since updating to iOS 26 I can’t search for anything in settings. Even if I search for a word I can see on the screen like battery it says “no results”I have switched of phone and restarted it but it still does not work. It was fine before the update. Any advice?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Search in Settings
iPhone 16, iOS 26
mike_kr wrote:
I have the same problem on iOS26.2. None of the suggestions here worked for me. Toggling the settings in Search, toggling the beta on off. Or reset.
Fixed! Spotlight Search
After days of frustration (tried restarts, toggling settings, language change, even full erase & restore – nothing worked), I finally fixed the Spotlight bug where it only finds apps but nothing else (no deep settings, contacts, messages, photos, etc.).
The combo that actually worked:
1. Changed iPhone Language to English (US) (Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language).
2. Went to Settings > Siri & Search.
3. Turned OFF every single option at the top (Suggest Apps Before Searching, Allow Notifications, Show in App Library, Show When Sharing, Show Listening Suggestions).
4. Then, for every individual app in the list below, turned OFF all options (Show App in Search, Show Content in Search, etc.).
5. Restarted the phone.
6. Spotlight immediately started showing deep results again (settings shortcuts, etc.).
7. Turned all the individual app search options back ON (while still on US English).
8. Restarted again and left it on Wi-Fi for a bit – everything still working perfectly.
9. Finally switched language back to English (UK) – restarted – and it’s still 100% fixed.
This seems to fully force-rebuild the corrupted content index that gets stuck on some devices.
(iOS 26.2 iphone 16 Pro Max
mike_kr wrote:
I have the same problem on iOS26.2. None of the suggestions here worked for me. Toggling the settings in Search, toggling the beta on off. Or reset.
Fixed! Spotlight Search
After days of frustration (tried restarts, toggling settings, language change, even full erase & restore – nothing worked), I finally fixed the Spotlight bug where it only finds apps but nothing else (no deep settings, contacts, messages, photos, etc.).
The combo that actually worked:
1. Changed iPhone Language to English (US) (Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language).
2. Went to Settings > Siri & Search.
3. Turned OFF every single option at the top (Suggest Apps Before Searching, Allow Notifications, Show in App Library, Show When Sharing, Show Listening Suggestions).
4. Then, for every individual app in the list below, turned OFF all options (Show App in Search, Show Content in Search, etc.).
5. Restarted the phone.
6. Spotlight immediately started showing deep results again (settings shortcuts, etc.).
7. Turned all the individual app search options back ON (while still on US English).
8. Restarted again and left it on Wi-Fi for a bit – everything still working perfectly.
9. Finally switched language back to English (UK) – restarted – and it’s still 100% fixed.
This seems to fully force-rebuild the corrupted content index that gets stuck on some devices.
(iOS 26.2 iphone 16 Pro Max
Thanks to poster on page 2 andylew0 for suggesting turning off every setting app by app in Siri and changing language. This is the ONLY fix that worked for me short of a full reset or setting up phone as new. Thank you! It took hours to manually turn off every app in the list but that and switching language worked a treat.
recap:
Fixed! Spotlight Search
After days of frustration (tried restarts, toggling settings, language change, even full erase & restore – nothing worked), I finally fixed the Spotlight bug where it only finds apps but nothing else (no deep settings, contacts, messages, photos, etc.).
The combo that actually worked:
1. Changed iPhone Language to English (US) (Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language).
2. Went to Settings > Siri & Search.
3. Turned OFF every single option at the top (Suggest Apps Before Searching, Allow Notifications, Show in App Library, Show When Sharing, Show Listening Suggestions).
4. Then, for every individual app in the list below, turned OFF all options (Show App in Search, Show Content in Search, etc.).
5. Restarted the phone.
6. Spotlight immediately started showing deep results again (settings shortcuts, etc.).
7. Turned all the individual app search options back ON (while still on US English).
8. Restarted again and left it on Wi-Fi for a bit – everything still working perfectly.
9. Finally switched language back to English (UK) – restarted – and it’s still 100% fixed.
This seems to fully force-rebuild the corrupted content index that gets stuck on some devices.
Fixed! Spotlight Search
After days of frustration (tried restarts, toggling settings, language change, even full erase & restore – nothing worked), I finally fixed the Spotlight bug where it only finds apps but nothing else (no deep settings, contacts, messages, photos, etc.).
The combo that actually worked:
1. Changed iPhone Language to English (US) (Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language).
2. Went to Settings > Siri & Search.
3. Turned OFF every single option at the top (Suggest Apps Before Searching, Allow Notifications, Show in App Library, Show When Sharing, Show Listening Suggestions).
4. Then, for every individual app in the list below, turned OFF all options (Show App in Search, Show Content in Search, etc.).
5. Restarted the phone.
6. Spotlight immediately started showing deep results again (settings shortcuts, etc.).
7. Turned all the individual app search options back ON (while still on US English).
8. Restarted again and left it on Wi-Fi for a bit – everything still working perfectly.
9. Finally switched language back to English (UK) – restarted – and it’s still 100% fixed.
This seems to fully force-rebuild the corrupted content index that gets stuck on some devices
THX ANDY LEW0
I did ALL of that and regretfully it didn't work as well as it did for some people ... BUT after doing all of this, i did a RESET of ALL SETTINGS: ( hey presto ! ,,,, it WORKED !!!!!).... just take it one step at a time and get excited when you hit the jackpot !
Steps to Reset All Settings (Warning: Do not choose "Erase All Content and Settings," as this will delete all data)
Open the Settings app.
Tap General.
Scroll to the bottom and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Tap Reset.
Select Reset All Settings from the menu.
Enter your device passcode if prompted.
Confirm you want to reset all settings.
The iPhone will restart, and the settings will be returned to their default state, but your data will remain untouched.
Important Notes:
What is Reset: Network settings, keyboard dictionary, home screen layout, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards are removed or reset to defaults.
What is NOT Lost: Personal data, including photos, videos, apps, and documents, is not deleted.
Backup Recommended: Although this process is designed not to delete data, it is always recommended to have a current backup via iCloud or computer before changing system settings.
Warning: Do not choose "Erase All Content and Settings," as this will delete all data.
GOOD LUCK - Fingers Crossed !
In most cases, the Settings/Spotlight search index becomes corrupted during the update process, which is why even obvious terms like “Battery” return “No Results.”
A normal restart unfortunately often does not fix it because the problem is usually with the indexing database itself rather than the Settings app.
The workaround below has fixed the issue for a lot of users:
Then:
Next:
After that:
If search starts working:
A few additional things worth trying if the above does not help:
I had this problem but was able to fix it by contacting Apple Support. The fix suggested was to Reset All Settings.
Kindly go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset, then tap "Reset All Settings
i tried advice above - didn’t helped
but, i was thinking - indexing stopped, what could be an issue.
i had English US as a language of the phone.
i changed to English UK and left it and it made indexing again and all things came back
Had this issue on a new Pro Max 17 with iOS 26.3.1. Nothing worked with regional settings, keyboard settings, or SIRI search as above. Rather, in Settings - Apple Intelligence and Siri - I toggle off "Suggest Apps Before Searching". Then toggled it back on.
Now settings is being searched as per usual.
Hope that helps :-)
What worked for me on iPhone 15 pro max first time:
Settings➡️ Apple Intelligence and Siri - turn off Apple Intelligence.
Issue sorted. Then toggled back on, search setting unaffected and working as intended
Frogmirth wrote:
I had this problem but was able to fix it by contacting Apple Support. The fix suggested was to Reset All Settings.
Kindly go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset, then tap "Reset All Settings
Did your Home Screen reset its layout?
What is your system language? What was the language on previous iPhone? I found that before back up it was English UK and I decided to make English US and that was the issue. It was not doing the indexing. I changed backed and it worked
I had the same issue when I updated my iPhone 13 from 18 to 26 which carried over to the new iPhone 17 I bought last week when I moved everything across. I was going to work through the fix suggested however the upgrade to iOS 26.3.1 last night is now showing search results in settings correctly
Rather than having to turn off (& later back on) every single app, I did this in the Settings app:
General -> Transfer or Reset -> Reset -> Reset All Settings
This worked for me. Yes, I had to set up Face ID, sounds Dark/Light prefs, etc - but it was still way less work than going through every single app and hoping that did the trick
I had success without having to reset settings!
General>Software Update>Beta Updates
Mine was toggled "off". I toggled "on" (which triggered a process that took many seconds) and then back "off"
Problem solved
After updating to 26.0.1 then toggling Show Recent Searches, Show Related Content off and on under Search per Soulsurvivorla66 post. I can now search settings. This didn't work under 26 but now does.
iOS 26 search in iPhone Settings not working
