124
votes
mds and mds_stores constantly consuming cpu
It's best to find high-volume directories and omit them from indexing using Spotlight->Privacy settings.
In terminal call fs_usage to list files being indexed by mds_stores
~ sudo fs_usage -w -f ...
- 1,369
83
votes
Single application not showing up in Spotlight
In a terminal, enter:
sudo mdutil -E /
I tried the Preferences --> Spotlight --> Privacy suggestion with the /Applications folder but that did not work for me.
Then I tried sudo mdutil -E /...
- 1,243
59
votes
Accepted
Spotlight on Mac doesn't accept keyboard input
This seems to have worked. I'd still be interested in other answers people might have, in case there's something better.
Run Activity Monitor
Type "spotlight" in the search field.
Several items will ...
- 2,276
58
votes
Spotlight shortcut (cmd+space) no longer working
Once in a long while, this happens to me with my external on. I think the shortcut is working, but it's showing up off-screen somewhere. Unplugging the external monitor gets it working again.
- 689
49
votes
Spotlight shortcut (cmd+space) no longer working
In my case, a display problem caused the spotlight input window to pop up off screen. Clicking and holding the spotlight icon in the system bar resets the location of the spotlight window and fixed ...
- 694
41
votes
Applications Don't Show Up in Spotlight
When I tried Anil's solution, I got:
sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.metadata.mds.plist
/System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.metadata.mds.plist: Operation not ...
- 24.1k
40
votes
Accepted
How can I stop Parallels Desktop from listing Apps from a VM available in Spotlight?
I just figured it out after searching the sources below.
System Preferences > Spotlight > Privacy
Drag your "Applications (Parallels)" folder onto the "Privacy" tab
I also added the folder with my ...
- 588
35
votes
How do I re-center Spotlight search bar (Mac)?
The answer is two-fold.
Centering it horizontally: Drag the spotlight bar horizontally and you will feel a slight stickiness to a place. That is where you have centered it horizontally.
Centering it ...
- 491
32
votes
Accepted
Spotlight search to Bluetooth settings hindered by "Bluetooth file exchange"
You can fix this by adding Bluetooth File Exchange to Spotlight's exclusion list.
In Finder, open /Applications/Utilities
Navigate to the Spotlight Privacy section:
For macOS Ventura and newer
Go ...
- 515
31
votes
Accepted
Prevent spotlight from indexing folders with a certain name
There is no known method to exclude from Spotlight a file or a folder based on a pattern (ex.: its name).
However it's possible to exclude a folder from Spotlight by adding to it an empty file ....
- 436
30
votes
Accepted
why do I have to double tap command + space to open spotlight?
I had the same problem. Apparently, Siri is waiting to see if it's being called. In the Siri preferences, there's a setting for Keyboard Shortcut which is set to Hold Command Space by default. So ...
- 416
27
votes
Spotlight shortcut (cmd+space) no longer working
The issue may be caused by the SystemUIServer process hanging.
You can restart it by launching the command
killall SystemUIServer
- 503
26
votes
mds and mds_stores constantly consuming cpu
If you have trouble it when mount external hard. check this article
Prevent Spotlight from indexing external drive
In my case, I solved it by creating .metadata_never_index file on the root path of ...
- 361
25
votes
How do I re-center Spotlight search bar (Mac)?
Same answer as https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/225746/364510 with additional image to describe. Also you can drag-drop search bar to reposition it as you want. Note: When you move to original ...
- 351
22
votes
Accepted
Prevent Spotlight from indexing external drive
You could have a script that runs at startup that employs the technique suggested in this post https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/91759/183505
When booting from DriveA (when you want to disable ...
- 355
21
votes
Spotlight is slow in Catalina
Short Answer:
This is a known issue with users complaining about Spotlight AFTER moving to Catalina. So was working correctly PRE-Catalina, WASN'T working correctly POST-Catalina upgrade. Apple ...
- 1,731
20
votes
Prevent Spotlight from indexing external drive
I use mdutil command to prevent indexing on external drive, I feel that is more reliable.
To check if the external drive has indexing enabled or not, run the command:
$ mdutil -s /Volumes/<...
- 2,404
20
votes
Accepted
Unable to update safari due to "Spotlight is using the SafariQuickLookPreview extension"
This seems to work for me.
Go to Activity and search for 'safari':
Pick the entry 'SafariQuickLookPreview (Spotlight)' entry and kill it.
Then use the 'Try Again' button in the 'Software Update' ...
- 2,120
19
votes
mds and mds_stores constantly consuming cpu
Just to add a small tip on top of @Buscar웃 's correct answer:
In my case, I realized that spotlight was actually indexing Time Machine backups (which is really a stupid thing to do in the first place)....
- 301
19
votes
Extreme energy usage by Spotlight
In my case, the Spotlight process seemed to have something to do with the iOS Simulator, which I had left open. Closing the iOS simulator resolved the issue immediately.
- 313
19
votes
Accepted
How do I remove Outlook mail from Spotlight?
You need to tell Spotlight not to search the Outlook Database on your local machine.
Assuming you're using MS Office 2016 or later
Here's how,
Open System Preferences > Spotlight
Click the Privacy ...
- 5,935
18
votes
Spotlight on Mac doesn't accept keyboard input
A more faster way than the GUI is through Terminal:
Run Terminal (via Application panel -> Other -> Terminal)
Type: killall Spotlight
Spotlight will restart and be operational.
- 181
17
votes
How do I rebuild the Spotlight index
I just fixed my Spotlight index issue a couple days ago with the following commands. Was driving me nuts too.
cd /
sudo mdutil -E /
sudo mdutil -a -i off
sudo rm -fr .Spotlight-V100/
sudo mdutil -i on ...
- 491
16
votes
How to stop OS X from writing Spotlight and Trash files to memory cards and USB sticks?
Update — 2021 December
I tested the latest version of Clean My Drive 2 on an M1 Mac, and am happy to report it still works perfectly. The developer continues to update and support the app, which is ...
- 331
16
votes
Accepted
Spotlight re-indexing takes too long or doesn't work
OK, I solved it, it seems...
The Solution
Run
sudo /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -seed -lint -r -f -v -dump -...
- 436
15
votes
How to disable Spotlight and mds_stores on Mac OS Catalina
It took me a while to find out why my MacBook always felt so hot, it was mds_store running constantly at 100% CPU.
I tried all suggested solutions to get control over spotlight, including
Temporarily ...
- 261
15
votes
How to remove Google Chrome from Spotlight suggestions in macOS Big Sur
New in Big Sur’s Spotlight are web search completion results.
This is not the Google Chrome application presenting itself, but rather web search results showing in Spotlight able to be opened with the ...
grg♦
- 204k
14
votes
Prevent spotlight from indexing folders with a certain name
In case anyone missed fsb's comment in the question, as I did. Apple provides a privacy tab in the Spotlight settings.
Goto "System Preferences" > "Spotlight" > "Privacy" > "+" Add folders to the ...
- 265
14
votes
how can I filter out unwanted search results in Alfred (ie node_modules folder, caches)
Go to Preferences -> Spotlight -> Privacy (TAB)
Then add the folders you want to exclude to that list.
- 141
14
votes
Smart folder using "or" search?
Yes there is.
If you press the OPTION button while composing the query in the finder window, the "+" button changes into a "..." button, that exposes the interface that allows for testing "All | Any |...
- 851
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