kevinbarre
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Spotlight is freezing

I'm having an issue where Spotlight rarely works without freezing. I had been able to open up individual Finder windows and use the "search" function, but even that now is causing a freeze that necessitates force-quitting the Finder. Using 10.10.4 on a Late 2012 Mac Mini.

Mac mini, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Aug 21, 2015 3:30 PM

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kevinbarre

Q: Spotlight is freezing

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  • by joe_7399,

    joe_7399 joe_7399 Aug 23, 2015 7:56 AM in response to kevinbarre
    Community Specialists
    Aug 23, 2015 7:56 AM in response to kevinbarre

    Hello kevinbarre,
     

    Thanks for contributing to the Apple Support Communities. 
     

    It sounds like Spotlight freezes and you have to force quit Finder when you try to search your Mac Mini. There are several steps that can help troubleshoot this situation.
     

    First, start your Mac in Safe Mode and try a Spotlight search there. 

    Try starting your Mac in Safe Mode. Restart your computer. Hold the Shift key when you hear the startup sound. Release the Shift key when you see the Apple logo appear. This starts your Mac in Safe Mode. Safe mode performs a directory check of your startup disk, and removes some cache data. After your Mac finishes starting up, restart your Mac normally (without holding the Shift key) and see if the issue is resolved.

    From How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac.

    If Spotlight or Finder still become unresponsive in Safe Mode, repair your hard disk in OS X Recovery:

    Use these steps to use the Disk Utility app to verify or repair a disk.

    1. If you're using OS X Lion or later, start the computer from Recovery System or Internet Recovery. If you're using an older version of OS X and your computer came with a Mac OS X Install disc, insert the installation disc and restart the computer while holding the C key instead.
    2. When your computer finishes starting up, choose Disk Utility from the Utilities window, or from the Installer menu if you're started from an installation disc.
    3. Click the First Aid tab.
    4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
    5. Select your Startup Disk (usually named "Macintosh HD").
    6. Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk
       

    ​From Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck.

    On the other hand, if your Mac is working normally in Safe Mode, follow the troubleshooting steps in the "How to test with another user account" section of How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac.
     

    Sincerely. 

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Aug 23, 2015 11:32 AM in response to kevinbarre
    Level 9 (71,376 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 23, 2015 11:32 AM in response to kevinbarre

    Re: Spotlight freezes