Spotlight search not working on a Mac? How to rebuild the index

2 min read · 6 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Spotlight finds files through an index, a kind of catalogue of everything on the disk. When search results are missing or wrong, the index is usually damaged. Apple's fix is to make the Mac throw the index away and build a new one.

Menu names are from recent versions of macOS, where the settings app is called System Settings.

Step by step

1. Install updates first

   Open System Settings, General, Software Update and install what is offered. Search problems are sometimes fixed by an update alone.

   Done

2. Open System Settings and click Spotlight

   On older versions the entry is called Siri & Spotlight.

   Done

3. Click Search Privacy

   The button is at the bottom of the page. On older versions it is called Spotlight Privacy.

   Done

4. Add your disk to the list

   Click the plus button and choose the disk, usually Macintosh HD, or drag the disk into the list. To rebuild the index for one folder only, add that folder instead. Confirm the question.

   Done

5. Wait, then remove it again

   Wait a few seconds. Select the disk in the list and click the minus button.

   Done

6. Click Done and close System Settings

   Spotlight now indexes the disk again. Search works a little while this runs, and results fill in as it goes.

   Done

Good to know

Reindexing a whole disk takes time. Apple says the first indexing can take hours or even days. It is fastest when the Mac is not in use, plugged in and on Wi-Fi.

You can only reindex items your user account owns. If macOS reports a permissions error, use an administrator account.

The Search Privacy list is meant for places Spotlight should never search. Check that the folder you are missing is not on that list for good.

How to use the search well: how to use Spotlight search on a Mac.

In short: System Settings, Spotlight, Search Privacy, add the disk with plus, wait, remove it with minus, Done.