Mail Search not working El Capitan

I've done this, and still run into issues. When Mail search (and/or Spotlight) aren't responsive, an easy fix I've found:

In Terminal, enter:

$ sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.metadata.mds.plist

(You will be prompted for your admin password)

Then:

$ sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.metadata.mds.plist

Unlike other methods, this doesn't take much time at all, and I haven't come across any adverse effects when using it.

Good to know. I'll try this next time and see if this is a more immediate fix. It would be nice to not have to reindex root every time it happens.

I tried all the commonly recommended solutions and none of them worked - deleted envelop folders, reinstalled OS X, tried the terminal command. No luck.

After I saw the post suggesting that Cocktail may have been causing an issue I decided to try updating Onxy. (I use that instead of Cocktail.) I had tried using Onyx to rebuild the index before but no luck (was using an older version). When I updated to 3.1.6, and had it rebuild, and delete the old version... it worked. It had to reimport the mail, but I now get results when I search mail again. (YEAH!)

After updating to 10.11.6 search/spotlight would no longer work in Mail. I tried everything like re-indexing to reinstalling the Combo update but nothing worked. Then came across this terminal command. Works now! Thanks Rick!!

Had to do all of this, plus the stuff in the post at the bottom:

https://www.boxaid.com/blog/search-not-working-mac-el-capitan/

Only this worked for me..nothing else did..simple and easy. Was driving me up the wall - thanks!

I was having this problem in Yosemite. After trying all the other options out there (redbuilding/reindexing mailboxes, changing the Spotlight Preferences, deleting the Envelope Indexes) without any success, your suggestion regarding the Terminal command worked for me. Thanks!

When I log out of iCloud the system wants to delete my files on the mac....? will I have to reload all data?

I did the sign out then sign into iCloud, and it didn't help. Did I need to restart my computer, or anything else?

And if the Apple senior advisors told you only that option worked, why might reinstalling the OS work?

Well, I unchecked mail & messages with Mail in privacy, and it still didn't work. However, when I removed Mail from the privacy folder, AND checked Mail & Messages in the Spotlight preferences, it now works!
So, doing the opposite of what you did, fixed it for me, how odd....

OK - I have exactly this problem in Sierra, but only for the last 48 hrs (Sierra having been installed for weeks). I have tried all of these methods including re-installation of Sierra, in/out of iCloud and the Terminal code - and nothing works. This is a HUGE problem for me as I get 100's mails/day and really need to be able to track topics.

FWIW the mail search on my iPhone (7) still works, presumably via the server but this is very clunky as a way to live!

Help urgently needed!

Thanks

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), 8GB

Regarding where to find file to delete to manually force a re-indexing of the mail files:

I believe the folder location "V2" (in the above instructions) is not constant across various versions of the Mac OS. For example, in MacOS Sierra, the folder location is "V4" -- not "V2."

Just to say that I did everything suggested here and elsewhere, including re-installing Sierra. Initially nothing seemed to work but perhaps it needs patience for Spotlight to complete. It does work again now (Phew!).

Hey Will Stewart,

what did you do to rebuilt the Spotlight index? The terminal command? I am desperate for a solution for this problem- I also totally rely on Mail being searchable! OMG... what a catastrophe!

Matt, thank you! That solved my non-searching Mail! I'm so grateful to you.