Just updated to 10.9 Mail search has stopped working. Looked around on the forum and have tried re-indexing, but that doesn't seem to work ( excluded HD in Spotlight privacy, removed it etc) dot doesn't appear in the spotlight icon. Tried excluding mail also, again no joy.
I use search in Mail more than anything else and this is causing a headache...Any thoughts....pleaase
Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9)
I have exaclty the same problem (with a 27-inch late 2012 iMac). It doesn't seem to be a Spotlight problem, because if I search directly in Spotlight is finds lots of relevant Mail messages. But if I search within Mail, either for people or for content, I get no results.
Frustratingly Spotlight isn't delivering either for me....
Frustrating for me too. I have Mavericks on a 15 inch MBP. Spotlight no longer works and neither does search in Finder or Mail. Any help out there?
Same here. 2009 iMac 27" no go with mail search. Spotlight is spotty at best and still will not search the mail.
Same for me, too.
I tried all the workarounds, deleted the whole mail folder, reindexed and what ever else there is online.
Interestingly, Mail finds very recent messages when I search for them, but after a few days, it can't find them any longer.
Super annoying. Always have to log in the google mail web app in order to search for an old message.
MacBook Pro Retina 13" early 2013
You're more capable than I. I've used the google mail app to search too. Super annoying. I'm hoping Apple is paying attention here so they push out an update to fix this. Not being able to search my HD OR my mail is freaking near debilitating in terms of productivity!
Same problem. Spotlight working (and can find mails). The search in Mail does not work.
Well, my spotlight is on the fritz too. It's not working.....
Same problem. The search in Mail does not work. Re-indexing, does not to work. HELP!!!😢
Just another report that it's the same for me. This is massively affecting my daily workflow as I scrapped mail folders years ago because the searching was so powerful I could find even very old messages instantly.
This is a big problem for me.
OK, so after much time spent on phone and almost getting scammed by iYogi - I finally had fantastic help from Apple Support. Thanks Dion.
There seems to be a problem where Disk Indexing is disabled, this cannot be enabled aparently. So I have tried re-installing a clean system - didn't work. Erase HD volume and re-install system and migrate everything from Time Machine, didn't work. Erase HD re-install system and check spotlight on new system before migrating from Time Machine - all works fine - migrate only application and documents - Spotlight failed again!
Clearly there is a bad file somewhere in my documents which is killing disk indexing - I have upon advise cleared off all disk repair, clean-up software - MacKeeper, CCleaner,TechTools, TuneUp, Rapport, and removed all their pref files and LaunchAgents.
Next job is erase HD, re-install OSX and set up a completely clean new system. Then I'm going to use Time Machine to recover Mail, and Applications only. Bacically start again...wish me luck...
Basically, I reckon problems like this, and slow running are caused by migrating from old to new machines, you are carrying over all the dodgy stuff which blighted you on your old machine, never giving yourself a chance to use a brand new un-corrupted system, is perhaps a mistake.
gozzaf1,
can you keep us updated on your status?
If you get this issue fixed, which one of your steps actually fixed it?
I have issues with users on 10.8 and 10.9 that are experiencing this issue.
After reading your email, it is only after I have upgraded them or had to move them to a new comptuer, or have recovered from a Time Machine because of a crash... so it makese sense... Just need to see what your experiences are, and if any of them fixes the problem of indexing and finding email.
etc...
OK so finally this seems to be fixed. Clearly it's not ideal having to spend a weekend sorting this out, but better to do it when not trying to run a business at the same time...
Steps I took...
BACK UP EVERYTING YOU WANT TO KEEP...Time machine may not be enough of a safety net. Export mailboxes as .mbox files and keep safe
Re-start holding cmd+r
Go to Disk Utilities - select Macintosh HD and click erase
Go to re-instal Mac OS-X
Set up as a new computer, don't migrate from time machine it could copy the rogue file
Check spotlight and mail sportlight work just using your iCloud email/ set-up if you have one
Replace all your backed-up data/files to appropriate folders, open mail and import all your .mbox files (this take a bit of time to re-sort once imported as they go into an IMPORT folder and you just need to move all the messages to where you like them, very easy but slow as the all show as unread, simply click 'mark all messages as read' from the bottom menu cog thing)
I then re-installed all my Applications from new or restored a few using Time Machine. The only thing I couldn't restore was Stickies, luckily had a screen shot of all my saved ones and re-wrote them.
Fingers crossed I'm now running smoother and faster than before and have searchable mail...Huzzarrr!
I got the same problem with a new iMac 2013 and my MacBook Pro retina 2012. The problem appeared after upgrading from 10.8 to 10.9. I have setup the same mail account on Apple mail and on Microsoft Outlook. Spotlight is able to find in Outlook but fail to find most of the message in Apple Mail.
I'm having to repeatedly re-index the disk every few days because new emails aren't being added to the spotlight index. Very frustrating.
OSX 10.9 Mail spotlight search not working
