Spotlight Indexing and Searching disabled

free2worship wrote:

I am trying to get Spotlight to see Apps.

I have been through the instructions to rebuild the index.

When I enter "mdutil -i on" the result is:

2024-08-23 21:24:44.870 mdutil[1557:70835] mdutil disabling Spotlight: / -> kMDConfigSearchLevelOff

Indexing and searching disabled.

How do I enable Indexing and Searching in Spotlight.

Verify >Settings>Spotlight you have not disabled it here, check those desired preferences to include...

The better command I would use checking if enabled or not, would be more correct...copy and paste:

sudo mdutil -i on /

To enable a disabled SpotLight, from the Terminal.app copy & paste:

sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.metadata.mds.plist

(note: your psswd will not echo on screen type it in any way, use the enter\return key to proceed.)

To rebuild the index if you have issue, I have found the drag and drop of the Macintosh HD to be the most complete;

then remove it from the list

you can see it working by entering a search for just about anything...

ref: Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support