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.

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79 replies

Dec 2, 2018 11:58 AM in response to Alancito

Done! Submitted my feedback

Dec 2, 2018 9:32 PM in response to robnguyen

I submitted mine as well. This is totally unacceptable for apple to release a bug this bug in their iOS.

Pipper99

Level 1

4 points

Dec 20, 2018 10:27 AM in response to Jeff Collier

12.1.2 fixed this for me

myeek

Level 1

4 points

May 6, 2019 8:36 PM in response to jakerussell1

Navigate to: Settings > Siri & Search

Turn on ‘App’ for each app you want search to find.

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Spotlight Search Not Working on iOS 12.1