Since updating to latest Tahoe version 26.7, Spotlight hasn’t been working correctly.
It finds results, but it cannot launch any of the results from the Spotlight window by either pressing return or double clicking. Have to open it into a Finder window (cmd-return) and launch it from there.
I’ve rebooted and forced a rebuild of the index, but none of it has fixed it. Any other ideas?
MacBook Air (M4, 2025)
Odd. Working normally for me on my Mac running macOS 26.7.
See if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode. That process performs some system cleanup and clears caches, and also disables 3rd party extensions that may cause problems.
Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support
If that does not correct the issue, test in a new user account. A newly-created user account will have all settings at default, and if the issue does not occur in that new account then it provides guidance on what may need to be changed to correct the issue.
Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support
Once the testing is complete, the new account can easily be deleted.
Delete a user or group on Mac – Apple Support
Those steps will help to isolate the problem.
It might help to download and run EtreCheck, written by a long-time forum member. The free version is fine. Post the full report using the Additional Text button. No personal information is revealed.
Personally, when I type the name of a file in Spotlight, the file is found as expected (along with other relevant results). For example:
I can either double-click on the file or select it then press return, either action opens the file directly from Spotlight.
Odd. Working normally for me on my Mac running macOS 26.7.
See if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode. That process performs some system cleanup and clears caches, and also disables 3rd party extensions that may cause problems.
Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support
If that does not correct the issue, test in a new user account. A newly-created user account will have all settings at default, and if the issue does not occur in that new account then it provides guidance on what may need to be changed to correct the issue.
Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support
Once the testing is complete, the new account can easily be deleted.
Delete a user or group on Mac – Apple Support
Those steps will help to isolate the problem.
It might help to download and run EtreCheck, written by a long-time forum member. The free version is fine. Post the full report using the Additional Text button. No personal information is revealed.
Personally, when I type the name of a file in Spotlight, the file is found as expected (along with other relevant results). For example:
I can either double-click on the file or select it then press return, either action opens the file directly from Spotlight.
Wayne Stuart wrote:
Since updating to latest Tahoe version 26.7, Spotlight hasn’t been working correctly.
It finds results, but it cannot launch any of the results from the Spotlight window by either pressing return or double clicking. Have to open it into a Finder window (cmd-return) and launch it from there.
I’ve rebooted and forced a rebuild of the index, but none of it has fixed it. Any other ideas?
Seems odd... Not sesing this issue in 26.7
A SafeBoot Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support will sort many anomalies
Login and test. Reboot as normal and test. Caches get rebuilt automatically
Update: Did the safe mode thing and it didn't work. Tried it again and randomly pressed a few things while still in safe mode this time, and for now, it's working again! Not quite sure what exactly it was I did the 2nd time that kicked it back into life, but there you go. Technology is weird. Thanks.
Wayne Stuart wrote:
Update: Did the safe mode thing and it didn't work. Tried it again and randomly pressed a few things while still in safe mode this time, and for now, it's working again! Not quite sure what exactly it was I did the 2nd time that kicked it back into life, but there you go. Technology is weird. Thanks.
Good computing Wayne Stuart ! Appreciate the update on your resolve.
Cannot launch results of a search from a Spotlight window
