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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

Mar 16, 2022 1:29 PM in response to ramadhs

I used to have this mindset with Apple that it would just always work. Never really ran into issues where printers, hardware, or searching didn't work. That's part of the reason I've stayed with Apple products. With Monterey I've had this issue, which is killing me on productivity (I need to browse to find things), and my **** bluetooth headset automatically mutes itself while on video chat. Come on Apple. I guess these issues are not important enough to fix?

Mar 26, 2022 2:57 PM in response to iamthecount

I left windows because I was loosing productivity. Now since October this issue has been costing time, frustration and productivity.


I would like to add a new computer to my system... but not with this ongoing issue. I don't want purchase new hardware that won't search my extensive and shared google drive files. I don't want to mirror everything just to get functionality. I don't want to have to buy humungous hard drives in order to mirror. Nor do I want to run time machine on humungous hard drives.


Never dreamed we'd be headed into April and this still would remain UNresolved. :(

Unable to Index Google Drive as External Volume

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