Spotlight not finding apps on Mac

When Spotlight stops finding apps that are installed, its index is usually damaged, turned off, or still rebuilding. Check that indexing is on, rebuild the index, and wait for it to finish.

Fix it

1. Restart the Mac. If Spotlight then finds the app, you are done.
2. Check that Spotlight indexes the disk. In Terminal, run mdutil -s /. If it says indexing is disabled, run sudo mdutil -i on /.
3. Rebuild the index in System Settings. Open System Settings → Spotlight → Search Privacy, add your disk (usually Macintosh HD), then remove it. Spotlight then indexes the disk again. This is Apple’s method.
4. Or rebuild it in Terminal: sudo mdutil -E / erases the index, and Spotlight builds a new one.
5. Wait. A rebuild can take a long time, depending on how many files the Mac has. Apps can be missing from results until it ends.

Steps as of 2026-10-24, from Apple’s Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac and the mdutil manual page (man mdutil in Terminal).

Or use a launcher with its own app index

Superhound is a native Mac launcher for apps, files, math, emoji, and clipboard history. It does not use Spotlight’s index, so a broken Spotlight index does not hide apps from it.

• Its own index. Superhound scans your app folders itself: /Applications, ~/Applications, the system app folders, and Safari’s folder. You can add your own folders too.
• Up to date. A new or removed app appears in a few seconds. Refresh Catalog scans everything now.
• Fast, and forgives typos. It ranks 100,000 names in about 10 ms, and safri finds Safari. See Apps and files.
• On ⌘Space. One switch in Settings takes ⌘Space from Spotlight, and turning it off gives it back. See Open with ⌘Space.
• Free, with every feature. It needs a Mac with Apple Silicon and macOS 15 or later.

Questions

Why can’t Spotlight find an app I installed?

Usually because Spotlight’s index is damaged, out of date, or turned off for the disk. Rebuild it: in System Settings → Spotlight → Search Privacy, add the disk, then remove it.

How long does a Spotlight index rebuild take?

It depends on how many files the Mac has, and it can take a long time. Apps can be missing from results until it ends.

Does Superhound use Spotlight’s index?

No. Superhound scans your app folders, and any folders you add, into its own index. It finds apps when Spotlight’s index is broken.

Can Superhound replace Spotlight on ⌘Space?

Yes. One switch in Settings takes ⌘Space from Spotlight, and turning it off gives it back.