- Today, we'll cover some new APIs, Core Spotlight on macOS, Drag-and-Drop, Quick Look previews, and then we'll give an update on ranking before finishing with a review of indexing and search. So, let's jump right into macOS. Core Spotlight on macOS is the exact.
- Spotlight does not find the Mac app when I search. Spotlight is an Apple technology, part of macOS, and we don't have any control over its indexing. This happens to me from time to time but it seems to resolve itself. You may be able to rebuild the index, but I can really only point you in the direction of Apple's documentation on this.
![Mac spotlight not finding apps Mac spotlight not finding apps](/uploads/1/2/6/4/126454479/228751333.jpg)
If you have ever used a Mac, you know the feeling of using Spotlight search. It makes searching apps and files so much easier. Spotlight not only launch apps and search files in a jiffy, but it also works as a calculator, currency converters, weather calculation and much more.
However, Spotlight comes inbuilt with MacOS and I do really miss it on my Windows laptop. But, the problem is Windows works with NTFS and indexing on Apple File System (APFS) is far better. So it’s not possible to get a perfect replacement for Spotlight. But that doesn’t stop me and in the scout to get Spotlight for Windows 10, I found out some solid alternatives apps.
Read: Clever Ways to Use Spotlight
Feb 24, 2018 The additional functionality of the Spotlight search on iOS 11 is a prime reason for apps to not show up properly in the suggestions. Usually, turning this feature off should fix the issue. Find “SystemUIServer” (you can use the search box) Double click; And click Quit; Do not worry, macOS will restart the process again, automatically within seconds. Check to see if Spotlight is working now. If you are not happy about the Spotlight search results, go to Apple menu System Preferences, click Spotlight, then click the Search.
Spotlight for Windows 10
1. Wox
Wox is the closest you can come to Spotlight Search on Windows. The UI design is minimal and is ideal for the purpose the app is built for. By default, the app is triggered when you press Atl+Space. A search bar pops up for you to enter the search string and the results appear as a dropdown.
The app is heavily customizable and lets you customize it inside out. The settings let you customize the theme, hotkeys, plugins, no of search results etc. Customizing the theme means changing the appearance of the Wox search bar. You can also set your own hotkeys to trigger the app. The highlight of the app is the huge amount of plugin support that it backs (YouTube Query, Clipboard History, Google Translate etc). Initially, you get a set of plugins with the app which you can willingly choose to disable. On top of that, the website has tons of plugins such as YouTube Search, Wox. Spotify etc for you to install.
Wox is an open source application and the forum is quite active in terms of updates and query resolution. Somehow, the app lags and loses focus when the mouse is moved outside the search bar. Hence, every time I have to click on the search bar to start typing. The app doesn’t learn on its own about the searches.
Features: Search files, Calculator, Open URL, Display color using hex number, Run shell commands etc.
Download Wox (free)
2. Search Everything
Search Everything might not be the ideal replacement for Spotlight Search but what the app offers cannot be ignored. The app is build just to search files on your local storage and it does an awesome job. The UI is pretty traditional and will instantly remind you of Windows 7 but keeping the UI simple makes it snappy.
In my testing, the results turned out to be accurate every single time and work better than the native file search. The app accepts search queries as well as regular expressions. It also lets you export the output of the search into a text file. That’s helpful if you are using it with a macro and certainly help if you are into development.
The only downside I could find is that the app does consume a lot of CPU if the search string points to a vast number of files.
Features: Search files, Shell Commands, Regular Expressions.
Download Search Everything (free)
3. KeyPirinha
KeyPirinha turned out to be my favorite app due to its simplicity and quick response. It is a portable app and you have the source code available on the website. The app is pretty simple and you don’t get any plugins or themes with it.
Customizing the app is a bit complicated as you have to make changes with the configuration files and it can be dicey if you are not good with coding. For example, just to change the hotkey to Ctrl + Space, I had to append the following lines in the configuration file.
The most unique feature in the app is the action step which makes it more of an app emulator. Once the results for your search pops up you can hit tab and now you can run command for that particular application from the search bar itself. If you give another tab, it opens additional options for the app which is similar to a right click on that app.
The problem with KeyPirinha which bugs me the most is that you cannot select the search results with your mouse. To enable this, you have to make tons of changes in the configuration file. The app almost recognizes Windows shortcuts except for the ones in Control Panel.
Features: Search files, Calculator, Regular Expressions.
Macos Spotlight Does Not Find An Apps
Download KeyPirinha (free)
4. Launchy
Launchy is another open source keystroke Launcher and has separate variants for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The app has a basic design like any other app in this list but stands out in terms of app customization and web search. It provides lots of options like auto open the app, delay in response etc.
Launchy comes with a set of plugins installed but unlike Wox you don’t get huge plugin support. It also supports file search but you have to specify the directories it has to look for the file. This can be done through the settings menu under the Catalog tab. You need to be careful while adding directories under the Catalog because entering a generic path like C:// will add dozens of files. This will increase the indexed entries and slow down the file search. Make entries in the Catalog for directories where you most probably store your files.
Launchy seems to be accurate with the search but this comes with a slight delay. At times, the delay is so prolonged that I thought the search string itself is invalid. It also searches the web but the response is so slow that it’s not at all convenient.
Features: Search files, Calculator, Web search, Regular Expressions, Shell commands.
Download Launchy (free)
5. Cerebro Pro
The outlook of Cerebro Pro is similar to Spotlight search and it even replicates the functionality. The search results are displayed below the search bar and the layout is exactly like the Spotlight Search. The highlight of the app is it even shows up results from the web. This is an added bonus as you don’t need to open the browser window to type the search string.
Since you have so much web suggestions in the app, a small spelling mistake makes the entire search irrelevant. There is no option to switch off the web search
Features: Search files, Calculator, Web search and suggestions.
Download Cerebro Pro (free)
The best app to get Spotlight for Windows 10?
Wox comes the closest and is the ideal choice. They have an extremely active update system and a huge set of plugins support. If you don’t have a spec-heavy system and you can be creative enough with coding then you should try KeyPirinha.
In case most of your searches are from the web, you can give a try to Cerebro Pro. Feel free to voice out your problems in the comment, I will be happy to help you.
Lots of people have found the Spotlight or Search is not working on their iPhone or iPad. This problem often starts after upgrading to a new device or updating the operating software. Without Spotlight or Search, it’s harder to find what you’re looking for on your device.
The Spotlight or Search function on your iPhone or iPad is a powerful tool. Use it to quickly find contacts, messages, apps, and other content from your device. Drag down from the Home screen or swipe right from the Notification Center to access it. You can even use it to search the web!
If Spotlight or Search stopped working on your iPhone or iPad, use the tips in this post to fix it.
Contents
- 1 Quick tips
- 2 Why is Spotlight or Search not working on my iPhone?
- 3 How do I fix Spotlight or Search not working on my iPhone?
- 4 Did you find these tips useful?
Quick tips
- Close all apps and restart
- Update your iOS or iPadOS
- Temporarily change your device’s language
- Toggle off Siri Suggestions and learning
- Try removing the Shortcuts widget from your Home Screen
Related:
Why is Spotlight or Search not working on my iPhone?
There are two possible causes for Spotlight or Search problems: hardware and software.
If you have an older device, the processor might struggle to keep up with new software releases. Typically, Apple stops licensing software updates for older devices. But you still might find your iPhone is getting slow even if you can still update it.
More often, the Spotlight or Search function stops working because of a software problem. This might be a bug in iOS or iPadOS that Apple needs to fix. Or it might be an issue with the software on your device in particular.
Whatever the reason, you can fix Spotlight or Search problems using the troubleshooting solutions in this post.
Spotlight or Search may need to re-index your content after upgrading
When you upgrade your iPhone or iPad, the new device needs to index all your content before it turns up in the search results. Sometimes this takes a couple of days. You should leave your iPhone or iPad plugged in as much as possible during this period.
You might also find that your device needs to re-index your data after updating the software. Make sure you allow a couple of days before using the steps below to fix any underlying problems.
How do I fix Spotlight or Search not working on my iPhone?
![Not Not](/uploads/1/2/6/4/126454479/396770006.png)
Use the steps outlined below to troubleshoot Spotlight or Search problems in iOS or iPadOS. Test your device again after each step to see if the Spotlight or Search function is working. And let us know in the comments what fixes it for you!
1. Close every app and restart your device
This is the first thing to try if anything stops working on your iPhone or iPad. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen or double-click the Home button, then swipe every app off the top of the screen to close it.
After you close all the apps, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button with either volume button. Slide to power off your iPhone or iPad, then wait at least 30 seconds before restarting it.
2. Update to the latest release of iOS or iPadOS
A lot of the time, a problem like Spotlight or Search not working is the result of software bugs on your iPhone or iPad. When this happens, Apple eventually releases new updates to patch the bugs. You just need to wait for that update.
Make sure you update your device to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS so you get all the latest fixes. Connect your iPhone or iPad to a working Internet connection, then go Settings > General > Software Update.
3. Temporarily change the language on your device
This seems like a weird one, but it has proven to be an effective solution for a lot of people with this problem. Temporarily change the language on your iPhone or iPad, then change it back again.
To do this, go to Settings > General > Language & Region. If your language is set to English, change it to a different English-speaking region such as Australia, Canada, or the UK.
After you change the language, swipe up from the bottom of the screen or double-click the Home button and close the Settings app. Then change the language back to normal.
4. Turn off Spotlight or Search for individual apps
You might be able to jump-start Spotlight or Search by turning it off and on again. Do this for every single app on your device by going to Settings > Siri & Search. Tap your app names at the bottom of the screen and turn off all the following buttons:
- Learn from this App
- Show in Search
- Suggest Shortcuts
- Show App
- Show Siri Suggestions
After you turn everything off, try the Spotlight or Search feature again. Then return to the Siri & Search settings and turn on the above options for a couple of apps. Test Spotlight, then turn more apps on and repeat.
If you have an older device, you might want to limit Spotlight or Search to only the important apps.
5. Remove Shortcuts widgets from the Home screen
Shortcuts are a great tool for adding new functionality to your iPhone or iPad. Especially if you use those Shortcuts with the Home screen widget.
Unfortunately, some users found this widget made Spotlight or Search stop working. You should turn it off to see if it helps. Go to your Home screen and swipe right to see the widgets. Scroll to the bottom and tap Edit, then remove Shortcuts.
6. Erase and restore your device using a computer
Failing all else, you can fix most problems on your iPhone or iPad by reinstalling the software and restoring it from a backup. We recommend you do this using a computer. Otherwise, your iPhone or iPad won’t reinstall the software properly.
Make a backup of your iPhone or iPad before you start. Connect it to a computer and select Back Up Now in iTunes or Finder. Then follow these instructions to put your device in Recovery Mode.
Select Restore Backup in Finder or iTunes and choose the backup you just made. It might take a little while to restore everything on your iPhone or iPad, but Spotlight or Search should work again after you do so.
Did you find these tips useful?
Macos Spotlight Search
We use your feedback and comments to keep updating our posts, making them even better for future readers. Is Spotlight or Search still not working on your iPhone or iPad? Or did one of our suggestions help you fix it?
Please share your experiences in the comments!
Dan is a freelance writer based in South West England.
He spent two years supervising repairs as a Genius Admin for Apple Retail and uses that knowledge to keep our troubleshooting guides up to date.
Long before that, Dan turned to Apple products from a musical background. Having owned iPods for years, he bought a MacBook to learn sound recording and production. It was using those skills that he gained a first-class Bachelor of Science in Sound Technology.