How do I fix Spotlight not showing up on MacBook Pro after Tahoe update?

The analysis of the report is based upon the Entirety of the computer 

Meaning both Hardware and Software 

Hardware wise 

Battery failure - Your battery is reporting that it needs to be serviced.

High battery cycle count - Your battery may be losing capacity.

Apple Batteries are designed for 1000 Full Battery Cycles or 80% of its’ capacity before it needs replacement 

About battery health management in Mac laptops

This should be your First Priority 

Software wise 

Runtime: 13:22

A more normal runtime is usually about 2 - 3 mins Tops

Performance: Poor

No Time Machine backup - Time Machine backup not found.

Poor performance - EtreCheck report shows poor performance. This is unusual.

The computer is heavily configured and over burdened with Security Software and Commercial VPNs 

Commercial VPNs 

They may not be what one believes they are doing for the computer and what they actually are doing behind the scenes and unbeknownst to the user ( you ) 

They may also reduce your Internet Speeds by upwards of 30% 

https://gist.github.com/joepie91/5a9909939e6ce7d09e29

VPN: What you need to know - Apple Community

Third Party Security Software 

There are no known Windows-like Viruses in the wild that self replicate and affect macOS, because of the underling UNIX  Foundation and Permission Limitation. 

The Operating System resides in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that cannot be opened by the User nor by Third Party Applications.

The Only thing this Antivirus software is protecting is the Bank Account of the Developers and for zero return to the User aside from the problems this software creates.

Security. Built right in

Mac app security enhancements

The Built in Security  is all that is required to protect the computer.

Protecting against malware in macOS

None of which are needed and beneficial to the computer 

Added,  are softwares that appear to have been Migrated from older version of macOS that could make them incompatible with macOS 26 Tahoe 

What follows is not presented lightly

Start Over from Scratch 

For Apple Intel computers >>   Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac followed by How to reinstall macOS

Migrate only  your  User Account

If going this route - I suggest Not using Startup Assist to migrate everything back.

This will probably Re-Introduce ( any questionable Third Party Software ) back into the Operating System . 

If the user ( you ) believes these current issues stem specifically from macOS 26.3 Tahoe.

For a thorough test of both Tahoe / Hardware and to  determine the root cause of all the computer issues.

Use the “Atomic” option

Apple Intel computers >>   Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac followed by How to reinstall macOS

Always make a Time Machine backup before proceeding.

Run the computer without installing any additional software and without restoring from your Time Machine backups.

Run the computer in this mode for approximately 6 to 8 hours and report back if the previous issues reoccur.

Gurguly wrote:

I’ve recently updated my MacBook Pro 2019 16” to Tahoe. It’s been running okay, but randomly Spotlight has stopped appearing on my screen when I do the shortcut or when I click on the menu bar.

What I’ve tried so far is: rebuilding the index, updating OS, reinstalling OS, disabling Hidden Bar, booting up into safe mode and running a malware scan.

It also seems to have force disabled the gesture for opening the App Library through the trackpad, trying to enabled it just unticks itself again.

Any help would be appreciated.

How many times has the computer been restarted since the upGrade to Tahoe 26.3 ?

" Spotlight has stopped appearing on my screen when I do the shortcut "

What Shortcut has been used to bring up Spotlight ?

Running a malware scan does not bode well

Many of the other issues could suggest some conflict between the operating system and the third party software used for the malware scan

To avoid a game of 20 questions   

Download the Application Etrecheck  ( External Link ) directly from the Developer.

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer.

It makes a coherent and readable inventory of both the Hardware and Software used on the computer 

The application is free or paid for added features. 

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 

Post back the Full Report - Share Report >> Copy , then  paste  >>>> using the Additional Text Icon  <<<<

Start up in Safe Mode, and see how it works. Safe mode will disable the kernel extensions you have present and other system modifications.

Malware doesn’t advertise itself being present by making things not work. The system modifications you have installed, your permitted malware, is probably causing all of your problems.

if it runs correctly in safe mode, uninstall, the kernel extension listed in the Etrecheck report, and also use it to help clean up your orphan extensions.

Since you have unapproved extensions not loading you might as well uninstall whatever software belongs to those, also. You must use the software developers UnInstaller to remove all of those things.

Zurarczurx wrote:

OP says they tried "booting up into safe mode"

Barney-15E's post still remains relevant for this information: "if it runs correctly in safe mode, uninstall, the kernel extension listed in the Etrecheck report, and also use it to help clean up your orphan extensions." Given we don't know for certain when they did that or what they've done since, it seems quite reaonsble to try it again.

Before we doing anything and we mean anything

It is strongly suggested to have a 3-2-1 Rescue Plan in place and up to date

A - Time Machine Backup Utility 

For future purposes

B - To truly protect your non replaceable Data

3 Backups using 2 methods and for good measure 1 off site incase of natural disaster or un-natural disaster.

Each of the above should be done to a Dedicated Single Purposed External Drive 

Below link is intended to augment what TM Backup does 

https://bombich.com

You can even Schedule a Backup

Yes, still working through the report 👍

Gurguly wrote:

I'll run the scan and get back to you. To clarify it isn't from a recent update, it's been going on since 26.1 I think?

macOS 26.1 ( 25B78 ) was released Nov 3, 2025

Thank you

We will have a look at the report and get back to you

OP says they tried "booting up into safe mode"