System settings search not working

[fibercut]

THANK YOU - sudo mdutil -E is the way

Bookmark the Apple Support document Rebuild Spotlight index!

 

[elkitsu]

TL;DR:
sudo mdutil -E / This fixed it for me with no other fussing around.
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Long version:
I had a similar problem and solved it. In case it helps someone, I'll share my details:

• Sonoma 14.5
• Mac mini M1
• 🔍Search field NOT working in System Settings...
  • but worked fine in ⌘-space spotlight, to find sub-sections inside System Settings.

Because I'm lazy, I tried doing what @ankedesign suggested but WITHOUT creating a new user.
1. Open Terminal
2.

 sudo mdutil -E /

...
now for curiosity, and because I saw this command resets the spotlight index, I tried going into System Settings before doing the rest. TADA! It worked. For me at least, no need to do any of the other steps or other users or groups.
This may not work for everyone, but I'd definitely try this first before anything else.

Cheers!
P.S. Thanks @ankedesign !

This works, but only temporarily for me.

 

[CouponPages]

I lost the ability to search in System Settings, and in Notes a few days ago.

Losing search in System Settings is a bit annoying, but not a huge problem because it's pretty easy to find things in Settings, but losing search in the Notes App is extremely frustrating because I have nearly 2000 notes at any given time and I rely on searching notes many times throughout the day.

Thankfully, I can still search from the iCloud website, but it's just plain crazy that I can't search from my Mac.

I've tried multiple documented fixes like sudo mdutil -E /, Safe Mode, creating another login then using that login to execute the mdutil, etc., but so far, nothing worked.

I know the last resort is re-installing the OS, but that's a bit extreme. I'd much rather find out what went wrong, and fix it.

Anyone know another way to fix it?

 

[CouponPages]

After repeated attempts to fix this failed, I decided to simply erase the drive and install a fresh copy of MacOS.

Everything was already in iCloud, so it was just a matter of waiting about an hour for it to complete and everything works perfectly.

As a bonus, a couple of things that never worked started working, such as using my iPad Pro to do markups. That was an unexpected bonus.

 

[MikB]

I get this search problem also in the Messages app on macOS Ventura. There it specifically says there will be results when indexing is done. Except it's never done. Either that, or there are no results. Also words I know for sure are in there are not found.

Since I updated to Sonoma, this is no more and searching in preferences never stops either (touch on wood).

 

[Boneslasher]

Search worked flawlessly for me for the whole Sonoma lifecycle, and is now broken in Sequoia 15.1.
Tried the sudo, safe, user, whatever … it is not coming back…
In theory, with the SSV, reinstalling macOS should do nothing, but is it my only option? Also, is it possible to reinstall macOS without erasing the SSD?

 

[Ben J.]

Also, is it possible to reinstall macOS without erasing the SSD?

Selecting a reinstall from internet-install or from a bootable installer drive will always erase the disk.

"Erase" in System settings, General will erase the ' - Data' volume and keep the macOS on the SSV. You'd typically use this when transferring to a new owner. It results in the "Hello" sreen on first boot.

Erase your Mac

Use Erase Assistant on a Mac with Apple silicon or an Intel-based Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip to remove all content and settings.

support.apple.com

Edit; I must correct myself, I just remembered; not more than a year or two ago, almost by accident I installed macOS on a drive that had a ' - Data' volume on it, and no SSV, and I found that the installer had actually been clever enough to leave the Data volume intact and incorporate it in the newly installed macOS volume group. I haven't tried it again to verify it, nor have I seen it mentioned anywhere, but it's cool. Might be useful somtime.

In theory, with the SSV, reinstalling macOS should do nothing, but is it my only option?

I agree. SSV will always be the same, bit for bit, provided it's the same exact version.

 

[Boneslasher]

I agree. SSV will always be the same, bit for bit, provided it's the same exact version.

Exactly! That’s why I don’t understand Apple Support suggesting me to reinstall macOS in general.
If the macOS update had anything wrong, even a single bit, it would‘ve not booted and would’ve gone back to Sonoma.

I was luckily helped in my post in the Sequoia subforum and this worked: create a new admin account, logout of current account and login into new. Complete config and login to Apple Account. Check that everything works (may take a while), logout and login into main user. Things now work again!
It seems that the login to Apple Account is the thing that triggers functionality back!
Hope this helps!