Macos Ventura search issue on external volues.

if you use synolgy like me, use this beta packge can fix the server search function

: https://www.synology.com/en-global/beta/2022_SMB_4_1_15_Beta_DSM7/release_note

Fixed Issues
Fixed an issue where Spotlight search on macOS 13 could not function properly.
Minor bug fixes.

good news,

So it depends what type of server you’re trying to search.

I was trying to search specific folders via AFP on my Synology nas. Synology came through and added a beta SMB release in their package center.

downloading that, connecting via SMB, and then searching a specific folder of the nas via finder is working again for me; I’ll miss AFP for the metadata though

…. so unless you all have issues specific to Synology DSM7 and an example not involving macOS Ventura, this feels like it’s still a regression that apple introduced but hasn’t yet corrected

Check your permissions for the location with stat or ls. I’d guess 403=forbidden just like when using an internet browser with external servers.

Since this issue still hasn't been fixed I started using the free EasyFind app for searching my network volumes. It works really well.

Still hoping for a fix for Finder search though.

That doesn’t mean it’s not a permissions issue.. Seeing the acl might point you in the right direction. Are you searching from the “shared” tab in finder search?

picking up where this left off....

I'm going to speak for all of us because I'm experiencing the same issue, and the similarities i'm reading indicate that it is clearly a bug of some kind. We're able to search network volumes by searching within the network tab, but what we specifically lost was the ability to search within a specific network shared folder. it's now the entire volume or nothing for search scope and it's incredibly frustrating because, as someone said above, this was working flawlessly prior to upgrading to Ventura.

unique to me (or no one else has mentioned): when i try to search within a specific folder, the finder window locks up so severely that i'm forced to reboot my mac.

Open to the idea of checking ACLs -- how would I do that?

we can send feedback to apple, wish can be fix soon

Feedback - macOS - Apple

I have the same issue searching our Windows server. Get the same error when trying to rebuild the index.

sudo mdutil -E /Volumes/isiserver

/System/Volumes/Data/Volumes/server:

2022-11-03 16:03:06.122 mdutil[14478:384598] mdutil disabling Spotlight: /System/Volumes/Data/Volumes/server -> kMDConfigSearchLevelOff

Error: unable to perform operation.  (-403)

Server search enabled.

Still have the same issue after Ventura 13.2 update.

Have tried everything I can find on the web. Very Frustrating.

sudo mdutil -E /Volumes/server                    

/System/Volumes/Data/Volumes/server:

2023-01-23 16:56:42.973 mdutil[7717:450468] mdutil disabling Spotlight: /System/Volumes/Data/Volumes/server -> kMDConfigSearchLevelOff

Error: unable to perform operation.  (-403)

Server search enabled.

same here, seem a bug!

mdutil /Volumes/boo -s                      

/System/Volumes/Data/Volumes/boo

Server search enabled.

disable server search can work, but not work with server search

and i feedback to develop too.

https://feedbackassistant.apple.com/feedback/11819796