Where is the spotlight index stored?

mtl83,

i think a more “safe” approach to rebuilt the index is to choose the startup volume in the “do not index” window.. close system preferences.. The index will be deleted..

then take the startup volume out of this window and a total new index will be created.

mtl83 wrote:

I can't seem to find Spotlight..

it's not indexing despite rebuilding several times using the terminal.

Verify >System Preferences>Spotlight

all checkboxes (?)

no Privacy (?)

Change Spotlight preferences on Mac - Apple Support

Since the Macintosh HD volume is mounted Read Only in Catalina, much of that sort of thing was moved to the Macintosh HD - Data volume. It is mounted at /System/Volumes/Data.

If you try to remove that folder in Terminal, I think you have to give Terminal Full Disk Access in the Security & Privacy System Preferences.

I had to delete that folder from an External drive to get it to index, but I haven't tried removing it from the Startup Disk.

I expressed myself badly. In System preferences. Keep all the checkboxes, go to the "Privacy" tab.. in the plus sigh.. add your startup volume.

Doing that.. Spotlight will delete the whole index. Close the System preferences.. give it a couple of minutes.. Probably restart, always a good thing to do..

Then.. go the Privacy and delete the icon of the startup volume. .Therefore having SPOTLIGHT building a brand new Spotlight Index.

Now.. At the same time.. start to edit a Finalcut Pro Movie of two hours.. get nervous because "the computer is really sluggish"

Reinstall the the whole slambanz.. Call apples support.

That's about it..

Just Kidding.. All after "now" is a cynical joke.. Let the machine rebuilt its index for at least two hours.. After that, or on the next day.. everything will be working fine.