Spotlight in Yosemite will not search web

Same as Adrian_S, I have just noticed that spotlight now shows wikipedia entries and web search results, which for me stopped working when I upgraded to Yosemite. My only guess is that it must be related to either Safari (which I updated to 8.0.4 on Tuesday 17th) or Security Update 2015-003 (which I did just this morning). Anyway, it's great to see it working again.

No, it must be Security Update 2015-002, which I installed on 14 march. I have now seen this change in three computers, including my MacBook Pro, but

I just checked that this one has neither 8.0.4 or Security Update 2015-003 installed yet. So security updates are used to enable features???

I have found the fix.

Open bing.com in safari.

Do a search for something.

Now spotlight will included bing searches.

not working. What you see is apparently your browser's history.

Hi, This really convinces me that one cannot do anything about Spotlight NOT searching the Internet under Yosemite (now 10.10.4. or earlier) and that in fact it is Apple's turn. That is also why I do not even consider "wise recommendations" of re-installing the system because it would be such a waste of time and energy which would end up just realizing it cannot be changed UNLESS we are kindly allowed by Apple to perform online searches using Spotlight. The SECURITY update indicates that some regions might be less secure? I am living in the Czech Republic, but it is still Europe, isn't it? Perhaps we are NOT all so equal as it might seem ... Zed

flashlight app stopped working for yposemite 10.10.4

developer is said to start working at apple... pitty, it was a great spotlight plug in that brought back all spotlight features and more..

I wonder if in fact Apple did not like this independent development (Flashlight) which would take Spotlight out of their control and the only solution for the developer would be to stop his independent career. If he joined Apple and nothing is working right now he might have been bought to control rather than help. Although this is JUST a pure speculation, every development points this way right now. Only Apple can now demonstrate that this assumption of deliberate control of some regions or perhaps even customers is wrong and that the company is working for unequivocal benefit of all its customers (worldwide). Thanks, Zed

Hi Hawk999, Good for you that it works as you explained. Maybe Netherlands were cleared by Apple ... However, it does not help me in my case at all, I live in the Czech Republic. No synching of language and region helps me (US or other). Instead, when I search for e.g. 'apple stocks' using Spotlight it gives me 'Commentary on the Whole Bible II (Joshua to Ester) by Matthew Henry' in PDF as a top hit. No searches are performed outside my computer ... Thanks, Zed

Did anyone ever get to the bottom of this?

For a test I just changed my iMac to US English and US Region, and even connected to a US VPN server, however Spotlight was still as limited as always, only searching locally despite all permissions granted to allow it to check externally. I also used the command to delete the Spotlight index.

Even with a US VPN, maps still correctly reported my location which isn't in the US, so maybe it just looks at that information. If you're not in the US it seems you're blocked from accessing many Spotlight features on Yosemite (and the next OS!)

My normal setup is UK apple ID and my iMac is set to all UK, however I am physically located in Prague, CZ.

Hi Zazou,

Getting at the bottom of this - I am now in the US and have thus been able to verify that Apple, perhaps under the orders from the NSA or other government agency, is limiting the functionality of the OS X 10.10.4. or later outside the US, at least in the countries such as the Czech Republic (EU member state!). Here in the US everything works for me as it should, I'd certainly be a fool to reinstall my OS X system, that is now for sure. Spotlight search is working great using the Bing search and I can also access the websites which were recently denied to me from within the Czech Republic, such as e.g. the PA Treasury website (http://www.patreasury.gov/). I therefore believe that this is a US government initiative and Apple just has to comply with the orders. A very sad thing for us who live outside the US because Apple never acknowledged that we are not all equal and its system is working differently in different countries. At least, you now have a proof of how things stand, like it or not. We're not all equal ... but well, yes, I understand that national security issues have a priority over our personal interests. But why in the world is the Czech Republic considered an insecure country, that is a real puzzle to me. Regards, Zed

Many thanks ZedVal. Another quirk of the Czech Republic is that it isn't one of the 60 or so countries that permits two-step verification either, for some reason 😕

Frequently asked questions about two-step verification for Apple ID - Apple Support

I changed the region to my current location. After this bing-search worked.