Searching Mail Doesn't Show New Results

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Searching Mail Doesn't Show New Results

I am having a problem with Mail not showing recent emails in search results. For example, an online store that I purchase from regularly uses its name in both the subject line of the email and in their email address. When I reach for the company name, no results more current than mid-March are shown. Outside of Mail, Spotlight seems to be working perfectly, with documents I have created in the past few days showing up in searches. I am running 10.8.3 and am using a icloud/mobileme/.mac email address.

Thanks!

Posted on Apr 17, 2013 5:07 PM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,739 points

Apr 18, 2013 9:28 AM in response to Douglas Parker1

Quit Mail.

Back up all data. That means you know you can restore the Mail database, no matter what happens.

Triple-click the text on the line below to select it:

~/Library/Mail/V2/MailData/Envelope Index

Copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C). In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Go to Folder

from the menu bar. Paste into the box that opens (command-V), then press return.

A Finder window will open with a file selected. Move the selected file to the Desktop, leaving the window open. Other files in the folder may have names that begin with "Envelope Index". Move those files, if any, to the Trash. Relaunch Mail. It should prompt you to re-import your messages. You may get a warning that the index is corrupt and that Mail has to quit. Click OK.

Test. If Mail now works as expected, you can delete the file you moved to the Desktop. If you get a warning that the file is in use when you try to empty the Trash, log out and log back in.

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