My Mail app is not searching properly... it's returning outdated results and even when searching for an individual who has recently sent an email it doesn't show it up if I search for it.
I've tried restarting with shift etc... deleting some random files.. didn't work. None of the solutions have worked. Very frustrating as I use it for work and it's a real pain for me.
Perhaps time for another email client... suggestions?
Mac Pro
Just to add to GanawaGangunawa's solution (which helped me - thanks GanawaGangunawa!), you can assign a service to do this every time you hit a function key (I use F6). Now every time I notice search isn't working in mail, I hit Fn+F6 and it starts working again instantly. Here's how to do it:
Open Automator
Create a new Workflow
Under the left hand list under Actions look in Library->Utilities and select "Run Shell Script".
Set "Shell" to /bin/bash. Then in the textbox write:
#!/bin/bash
killall -9 corespotlightd
Save your workflow as a memorable name. I chose Reboot_mail_search.workflow.
Now open System Preferences -> Keyboard and under Shortcuts select Services from the left-hand list. Scroll to the bottom of the right hand list (under "General") and you should see your service. Assign a shortcut to it in the usual way and that's it.
Just to add to GanawaGangunawa's solution (which helped me - thanks GanawaGangunawa!), you can assign a service to do this every time you hit a function key (I use F6). Now every time I notice search isn't working in mail, I hit Fn+F6 and it starts working again instantly. Here's how to do it:
Open Automator
Create a new Workflow
Under the left hand list under Actions look in Library->Utilities and select "Run Shell Script".
Set "Shell" to /bin/bash. Then in the textbox write:
#!/bin/bash
killall -9 corespotlightd
Save your workflow as a memorable name. I chose Reboot_mail_search.workflow.
Now open System Preferences -> Keyboard and under Shortcuts select Services from the left-hand list. Scroll to the bottom of the right hand list (under "General") and you should see your service. Assign a shortcut to it in the usual way and that's it.
Sorry for you, it is a known bug of Big Sur, happens since the very first release.
Do you have multiple users on your Mac ?
If yes, the bug happens when one user logs out. Then Mail search stops working for every other user ! In that case you need to reboot and it will work again, or go to activity monitor and force kill the process 'corespotlightd' and Mail search will be operational again.
And don't hope on the recent update 11.2.2 it does not fix the problem.
Please report to Apple, we have been doing it for months but there is always hope someone will notice:
Greetings alexljones,
We understand that you are experiencing some unexpected behavior when searching in Mail, and we'd like to help. Begin by ensuring all available software updates are installed:
How to update the software on your Mac
Take care.
Mail not searching/indexing
