Newsroom Update

Apple is introducing a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop, matching watch face, and dynamic iOS and iPadOS wallpapers as a way to champion global movements to protect and advance equality for LGBTQ+ communities. Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Brophs Author

Level 1

6 points

iOS 9 Spotlight Search not working properly

HI,

On my iPhone 5 32gb Spotlight Search is not working and hasn't been since around the time of iOS 8. When I search for keywords that I know have been used in messages from a year ago it only shows results back to the middle of this year. I have read a lot of threads about the issue and have tried the suggestions:

-changing the phone language which seems to have worked for some people

-sending myself emails from my iCloud account

-sending myself a text

-I have reset all phone settings

-restoring from backup

None of which have worked I'm loathe to restore as a new phone as deleting all of my texts defeats the purpose of wanting to search my old messages

Amy suggestions?

Thanks

iPhone 5, iOS 9, null

Posted on Sep 17, 2015 3:53 AM

110 replies

Sep 22, 2016 11:52 AM in response to MacUserAE

Nobody else has this problem?

I tried all the solutions in this topic, but it still doesn't work : cannot search messages after upgrading to iOS8!!!

Sep 22, 2016 2:06 PM in response to trinheric

iOS 10 completely resolved the issue for me.

Sep 22, 2016 2:16 PM in response to Randy Stewart

Weird, I didn't have that problem with iOS 9, but now I have it with iOS 10.

valeri79

Level 1

5 points

Nov 19, 2016 8:00 PM in response to Brophs

My iphone 6s plus do NOT work properly with spotlight search. Specifically, this search does NOT find items contained in FileApp and scanner applications even when those apps are switched on in search results in settings, meaning that documents and information within those apps are supposed to be found and shown in search results... Unfortunately, this is not the case. No items are found if contained in FileApp or any of scanner apps in my 6s plus... The massive problems with spotlight search started still in ios 8 making a huge difference - meaning deterioration - compared to ios 7... I wrote reviews and comments about this issue years ago but, as usual, those things never received any attention and the apple "engineers" continue doing great job... The ios 10 is a massive deterioration compared to most of earlier ios versions.

habibpc

Level 1

4 points

Jan 7, 2017 5:35 AM in response to Brophs

any solution?

iOS 9 Spotlight Search not working properly