mail search function not working in MacOS Sonoma

I found the problem was caused by the latest update to Goodnotes. Searching from that starting point lead to the solution of

1. logging out / signing out of iCloud
2. Restart computer
3. log into / sign into iCloud

Both Mail and Photos (and Notes etc.) will re-index over a few minutes and all works for me now.

If the above still doesn't work, turn off both Mail and Photos in iCloud settings and then turn both on again.

I hope this helps

I had this and spoke to Apple support. They directed me to start my computer in safe mode, which completely fixed the problem. There install had created a software glitch that was cleared once started in safe mode and then I restarted as normal.

I tried a number of fixes from the web but finally signed out of iCloud and then signed in again. email files were deleted and then resynchronised and search began working again. You will need to wait for the resync to work its magic (depending on the number of emails in your various folders).

I also just noticed Photos didn't resync but this is as simple as turning iCloud Photos off in Settings and then turning back on and Voilá.

Everytime there is a system upgrade my search in Mail stops working. But I found something that fixes it: https://www.technewstoday.com/apple-mail-search-not-working/ "Reset Apple Mail on Mac."

The 2 things I would like to add are:

1. When he says "Press on Mail when it appears under the Process Name list" he means double click on Mail.

2. I need to restart my Mac at the end of the process and then it all works again!

Same problems as others. For my admin account, Mail search not giving any responses at all. Spotlight giving applications and web searches, but not documents or mail. For another account everything worked fine.

Problem started with new Mac Mini install and move from iMac. Some error message about accounts and strange behaviour.

After trying all the terminal access to stop/start spotlight, spotlight setting changes, safe mode etc the problem remained.

Just tried signing out of iCloud and restarting, and both Mail and Spotlight work. Hope it continues!

Far too messy all round though. Not had issues like this with Microsoft.....

I have the same issue after updating my Macbook Pro (14-inch 2021) M1 to Sonoma. I first noticed this in Mail but "Search" does not work in most of the Apple applications like Notes, Spotlight, Calendar, and Pages; these are the ones I have tested so far. I have tried many things I found online but nothing fixes the issue. As a temporary solution, I have to install Microsoft Outlook where the "Search" works perfectly fine.

Please notice that I have another MacBook Pro (Intel 2016), that I updated to Sonoma as well and I haven't had any issues on this machine.

I hope Apple is looking into this and provide a way to fix it.

I tried everything anyone here and elsewhere suggested and nothing worked. But I just updated to 14.2.1 and the problem is gone. Fixed. As if it had never been broken in the first place, in both messages and mail.

I have had this issue with all my computers when I upgrade. On the first occasion I spoke to apple and they told me how to fix it and the fix has worked with all my computers whenever it happens. Open you computer in SAFE MODE, you can google how to do it. Then check the email search is working and close and restart in normal mode.

It will then work.

This method provided by reddit user ThatsJustSooper worked so far for my mac-mini M2 and macbook pro M1 both running Sonoma 14.1.2

Perform full shutdown/power on

Run as follows in a terminal:

sudo -i

mdutil -Ea

mdutil -ai off

mdutil -ai on

Not sure if you got this fixed, but signing into iCloud fixed mine immediately.

Very frustrating... I tried several other suggestions because I didn't think simply signing into iCloud would fix it, but it did!

However, it seems to be related to the current user. I tried a new one and had no issues searching for mails or notes whatsoever.

We fixed this by reindexing my MacBook Pro. All search capabilities in all programs I've checked so far are returned to working order.

My mail search function problem in MacOS Sonoma was fixed with the 14.2.1.

Tell us what your mail menu item under 'Window' select the Connection Doctor and print out the commands that error out! Then go account settings in mail and see if you fat finger a setup parameter setting it up!

I have the same issue over here. It's also happening in Notes. Tried all the tricks I could find using terminal, but no dice. Turning Spotlight on/off, reindexing all drives, rebuilding mailboxes etc. Seems to be a bug.