spotlight search not working

Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Spotlight. Add and remove the hard drive from the Privacy section. If it is in Privacy, it won't be searched. Once Privacy is emptied, click on the Spotlight menu for a status.

Also since you upgraded to Big Sur, please put your questions on the Big Sur forum. This forum because of its age is not as frequently monitored.

https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os/big-sur is the Big Sur forum, if you need further help quicker. Please do not tag on the same thread as someone else, but start your own thread so we can ensure the correction suggestions go to the correct person.

Spotlight may get stopped by updating on indexing, which could be taking place due to Time Machine backing up, addition of new storage devices, automatic backup to iCloud, etc. Anything which would impact the need to update existing file search routines will delay Spotlight. Always check the Spotlight menu (magnifying glass in the upper right) to check on its status.

I have the same problem, cannot find any "Spotlight menu" and no Big Sur Forum either.

I have 2 external hard disks connected and automatic backup. It all worked fine until this morning when Big Sur came up - with this horrible screenpicture which cannot be changed and neither the screen saver.

Can you help please?

I might also add, if you are using any third party optimization software, you will need to remove it.

Use Etrecheck to determine if any is running, and ask us if you need help reading its report.

This is 11.2.3 issue. Spotlight was working right before I update to 11.2.3. After updated, it no longer works.

WTF is going on?

I don't see the report.