TroubleshootingFix

Spotlight not finding files or apps on Mac? Rebuild the index

Applies to macOS 15, 26 and 27Reviewed 2 November 2026Tested on macOS 27.2 and Tahoe 26.6.21 min read

Check it isn't still indexing

Search for anything in Spotlight. If indexing is in progress, a progress bar or "Indexing" message appears in the results. On macOS 27 the index was rebuilt from the ground up, so the first indexing after updating takes longer than usual.

Check what's excluded

1. Open System Settings › Spotlight.
2. Under Results from System, make sure Files and Folders are on. Under Results from Apps, check the apps whose content you search, such as Mail.
3. Click Search Privacy… and remove any folder you do want to search.

Rebuild the index from System Settings

1. In System Settings › Spotlight, open the privacy list.
2. Click + and add your startup disk (usually Macintosh HD), or the folder with the missing files.
3. Wait a few seconds, select it, and click − to remove it.
4. Spotlight starts indexing it again. Leave the Mac on until it finishes.

Rebuild the index from Terminal

Erase and rebuild the index for the startup disk:

sudo mdutil -E /

Check that indexing is turned on:

mdutil -s /

If it says indexing is disabled, turn it on with sudo mdutil -i on /.

Files on external drives or cloud storage

• External drives are only searched while connected, and some formats can't be indexed.
• Files in iCloud Drive, Dropbox or Google Drive that are cloud-only may not show their contents in results until downloaded.

Applies to27macOS 2726Tahoe15Sequoia