Spotlight crashes after typing a few letters since Safari 12 update

I have updated to Safari 12.0.1 and the issue is resolved for me. If people are still experiencing the same problem can they check the update to Safari did in fact install, the App Store can be a bit flaky.

Click on About This Mac> System Report> Software> Installations. Click on Install Date twice so this list is ordered with most recent first. And if downloading via App Store use a cabled connection rather than WiFi.

All I did was to rerun the 10.12.6 Combo Installer over the current install and it fixed everything without having to change any settings that would take away features. I do the rerun/refresh every so often anyway, it refreshes the install and things run a lot better afterwards. Been doing for years. Have had to do it several times as newer versions of Safari touting "bug fixes" got installed. I have now "Hidden" the Safari update. I don't use it anyway.

No, I'm running Safari 12.0.1 within Sierra on a late 2011 MBP and 12.0.2 on a late 2009 iMac, and both still have the Spotlight bug. However, the workaround of unchecking Bookmarks & History from Spotlight Preferences' Search Results tab works fine.

I would upgrade to High Sierra as a permanent fix except that I have multiple backup problems that I'm fixing. Apple don't advise upgrading until you have a current backup.

ME

10-3-18

This issue getting some publicity now:

“Tidbits- Safari 12 Crashes Spotlight in Sierra—Here’s the Fix”

https://tidbits.com/2018/10/01/safari-12-crashes-spotlight-in-sierra-heres-the-f ix/

Yes, Safari 12.0.1 fixed the problem for me.

I haven't tried rebuilding the spotlight index yet, but this workaround seems to have solved it for me:

System Preferences > Spotlight

Under the Search Results tab, uncheck the "Bookmarks & History" option.

I can confirm that UN-checking the "Bookmarks & History" option in the Spotlight pane of System Preferences corrects the problem. Also, this problem started for me after installing the Safari V 12.0 update.

I have the same issue.

Reindexing has done nothing to help!

I am trying your work-a-round by unchecking "Bookmarks & History" option in the Spotlight pane of System Preferences.

So far it WORKS!

Thanks!

I just had the same problem too on Sierra (10.12.6). I think I found a workaround that may be more flexible.

To me it looked like the crash happened only when searching for *a few* letters. For instance, I was searching for "It" (the name of the movie), and that's when it would crash systematically when I just typed these two letters and waited for the results. But first typing a longer word (e.g. "Itunes"), wait 1-2 seconds for the results, and then remove the extra letters, got me my results and prevented it from crashing.

HTH

I am running macOS Siera 10.12.6, on a MBP Retina mid 2012.

Safari's version is 12.0 (12606.2.11)

I have already tried rebuilding spotlight's index. it didn't work.

The only workaround that seems to be effective is the one pointed by the op (sparky67). I have unchecked the "Bookmarks & History" option and it stopped crashing. Lets hope it will hold, because It was getting really annoying.

I had the same problem, and your solution worked for me: unchecking "Bookmarks & History" in the Spotlight Preferences Pane.

Sorry @sparky67, you're right I didn't read carefully beyond where you tried reindexing spotlight. I appreciate your post though, because this had been annoying me and it got me on the right track knowing it was related to Safari. I don't use Spotlight to look up browser history or bookmarks, so this workaround is great for me, but I understand it's not ideal for someone who likes to use it for those purposes. Hopefully they'll fix it with the next Safari update.

My problem that Safari did was every time I even selected a .webloc file in the Finder the Desktop would refresh. And not a quick blink. Many times I though my desktop had been wiped.

I have a Installer on a Thumb Drive that I use. But I trust you could boot to your "Recovery Drive" and reinstall through the Installer? The first time I did that I was scared to death that it would wipe the drive and reinstall since the motions don't tell you otherwise. But to my delight, it didn't.

I'd back up the drive, CarbonCopyCloner, if only a TimeMachine back up to an external/separate drive/partition for the first time you try it. Just to make sure things go as they should. I just resigned myself in that moment of shear terror to the fact that I did have TM backups, as spotty as they have been in the past, on a separate drive and that I had the afternoon open in case I had to rebuild from scratch. Since I have done this 3 times until I stopped updating Safari and have had no major problems, I feel comfortable suggesting it. ALSO down the road when the OS goes wonky, and it will, this process that I discovered while on the phone with Apple asking if it could be done and them not knowing and when he returned to the call and I had done it successfully, THEN when it was proven, they (Apple) started suggesting it themselves . . . . cures a ton of ills.

Hope this helps. Good Luck. "Hide that Safari update" in the App Store and forget Safari until they really fix it!!! OR if you get comfortable with this "Refreshing" process, be the one to find out when Safari is fixed for those who can't.

No dice.

Okay, i'm going back to Safari 11.1.2.