Spotlight Search isn't working on my Macbook pro 2020.

It does search for stuff, but weirdly. I look up Zotero on it (a citation software), and it shows up with the various Zotero website pages, It is an application on my computer. An alternate thing that it does is when I look up an app I have both on my iPhone and mac, it auto looked it up on my phone for iPhone mirroring, and there's not option for me to open it via my mac.


Do i need to reset my laptop?


MacBook Pro (M1, 2020)

Posted on May 27, 2026 7:28 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 28, 2026 10:59 AM

Two things you can do:


1) Launch Spotlight (e.g. using Command-Space) and then press Command-1 to search applications

(it should not be necessary, but it should restrict the search to applications only


2) Reset the Spotlight index. Go to System Settings->Spotligh, click Privacy, drag your drive icon from Finder to the list; then quit and restart System Settings, and remove the drive from the list. This will force Spotlight to reindex.

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 28, 2026 10:59 AM in response to Kiwiiik

Two things you can do:


1) Launch Spotlight (e.g. using Command-Space) and then press Command-1 to search applications

(it should not be necessary, but it should restrict the search to applications only


2) Reset the Spotlight index. Go to System Settings->Spotligh, click Privacy, drag your drive icon from Finder to the list; then quit and restart System Settings, and remove the drive from the list. This will force Spotlight to reindex.

Spotlight Search isn't working on my Macbook pro 2020.

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