Disable Spotlight Indexing for a User Account?

[dcayce]

I'm installing Pro Tools, a resource-intensive Digital Audio Workstation app, and one of the optimization tips calls for turning off Spotlight so it won't be indexing in the background. I'd rather not do that because it breaks my find/search functionality. If I set up a separate user account can I disable spotlight for only that account?

Thanks

 

[BrianBaughn]

My Spotlight settings seem to carry over from account to account. Tested by inserting a USB flash drive, adding it to the “Privacy” list in Spotlight prefs, and then switching accounts. It’s in the Privacy list on both accounts.

There are Terminal commands that will disable or enable Spotlight indexing. I think when it’s disabled you can’t use Spotlight but when it’s re-enabled the ability comes back and Spotlight doesn’t have to re-index everything the way it would if you add/remove items from the Privacy list.

Otherwise, you can just try using Pro Tools with it on and see if you have any problems. Do users report issues if it’s on?

 

[Weaselboy]

I'm installing Pro Tools, a resource-intensive Digital Audio Workstation app, and one of the optimization tips calls for turning off Spotlight so it won't be indexing in the background. I'd rather not do that because it breaks my find/search functionality. If I set up a separate user account can I disable spotlight for only that account?

Thanks

I'm not sure where that app keeps its working files... but I'm wondering if you could make an account to use with that app, then go to Spotlight prefs in the Privacy pane and add the user folder for that entire account. What I am thinking is if that apps creates a lot of files that would need to be indexed and that causes a slowdown, if those same files are all in the users folder, turning off indexing in that folder would do the trick. That way Spotlight would still work in other user accounts.

Just a theory.

 

[Fishrrman]

I disable Spotlight on ALL of my Macs.
I don't need it, nor do I want it "mucking around in the background". I want it gone!

To disable Spotlight indexing, use this in terminal:
sudo mdutil -a -i off

To stop indexing of ALL volumes, try this:
sudo defaults write /.Spotlight-V100/VolumeConfiguration Exclusions -array "/Volumes"

If you're worried about finding/searching, I would recommend two small free apps that work BETTER THAN Spotlight when you need them.
1. EasyFind:
http://www.devontechnologies.com/download/products.html
2. Find Any File:
http://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/

 

[HenryAZ]

I do like, and use extensively, Find Any File. But I also use Spotlight (via Houdahspot) from time to time, for more sophisticated searches. The reason the "disable Spotlight" setting moves from user to user is that the information not to index a drive is recorded on the drive itself, not in user settings.