spotlight not indexing external drive

Question

petesapp Author

Level 1

4 points

spotlight not indexing external drive

Ok here's what I know. I did once use my external drive for Time Machine.

I have since deleted those files from the drive and removed it from the time machine preferences.

Since then spotlight will no longer index that drive. The only way I get it to work is by using the terminal.app.

My issue is that it only searches one time only after I've put the text into the terminal.

It's like it switches it back off.

The text I type in is...

sudo mdutil -E /volumes/[drive] -i on

I'm really hoping someone can point me in the right direction with this.

Posted on Oct 4, 2021 7:52 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

petesapp Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 4, 2021 12:53 PM in response to petesapp

I for got to mention that I also deleted a hidden time machine file.

Well after reboot I had a message asking if I wanted to use [MY DRIVE] for Time Machine. which is funny because it not listed in my time machine preferences even after I re-added it and removed it, so it looks like it kept Time Machine residual info on the drive.

Any way its all working great now

Reply

Answer 2

Oct 4, 2021 8:03 AM in response to petesapp

Provided you have no files you want to keep on that former TM drive, launch Disk Utility and erase the drive with partition format APFS (not APFS case-sensitive), GUID partition type. Next, drag and drop it onto the System Preferences > Spotlight > Privacy panel, wait 10 seconds, and then [-] remove it.

If you click on the Spotlight icon in the menu extras panel, it should show indexing progress on that external drive, provided it does not start and finish before you can open the Spotlight search panel.

Reply

Answer 3

petesapp Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 4, 2021 11:59 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thank you for your reply and your time spent in helping me VikingOSX. I should off said that I need to keep the files. I did guess that option would work but to be honest I shouldn't have to buy another Drive to copy all the files too just to sort out this fault.

Reply

Answer 4

petesapp Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 4, 2021 12:44 PM in response to petesapp

I think I've cracked it. I have to show hidden files on the drive and then delete /Volumes/{MY DRIVE]/.Spotlight-V100

Now I can search for anything I want at any time.

Going to now reboot and see what happens

Reply

spotlight not indexing external drive

Similar questions