re-index everything:
- Go to System Settings → Siri & Spotlight → Spotlight Privacy
- Click the + button and add your main drive (usually "Macintosh HD")
- Click Done
- Wait a few seconds, then go back to Privacy
- Select the drive you just added and click − to remove it
- Click Done
- Spotlight will now rebuild its index — this can take 15-60 minutes
3 Re-index via Terminal (Faster)
Force a complete re-index using command line:
- Open Terminal
- Run: sudo mdutil -E /
- Enter your password
- This erases and rebuilds the entire index
- Also run: sudo mdutil -a -i on to make sure indexing is enabled
4 Check What Spotlight Is Allowed to Search
Some categories may be disabled:
- Go to System Settings → Siri & Spotlight
- Scroll down to Search Results
- Make sure the categories you need are checked (Applications, Documents, etc.)
5 Restart the Spotlight Service
- Open Terminal
- Run: sudo killall mds
- Spotlight's indexing daemon will restart automatically
- Wait a minute, then test Spotlight
6 Restart Your Mac
Sometimes the mds process just needs a clean restart:
- Go to Apple menu → Restart
- After restart, wait a few minutes before testing Spotlight
7 Check Available Disk Space
Spotlight can't index if the drive is nearly full:
- Go to Apple menu → About This Mac → Storage
- Make sure you have at least 10-15GB free
- If low, free up space and then re-index
8 Update macOS
- Go to System Settings → General → Software Update
- Install any available updates
- Restart and test Spotlight
Still Not Working?
If Spotlight still doesn't work after re-indexing, there may be a deeper macOS corruption issue that requires professional diagnosis or a reinstall.
📞 Get Professional Help
Need Mac repair or macOS troubleshooting? Contact PC Medics of New Jersey.
📦 Mail-In Repair Service
Not comfortable doing this yourself? Send your device to a professional repair shop.
🛒 Recommended Products
The #1 repair kit — 64 bits, pro tools, lifetime warranty
EZ Fit tray — foolproof install, 9H tempered glass 2-pack
Charge iPhone, Watch & AirPods — one compact cube