Level 1

23 points

Spotlight Search Not Working on iOS 12.1

Hi,

I’ve recently updated to iOS 12.1 on my iPhone 8 Plus, although this issue was also present in iOS 12 (I updated to try and solve the issue).

Basically, whenever I got to spotlight search and search for anything, I get no results - the same issue occurs in settings when I try to search for a setting. I've done some googling and can't seem to find anybody reporting the same issue as me.

I also have an iPhone 6, running on iOS 12, and spotlight search and search in settings works perfectly.

I have attached a screenshot of trying to use spotlight search to find the app Amazon, which I have downloaded on my device. After pressing search, the Siri suggestions stay, and nothing appears. After about 5 seconds, the Siri suggestions completely dissapear and the options to search web, app store, and maps appear about 5-10 seconds later.

I found some suggestions of changing the language region, restarting the device, and then switching it back again. This did not work.

Any help would be much appreciated,

Thanks,

Jake

iPhone 8 Plus, iOS 12.1

Posted on Nov 11, 2018 12:38 AM

Top-ranking reply

janericster

Level 1

69 points

Posted on May 6, 2019 9:10 AM

UPDATE (FIXED FOR ME):

So after talking with Apple Support, I tried one last thing: a FULL factory reset, then plug the phone into my Mac and restore by downloading the iOS 12 software through iTunes and THEN do a full restore from the backup.

After 4 days of use, the search is fully functional (which has never happened since I got the phone).

Note that doing a factory reset and restore using the iPhone by itself did NOT work. Rather, you have to restore from iTunes so that it downloads a fresh copy of the iOS software and reinstall it.

I can now finally swipe down and type one letter and the search immediately displays all apps on my phone beginning with that letter as it should have all along.

Search in Mail also finally works.

NOTE regarding backup: I did an encrypted backup to my MacBook Pro to make it go faster AND to save all of my passwords to save time. This also restored my MDM profile for work which eliminates the need to reinstall that. The entire process to backup, restore phone to factory preset, download iOS and restore from encrypted backup took about 2 hours. Well worth getting my full search back in my opinion.

View in context

79 replies

makpurp

Level 1

0 points

Jan 2, 2019 12:06 AM in response to jakerussell1

I have the same problem on an iPhone 6s. I’ve tried all of the suggestions so far, except for setting up the whole iPhone again, to no avail.

ive tried hard reset, settings reset, language change, Turnung Siri on and off.

I have 128 gb and setting up from a backup takes so much time to download everything that I’d rather not - any other suggestions?

lietsche

Level 1

8 points

Jan 22, 2019 11:44 PM in response to hingandling

12.1.3 did not fix it for me.

I almost only open apps via spotlight so this is highly annoying to me.

Can’t leave my phone unprotected by turning off passcode or Face ID too much sensitive data.

Apple, please!!!

Feb 2, 2019 9:11 AM in response to Jeff Collier

This is a ridiculous solution. Not ok for this bug to sit there and inhibit a primary way to use the iPhone. Apple should step up and fix. I have not the time or inclination to implement the above solution.

Feb 11, 2019 5:12 PM in response to Pepe909

I have the same issue. I have an Xs Max with IOS 12.1.4 installed. I wish had never upgraded from my 6+....this has been an issue ever since I did a few months back.

Has anyone taken their phone in to see what they say?

Lownote

Level 1

44 points

Feb 15, 2019 4:50 AM in response to S-Mu

My issue is slightly different. Search in Calendar stopped working with iOS 12 update. Now it only shows events from the last year. With 20+ years of calendars events this is a disaster. Suggestion to wipe and restore is too much of a PITA since I have a UK phone number on an e-Sim and a US number on a hard sim. The wipe would eliminate the e-Sim and the only way to fix it is to go back to a store in the UK to get another eSim. Simply not practical with the amount that I travel. Please fix this Apple.

Qubits

Level 1

38 points

Feb 20, 2019 11:59 AM in response to Jeff Collier

I did this with a lot of pain for losing so much time and productivity, but it didn't solve the issue: it started being the same way after a day of regular usage! does anyone know if apple has acknowledged the bug?

oreeoxx

Level 1

8 points

Apr 7, 2019 11:15 PM in response to jakerussell1

Hi, i'm also having the exact same issue! I updated my ios to 12.2 but the problem still persist... I can't search for anything. Messages, emails or apps... It's so frustrating. Did you find a solution?

Step9024

Level 1

4 points

Jun 25, 2019 10:47 AM in response to jakerussell1

Same problem here (iPhone 7). Done everything wrote in this discussion (except for the hard reset of the iPhone, since I read that some people done it with poor results. I don't want to waste my time) without positive results.

Now I also updated to iOS 13 beta. Guess what? Problem not solved (ok, it is a Beta, but....)

Nov 28, 2018 8:52 PM in response to Cacrouch

After erasing everything, setting the phone up as new and then erasing again and restoring it is now working again. Seems like a pain, I wish there was a way to just rebuild the phone’s search database.

Jan 9, 2019 2:40 AM in response to jakerussell1

It worked for me

Thanks for the solution given..........

slack28

Level 1

8 points

Jan 23, 2019 5:58 PM in response to coldcube31

Didn’t work for me

Feb 2, 2019 9:08 AM in response to Jeff Collier

I can’t believe it either. Soooooo frustrating.

Feb 2, 2019 9:12 AM in response to Jeff Collier

And the fix isn’t even a fix. So there is no fix. Apple? Step up please.

dkak83

Level 1

12 points

Feb 19, 2019 12:14 AM in response to coldcube31

that worked for me on iOS 12.1.4 ! Cheers mate!

Feb 25, 2019 8:35 AM in response to Daniele Purrone

Ok. Now the issue seems to have come back. So, no solution.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Spotlight Search Not Working on iOS 12.1