Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Unable to Index Google Drive as External Volume

Hi guys, I have a problem to get my Google Drive volume indexed by mac os.


There are several workaround I have tried without any luck such as:

  • Run terminal command sudo mdutil -i on /Volumes/GoogleDrive, only bring response:
/System/Volumes/Data/Volumes/GoogleDrive:
	Indexing and searching disabled.
  • Run terminal command sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SpotlightServer.plist ExternalVolumesIgnore -bool False, only bring response following code in the com.apple.SpotlightServer.plist
bplist00—_ExternalVolumesIgnore#$
  • Run terminal command sudo mdutil -E /Volumes/GoogleDrive, only bring response:
 mdutil disabling Spotlight: /System/Volumes/Data/Volumes/GoogleDrive -> kMDConfigSearchLevelOff
	Indexing and searching disabled.
  • Run terminal command sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.metadata.mds.plist and sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.metadata.mds.plist
  • Upgrade to macOS Monterey
  • Look for .metadata_never_index, there is no such files found in the google drive volume
  • Reinstall google drive several times
  • Adding and removing google drive from spotlight preferences


Any advise will be very appreciated. Losing search ability means losing productivity for me.

Posted on Oct 28, 2021 5:30 PM

Reply
Question marked as Apple recommended

A few points of clarification:

  1. It was apparently possible to have Big Sur in a configuration that didn't allow indexing/searching of google drive, but this could be remedied by changing the configuration using one of several methods. The problem did NOT exist for me when running Big Sur, nor does it exist today for a colleague sitting 6 feet away still running Big Sur and the same version of google drive as me.
  2. The problem occurred upon upgrading to Monterey, with no change in the google drive version.
  3. It is not "streamed content" that is being searched. The problem occurs even when the content is set for offline access, meaning in some form, a copy exists locally. Conversely, until Monterey, Spotlight searched google drive content whether or not stored locally--apparently it was able to index the google drive "short cuts"), and running Monterey, Spotlight can still search Dropbox content, whether set to be accessed locally or not.
  4. A post in another forum indicated the poster had spoken with someone at google support and been told that they were aware of the problem, and in fact some support staff that worked on Macs were suffering from the problem, and they too were hoping for a fix from Apple.


In summary, it seems pretty clear that it was a change that occurred between Big Sur and Monterey that created the issue, and will require a further change to Monterey to remedy.

Posted on Nov 9, 2021 8:24 AM

123 replies

Feb 2, 2022 7:14 AM in response to kvgorham

kvgorham,


If you set up the new computer with Big Sur (v. 11.6.2) Google Drive will work as it always has prior to Monterey. I know because I have just done this. I share everyone's sense of urgency that the problem with Monterey be resolved as quickly as possible but this at least allows life to continue as we once knew it until that happens. I believe Big Sur is still fully supported and at the moment I haven't encountered any application or functionality that require the upgrade to Monterey (though I expect there are some and there will certainly be more).


An alternative would be to be sure the new computer you add for your assistant has a big enough hard drive to accommodate setting Google Drive to "mirror" rather than "stream," which will allow full search functionality on Monterey. I have also done this with a new computer and can confirm that it completely solves the problem.


Again, this is not meant to indicate enabling Spotlight searching of Google Drive configured to "stream" installed on a computer running Monterey is not urgently needed.

Feb 2, 2022 7:22 AM in response to ramadhs

Google Support told me, that this issue is fixed with the Google Drive Version 55.0

Currently its in global rollout but I was currently unable to update/download the 55.0 version.

Can someone verify if this update is resolving the spotlight/finder search issue with Monterey?

Because in the release notes of 55.0 I found nothing that indicates this.

Feb 2, 2022 9:49 AM in response to Marcel_GRO

Found this... but have NOT found the version to download yet. This was posted a couple of days ago in google drive help.

https://support.google.com/drive/thread/148545238/google-drive-for-startup-mac-os-version-55-0?hl=en


Google Drive for Startup - Mac OS - Version 55.0

Google Release Notes states that Google Drive for Desktop version 55.0 was released on 01/27/2022. The 55.0 version allegedly fixes the searching problem.

I have tried to update to Version 55.0 (reinstalled Google Drive a few times). However, I keep getting version 54.0.3.0. 

Has the 55.0 version already been released for MacOS? Any MacOS user could download the 55.0 version? 

How can I do that?

Thank you!


Feb 3, 2022 7:32 AM in response to ramadhs

I see the following Change log for Google Drive but can't seem to update to this version:


January 27, 2022 - Bug fix release

Windows and macOS: Version 55.0

  • Windows and macOS: Users can now search all their Drive content from the Drive for desktop UI
  • macOS: Resolved an issue when connecting a camera.
  • Resolved an issue where a USB device can block Drive from loading. 
  • Additional bug fixes and performance improvements.

Note: Drive for desktop native search requires version 50 or above.

Ending support for older versions: Support has ended for versions of Drive released more than 12 months ago. Users with Drive for desktop versions 40 through 46 must upgrade to remain supported.

Unable to Index Google Drive as External Volume

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.