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DonnieM51 Author

Level 1

30 points

Sonoma - Folder Search Not Working - 'This Mac' Search Works

I have both a MacBook Air M2 and a new iMac M3 both with Sonoma 14.2.1 and it appears I have the same issue as hundreds of other Sonoma users.

When I try to search a folder, e.g. Documents, Photos, etc. using the search field in the upper left corner and even when I use a + sign to add more search parameters, NOTHING shows up. BUT, if I switch to "This Mac" the search works as desired. This also fails when I try to create a Smart Folder (same interface).

I've tried all the recommended Apple "fixes", e.g. rebuild the Spotlight index by blocking and then unblocking the target folders. The Terminal solutions don't work either as ".Spotlight-V100" doesn't exist or I don't have permissions or something.

Does anyone know how to fix this?

iMac 27″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Jan 21, 2024 9:50 AM

Top-ranking reply

DonnieM51 Author

Level 1

30 points

Posted on Jan 22, 2024 7:39 PM

I guess I don't understand any of this but I finally found something that worked without getting an "Operation not permitted" error.

When I navigate in the Finder to MacBook Air/Macintosh HD/System/Volumes/Macintosh HD, and then view hidden files by Shift-Command-Period, ".Spotlight-v100" shows up as hidden with a white minus in red circle. I then selected that hidden file, right-clicked and "Move to Trash" and it was deleted AND now my searches in folders WORKS! But if I copy the path to .Spotlight-v100 the path is "/System/Volumes/Data/.Spotlight-V100" which wasn't permitted when trying to remove via the Terminal command. Because I have permission and Terminal does not????

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32 replies

Apr 7, 2024 12:43 PM in response to DonnieM51

Thank you! this worked for me. Ridiculous that this rather important bug hasnt been patched yet.

Does this issue come back?

Jun 4, 2024 8:16 AM in response to lostbeataudio

This did not work for me.

Sonoma - Folder Search Not Working - 'This Mac' Search Works