Apps Not Shown in Search Results in 10.15

[playmakerx]

I just upgraded to macOS 10.15 and Alfred 4 today. After giving it all required permissions, I found this glitch. When I searched for apps like "App Store", nothing shows up in Alfred 4. But Spotlight works just fine. I tried "Clear Application Cache" and "Rebuild macOS Metadata" but neither helped.

The permissions I gave to Alfred 4 just in case you ask:

Contacts

Accessibility

Full Disk Access

Files and Folders

Automation

Any idea on how to fix this, or should I wait for an update?

 

Edited June 4, 2019 by playmakerx

[jangerhofer]

This is definitely a permissions issue, as I am experiencing the same thing.  I do not know whether Apple has changed the authorization process/required permissions, but I'll add a pair of observations (which may or may not be obvious):

 

1. Alfred can still see all of my third-party, non App-Store-installed applications in my /Applications directory;
    
2. Running a `ls /Applications` command also shows only the aforementioned subset of the /Applications directory's contents, so my shell does not appear to have full permissions either!

 

Alfred does not appear in the Automation tab of the "Security" pane, but it does appear to be enabled in the "Full Disk Access", "Files and Folders", and "Contacts" panes on my system.

[cee-dub]

I'm experiencing the same issue, also on macOS 10.15 beta.

[scaba]

I added /System/Applications to the Search Scope list in Preferences -> Features -> Default Results and now the Apple installed apps show up in Alfred

[vitor]

@scaba To clarify, did just the default Apple apps move to /System/Applications? Are the user-installed apps still in /Applications?

[ScoticusMaximus]

I'll see your "not searching for applications in MacOS 10.15 beta" and raise you a "Keyboard shortcut not working, can't open preferences, icon not showing in toolbar or Dock or Force Quit Menu but can't delete and re-install because MacOS says "Alfred is Open"

 

How about them Apples? 

 

Totally know it's the risk of Beta but thought I would report it to Alfred so you would know it was an issue. Thanks!

[Andrew]

@ScoticusMaximus Alfred is a background app so won't have a dock item. If you can't quit Alfred from the hat in the top menu bar, open Activity Monitor and you should be able to quit him from there.

 

Cheers,

Andrew

[scaba]

@vitor It looks like userland apps are now in /System/Volumes/Data/Device/Applications and /Applications is some sort of file system alias to that, probably some sort of hard symlink. I added a symlink for the homebrew Emacs-plus to /Applications and it also shows up in /System/Volumes/Data/Device/Applications. However, now that linked app does not show up in Alfred, though the rest in that dir do. I imagine it has to do with the symlink

[vitor]

Thank you for the info, @scaba. The kind of links you mention seem to be something new, discussed in a WWDC talk. If you see the presentation slides, they are referred on page 21 as firmlinks.

[playmakerx]

On 6/4/2019 at 5:38 PM, scaba said:

I added /System/Applications to the Search Scope list in Preferences -> Features -> Default Results and now the Apple installed apps show up in Alfred

Thanks scaba, that solved my problem! 😁

Edited June 8, 2019 by playmakerx

[upup]

On 6/8/2019 at 8:52 AM, playmakerx said:

Thanks scaba, that solved my problem! 😁

How you did it I can't see hidden files in Alfred Finder to chose this folder

 

Thank you

[scaba]

@upup In any Finder window hitting "COMMAND + SHIFT + ." will show hidden files 

[Carbon]

@scaba could you please tell me how you could select appliction under the system folder? Cause for some reason I could only see IOSSupport and Library in that folder. thanks.

[scaba]

@Carbon Not really sure. Are you on 10.15 (Catalina)? Did you try showing hidden files as I mentioned above?

 

[upup]

On 6/9/2019 at 11:44 PM, scaba said:

@upup In any Finder window hitting "COMMAND + SHIFT + ." will show hidden files 

Yes I'm on Catalana I know how to see hidden files^ but Alfred doesn't see them, so I can chose hidden directory System/Application

[Carbon]

10 hours ago, scaba said:

@Carbon Not really sure. Are you on 10.15 (Catalina)? Did you try showing hidden files as I mentioned above?

 

@scaba Thanks I was able to add it to my search scrope once I did the hidden files thing but it didn't seem to be solving the problem and apps were still not shown in alfred...

[upup]

So how to add this folder for dummies who ca use terminal))

[scaba]

I think it's all moot as the newest version (4.0.2 Pre-Release) of Alfred addresses this issue. So everyone having Catalina issue should upgrade. You may need to reset your Applications location list in Alfred to its pristine state after you do.

[skarchmit]

So I've restored my Mac to factory settings (No Time Machine) on Catalina and it looks like the issue returned. 

[Dale L Puckett]

I reported this in the Discussion and Help forum and my post was blocked and I was sent to this forum. I just happen to be on Catalina right now. But, the same thing happens in Mojave. I did do the re-index suggested. It seems that I get everything but Applications when I do a search. What have I got set up wrong? I unchecked everything except documents and text files in the scope settings. 

 

I want to be able to use Alfred 4 as a Launch tool. How can I do this. I don't mind having the other results too, but I need Applications to appear at the top of the search. I have tried "Open" and "Find" too!

 

Thanks!

Dale

 

[Vero]

@Dale L Puckett @skarchmit Taking it back to the basics, have you gone through the steps outlined in the Indexing Troubleshooting page?

 

https://www.alfredapp.com/help/troubleshooting/indexing/

 

If you're using Catalina, make sure you're using Alfred 4.0.3 and that you've reset the search scope under Features > Default Results > Search Scope, as Apple have moved the location of most apps. You'll then need to type "reload" into Alfred to refresh the app cache.

 

If you've been going through major OS upgrades, there may be some underlying indexing issues. Follow the steps, but in particular, when you get to step 4, make sure you take the time to rebuild your Mac's index. (Again, once you've completed the reindex, type "reload" into Alfred to specifically refresh the app cache)

 

If the issue persists, please provide as much details as possible:

 

- Which macOS build you're using? 

- Are apps found by Spotlight? Where are the apps located?

- If you check the metadata of these apps, is it complete? (Here's the metadata tool: https://cachefly.alfredapp.com/tools/AlfredMetadataTool_v1.1.zip)

 

Please paste the metadata output for your files so that we can take a look at what information is provided by macOS, as this may provide insight as to why they're not being returned in results.

 

Cheers,
Vero

[Nazzaro]

On 7/9/2019 at 4:44 AM, Vero said:

@Dale L Puckett @skarchmit Taking it back to the basics, have you gone through the steps outlined in the Indexing Troubleshooting page?

 

https://www.alfredapp.com/help/troubleshooting/indexing/

 

If you're using Catalina, make sure you're using Alfred 4.0.3 and that you've reset the search scope under Features > Default Results > Search Scope, as Apple have moved the location of most apps. You'll then need to type "reload" into Alfred to refresh the app cache.

 

If you've been going through major OS upgrades, there may be some underlying indexing issues. Follow the steps, but in particular, when you get to step 4, make sure you take the time to rebuild your Mac's index. (Again, once you've completed the reindex, type "reload" into Alfred to specifically refresh the app cache)

 

If the issue persists, please provide as much details as possible:

 

- Which macOS build you're using? 

- Are apps found by Spotlight? Where are the apps located?

- If you check the metadata of these apps, is it complete? (Here's the metadata tool: https://cachefly.alfredapp.com/tools/AlfredMetadataTool_v1.1.zip)

 

Please paste the metadata output for your files so that we can take a look at what information is provided by macOS, as this may provide insight as to why they're not being returned in results.

 

Cheers,
Vero

 

I've tried all of the steps above, with the exception of the MetadataTool.  My issue differs slightly.  Alfred can find some of the applications in my /Applications folder, but not all.  Spotlight can see everything.  I've rebuilt the index multiple times, all with a 'reload' afterwards. I'll run a few apps through the tool, one that's being found and one that isn't, and post the results. 

 

For completeness, here are the details:

- Build 19A501i - DP3

- Yes, all applications are found by Spotlight

- I'll post this shortly

[Nazzaro]

Sublime Text 3 (Being Found):

/Applications/Sublime Text.app

Internal File Metadata
======================

 Display Name: Sublime Text
    Alt Names: Sublime Text.app
    File Type: com.apple.application-bundle
     Comments: 
     Keywords: 
    Last Used: 2019-07-13 12:16:33 +0000

Raw mdls File Metadata
======================

_kMDItemDisplayNameWithExtensions  = "Sublime Text"
kMDItemAlternateNames              = (
    "Sublime Text.app"
)
kMDItemCFBundleIdentifier          = "com.sublimetext.3"
kMDItemContentCreationDate         = 2019-04-06 10:02:11 +0000
kMDItemContentCreationDate_Ranking = 2019-04-06 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemContentModificationDate     = 2019-04-06 10:02:11 +0000
kMDItemContentType                 = "com.apple.application-bundle"
kMDItemContentTypeTree             = (
    "com.apple.localizable-name-bundle",
    "com.apple.application-bundle",
    "public.directory",
    "public.executable",
    "com.apple.application",
    "public.item",
    "com.apple.package",
    "com.apple.bundle"
)
kMDItemCopyright                   = "Copyright © 2006-2019 Sublime HQ Pty Ltd"
kMDItemDateAdded                   = 2019-07-02 23:01:24 +0000
kMDItemDateAdded_Ranking           = 2019-07-02 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemDisplayName                 = "Sublime Text"
kMDItemDocumentIdentifier          = 0
kMDItemExecutableArchitectures     = (
    "x86_64"
)
kMDItemFSContentChangeDate         = 2019-04-06 10:02:11 +0000
kMDItemFSCreationDate              = 2019-04-06 10:02:11 +0000
kMDItemFSCreatorCode               = ""
kMDItemFSFinderFlags               = 0
kMDItemFSHasCustomIcon             = (null)
kMDItemFSInvisible                 = 0
kMDItemFSIsExtensionHidden         = 1
kMDItemFSIsStationery              = (null)
kMDItemFSLabel                     = 0
kMDItemFSName                      = "Sublime Text.app"
kMDItemFSNodeCount                 = 1
kMDItemFSOwnerGroupID              = 20
kMDItemFSOwnerUserID               = 501
kMDItemFSSize                      = 43743281
kMDItemFSTypeCode                  = ""
kMDItemInterestingDate_Ranking     = 2019-07-13 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemKind                        = "Application"
kMDItemLastUsedDate                = 2019-07-13 12:16:33 +0000
kMDItemLastUsedDate_Ranking        = 2019-07-13 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemLogicalSize                 = 43743281
kMDItemPhysicalSize                = 43859968
kMDItemUseCount                    = 20
kMDItemUsedDates                   = (
    "2019-04-06 04:00:00 +0000",
    "2019-04-12 04:00:00 +0000",
    "2019-04-18 04:00:00 +0000",
    "2019-05-04 04:00:00 +0000",
    "2019-05-13 04:00:00 +0000",
    "2019-05-19 04:00:00 +0000",
    "2019-05-24 04:00:00 +0000",
    "2019-06-08 04:00:00 +0000",
    "2019-06-12 04:00:00 +0000",
    "2019-06-14 04:00:00 +0000",
    "2019-06-22 04:00:00 +0000",
    "2019-07-06 04:00:00 +0000",
    "2019-07-08 04:00:00 +0000",
    "2019-07-13 04:00:00 +0000"
)
kMDItemVersion                     = "Build 3207"

Spotify (Not Being Found):

/Applications/Spotify.app

Internal File Metadata
======================

 Display Name: Spotify
    Alt Names: Spotify.app
    File Type: com.apple.application-bundle
     Comments: 
     Keywords: 
    Last Used: 

Raw mdls File Metadata
======================

_kMDItemDisplayNameWithExtensions  = "Spotify"
kMDItemAlternateNames              = (
    "Spotify.app"
)
kMDItemAppStoreCategory            = "Music"
kMDItemAppStoreCategoryType        = "public.app-category.music"
kMDItemCFBundleIdentifier          = "com.spotify.client"
kMDItemContentCreationDate         = 2019-05-24 09:07:20 +0000
kMDItemContentCreationDate_Ranking = 2019-05-24 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemContentModificationDate     = 2019-05-24 09:07:20 +0000
kMDItemContentType                 = "com.apple.application-bundle"
kMDItemContentTypeTree             = (
    "com.apple.localizable-name-bundle",
    "com.apple.application-bundle",
    "public.directory",
    "public.executable",
    "com.apple.application",
    "public.item",
    "com.apple.package",
    "com.apple.bundle"
)
kMDItemDateAdded                   = 2019-07-02 23:01:21 +0000
kMDItemDateAdded_Ranking           = 2019-07-02 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemDisplayName                 = "Spotify"
kMDItemDocumentIdentifier          = 0
kMDItemExecutableArchitectures     = (
    "x86_64"
)
kMDItemFSContentChangeDate         = 2019-05-24 09:07:20 +0000
kMDItemFSCreationDate              = 2019-05-24 09:07:20 +0000
kMDItemFSCreatorCode               = ""
kMDItemFSFinderFlags               = 0
kMDItemFSHasCustomIcon             = (null)
kMDItemFSInvisible                 = 0
kMDItemFSIsExtensionHidden         = 1
kMDItemFSIsStationery              = (null)
kMDItemFSLabel                     = 0
kMDItemFSName                      = "Spotify.app"
kMDItemFSNodeCount                 = 1
kMDItemFSOwnerGroupID              = 20
kMDItemFSOwnerUserID               = 501
kMDItemFSSize                      = 328041401
kMDItemFSTypeCode                  = ""
kMDItemInterestingDate_Ranking     = 2019-06-15 00:00:00 +0000
kMDItemKind                        = "Application"
kMDItemLanguages                   = (
    de,
    he,
    ar,
    el,
    ja,
    en,
    es,
    "es-419",
    it,
    "fr-CA",
    ms,
    sv,
    cs,
    "zh-Hant",
    hu,
    tr,
    pl,
    "pt-BR",
    vi,
    ru,
    fr,
    fi,
    id,
    nl,
    th
)
kMDItemLogicalSize                 = 328041401
kMDItemPhysicalSize                = 328462336
kMDItemVersion                     = "1.1.8.439.g8502297d"

 

[Vero]

@Nazzaro If you launch Spotify once manually, then take a look in Alfred, can you then find it? It seems something is still amiss with the index, as Alfred returns results from the macOS index, and this may be enough to force macOS to correctly include it in results.

[Nazzaro]

@Vero hmmmm it appears that launching the application once by double clicking in the Finder is doing the trick.  Launching from Spotlight will not do it.  I've successfully tested this with 7 applications.  Thank you!