Spotlight closes after typing a few characters

After a number of frustrating days, I was able to resolve the issue by deleting and rebuilding the index. Here’s how:

1. From the Apple () menu, choose System Preferences.
2. Click Spotlight.
3. Click the Privacy tab.
4. Drag a folder or an entire volume (your hard drive) to the list. If prompted for confirmation, click OK.
5. Remove the item or volume you just added to the list by clicking it and then clicking the minus (“-“) button.
6. Close Spotlight preferences.

Once re-indexed, the issue disappeared.

Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. Please post back on whether or not this worked. Also try the Safe Mode. Please post back on whether or not this worked.

Isolating an issue by using another user account

Safe Mode - About

Safe Mode Startup – El Capitan. also Sierra

If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown.

Etrecheck – System Information

Does the simple act of removing the volume from Privacy selections prompt the index to rebuild? Is it immediate? How does one determine if rebuild is complete? So far, this method had not corrected the issue for me. Am I doing something wrong?

Removing it from Privacy prompts the rebuild, which starts immediately. There is no way to determine if it is complete.

See if anything here helps.

Spotlight Crashes

Thanks for the feedback on what worked.

Thank you youri186. I had the same problem...and your suggestion worked! (And I learned about indexing along the way.