Spotlight on MacOS Sequoia not working

I'm having the same problem. As an example of something that is no longer working in Spotlight, I often use it to get the definition of words:

1. CMD+Space
2. "define [word]"

This normally returns a definition and if I hit enter it opens the dictionary app. Instead, nothing happens. Spotlight opens fine, and I enter "define [word]", but then there's no response.

I get the same result (or, lack of results!) whether I try "define [word]" or "define:[word]". This is definitely a recent change because I use Spotlight like this all the time. Spotlight math and conversions work fine though.

Noltinger wrote:

I set up a Mac Mini M4 from Scratch not using a Time Machine backup. After a while I noticed that Spotlight is not working as expected. The response is only including applications and web, nothing else. The search function in Apple Mail does not respond anything. - I did the usual steps like reindexing, setup a new account and finally deleted all .spotlight - folders on my volumes. Contact to apple support is initiated, but still waiting for the "escalation session" after the first 2 calls did not solve the problem. - Does anybody experience similar problems and has an approach to get spotlight work again?

check your Spotlight settings...

>System Settings>Spotlight

if necessary Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support

Excellent catch! I get the exact same issue. As soon as I remove the smart card that was used to log in, then lock the screen and log back in with the account's password, Spotlight works again.

To be noted, the usage of a smart card like Yubikey also prevents from using the fingerprint reader (Touch ID) later on which would be otherwise very convenient.

Here you go Apple, you can add this to your backlog. Thanks to the community!

LondonSapiens wrote:

try define:gainsay

This doesn't produce any result.

It does for me…

try define:gainsay

Rebuilding the index doesn't solve the problem

try define:gainsay

This doesn't produce any result.