Hello,
My photo library is on an external hard drive, formatted with APFS, no TimeMachine backups on it.
Photos preferences are displaying "This Library isn't searchable in Spotlight due to its location". Reading the Help I see no reason to explain this.
Tested on 2 computers with a similar configuration (Photos library on an. external HD).
Any idea ?
iMac 27″, macOS 10.13
Added: When I move my test library to /Users/Shared, I am getting the same message as you posted, no longer about the System Photos Library, but the library location.
This is indicating a permissions issue, as /Users/Shared is protecting the ownership of files.
Have you set the "Ignore ownership on this volume" flag for your external drive? Apple is recommending go set this flag for all volumes with Photos Libraries.
Just ran a test with a symlink to my System Photo Library on an external HD and it still shows the can't search by Spotlight message.
Louis - Léonie stated "Apple recommends", I just wanted to know where the recommendation came from.
Photos - "This Library isn't searchable in Spotlight due to its location"
