Spotlight not finding all apps, particularly Pages

Question

Spotlight not finding all apps, particularly Pages

I am running El Capitan 10.11.2 on a 2009 Macbook Pro. I often use Spotlight keyboard shortcut to open apps, like cmd-space "activity . . " and throw in "kind:app" if needed -- much quicker for me than moving a mouse. For some reason, Spotlight is not finding Pages.app. I tried re-indexing the Application folder by creating an exception and then adding back. I can find Numbers and Keynote just fine this way. Any ideas why Spotlight isn't catching Pages?

Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Feb 5, 2016 11:38 AM

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Answer 1

JD25T

Level 1

4 points

Nov 16, 2017 1:02 PM in response to johnthemacfan

I had this issue as well - then I update the app in the app store to the latest release it appeared again.

It's almost as if it's hiding it when there's an update pending.

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,980 points

Nov 16, 2017 2:07 PM in response to johnthemacfan

By running El Capitan 10.11.2, you have missed out on the seven security updates that became available after 10.11.6 was released. Your early release of El Capitan very likely did not have the subsequent performance, and bug fixes that came with successive releases.

I would recommend that you download and apply the El Capitan 10.11.6 combo update. It is what it implies — an update, not a slash and burn install. Have one last Time Machine backup beforehand though.

Provided that you have System Preferences : App Store configured to automatically check (but not install) for updates, and Install system data files and security updates — you should begin to receive those seven security updates in your Mac App Store Updates tab. The last, 2017-003 will have Safari 11 in it.

I am running 10.11.6 with those seven security updates. I also continue to get Apple Gatekeeper and MRT anti-malware updates on a near monthly basis.

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Answer 3

Nov 21, 2017 8:04 AM in response to VikingOSX

I am running the most current versions of Pages and OS 10.12.6 and recently Pages has ceased to appear in Spotlight. I recreated the index but it made no difference. All I get is a list of developer files even though I specified that all I want returned is application files. It is very frustrating because I use Spotlight to launch all of my applications and so far Pages is the only one that I can't and have to use the dock or finder to launch it.

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