How to fix Finder search issue on M1 MacBook Pro?

Hi Barney,

after I updated the Spotlight index on the external hard drive using the terminal program, the error came back after a while and I watched as a search gradually disappeared again. I have presented these terminal-steps in such detail because they primarily represent the correct way to solve the problem.

However, if extensive folder sharing has been set up on the external SSD, it can happen that the Spotlight index on this external SSD is lost, which is what happened to me. The problem was only resolved after I adjusted the folder sharing.

This is how I updated the Spotlight index on the external SSD hard drives for my MacMiniPro M2 using the Terminal command:

To update the Spotlight index on an external SSD hard drive on a Mac via the Terminal command,

I used the mdutil command.

This is how I proceeded:

1. Open terminal:

Opened the Terminal program on my Mac.

2. Path to external SSD hard drive searched:

"/Volumes/My_SSD"

3. Spotlight indexing disabled:

Before I updated the Spotlight index, I temporarily disabled indexing to speed up the update.

I used the following command for this:

"sudo mdutil -i off /Volumes/My_SSD"

4. Spotlight index updated:

After disabling indexing, I updated the Spotlight index.

I used the following command to do this:

"sudo mdutil -E /Volumes/My_SSD"

5. Enable Spotlight indexing:

After updating the index, I re-enabled indexing:

I used the following command to do this:

"sudo mdutil -i on /Volumes/My_SSD"

After I followed these steps, the Spotlight index on my external SSD hard drive was updated.

Some required administrator rights, so I had to enter my password to continue.

If you haven't done this already, here is how to rebuild the spotlight index which is what is used for searching.

➡️  Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac

Do you have the following set in Finder : Settings : Advanced panel?

Works for me here on Sonoma 14.4:

However, the drive you are searching on will require to be indexed by Spotlight and the System Settings : Siri & Spotlight : Search Results : Images will need to be selected.

Sorry Barney for the inconvenience, I went through it again and it works now. I can find all files and folders on the internal and external SSD now. I also went through the workaround (Randall_2023) for the ext. SSD to rebuild the Spotlight Index for the two ext. SSD. Thank you for your help.

Hello Alian Duck,

Have you already found a solution to your problem?

I have the same problem and am currently contacting Apple Support to resolve the issue.

I have the following configuration:

MacMini M2 Pro 2023; Sonoma 14.4. ; 2 x Crucial ext. SSD over Thunderbolt 4.

My problem has been since transferring data from my iMac to the MacMini. I have moved a lot of files to an external SSD which is connected to the MacMini via Thunderbolt 4.

The steps I have taken so far with Apple Support:

1. Open Disk Utility and run the first aid repair service on the SSD:

=> No volume errors on the SSD and the problem was not solved.

2. Log out of the current user account (admin) and log back in to another admin account to see if the problem exists there too. => the problem was not solved.

3. Start Safe Mode and check if the problem also exists. => the problem was not solved.

4. Update the macOS from Sonoma 14.3.1 to 14.4. => The problem has not been resolved.

My steps that I took based on the Apple Community:

1. Randall_2023's recommendation:

"Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac"

=> the problem was not solved.

2. Barney-15E's recommendation:

"Fix for Finder Not Showing Folder Search..."

=> the problem was not solved.

My special phenomenon, If I create a new folder on the ext. SSD drive, I can find it in the Finder, but not the thousands folders from the old iMac import.

I would be happy if you could give me brief feedback on how you solved the problem. Thank you.

If you select This Mac, is it found?

Fix for Finder Not Showing Folder Search … - Apple Community

Yes sudo works.

Sorry, I solved the terminal problem. But the folder and files problem still exists.

I was able to determine that only the external SSD'S have the problem, not the internal SSD "Macintosh HD".

If I move the folder from the ext. SSD to the int. SSD "Macintosh HD" then the Finder can find the folder, if I move the folder back to the ext. SSD then the search result can't found the folder.

Hi Barney, I found your solution super interesting but I can't run the command because I have as a Admin no access, I don't know what's happen. "rm: .Spotlight-V100: Permission denied". Do you have any idea what that could be?

try with the sudo command prepended in front:

sudo rm …