Some Applications are not found

[pacman]

After installing Alfred on a new machine some applications are not found, e.g. searching for "disk utilities" in the subfolder or the "Notes" application. Applications in the root of the Applications folder can be found.

 

Alfred: 4.7(1306)

Macos: 12.4

[Vero]

@pacman Welcome to the forum

 

Did you by any chance migrate your data from a previous Mac? If so, you're encountering a known issue with the macOS Monterey Migration Assistant. The issue and workaround are outlined here:
https://www.alfredapp.com/help/troubleshooting/indexing/monterey/ 

 

Let me know how you get on after following step 2 and widening your search scope.

 

If the issue persists, try using the File Troubleshooter to see whether any metadata is missing for the files you can't find.

 

If you need further help, could you please send these to our info@ address:
- Provide your Diagnostics file, which you can get by typing "?diagnostics" into Alfred
- Include the output from a few File Troubleshooting tests for files
- Let me know exactly what you're typing into Alfred when searching for these files (including any keywords or prefixes)

 

Cheers,
Vero

[pacman]

Hi Vero,

 

thanks for your help, reindexing seems to have done the job, but as far as I understand this will not work when adding another application? I would have to rebuild the index again?

Regarding the spotlight settings: Nothing is exlucded from being indexed.

The diagnostics showed an error when using it on the "Disk Utility":

 

Starting Diagnostics...

File: 'Disk Utility.app'
Path: '/System/Applications/Utilities'

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check file cache database...

✅ File cache integrity is ok

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check if file is readable...

✅ Alfred has permissions to read this file.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check if volume '/' is indexed by macOS...

⚠️ Indexing may not be enabled on this drive

/:
    Indexing disabled.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check direct file metadata...

✅ Direct metadata available

Display Name: Disk Utility
 Other Names: 
Content Type: com.apple.application-bundle
   Last Used: 2022-05-09 21:30:48 +0000

-----------------------------------------------------------

Check mdls file metadata...

❌ macOS metadata missing essential items

kMDItemFSContentChangeDate = 2022-05-09 21:30:48 +0000
kMDItemFSCreationDate      = 2022-05-09 21:30:48 +0000
kMDItemFSCreatorCode       = ""
kMDItemFSFinderFlags       = 0
kMDItemFSHasCustomIcon     = 0
kMDItemFSInvisible         = 0
kMDItemFSIsExtensionHidden = 0
kMDItemFSIsStationery      = 0
kMDItemFSLabel             = 0
kMDItemFSName              = "Disk Utility.app"
kMDItemFSNodeCount         = 1
kMDItemFSOwnerGroupID      = 0
kMDItemFSOwnerUserID       = 0
kMDItemFSSize              = 1
kMDItemFSTypeCode          = ""

-----------------------------------------------------------

❌ Troubleshooting failed
 

[Vero]

19 hours ago, pacman said:

Check if volume '/' is indexed by macOS...

⚠️ Indexing may not be enabled on this drive

/:
    Indexing disabled.

 

This specifically highlights that indexing isn't working as it should on your Mac.

 

Do you recall disabling indexing in the past, or using tools that may have caused it to be disabled? This will be the first step in getting this issue resolved.

[pacman]

According to mdutil indexing for the whole drive is enabled:

 

mdutil -s /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD

/:

Indexing enabled.

[_Sascha_]

I don't know why, but since Alfred 5 the Spotlight search became somehow corrupted.

But I have no clue how it could be possible, because Spotlight isn't part of Alfred.

 

But with Alfred 5 upgrade, besides me the same issue appeared for two other users, too.

But we have fixed it, thanks to the "Rebuild macOS Metadata" Script:

 

 

But look out, if it really was able to delete the folder /System/Volumes/Data/.Spotlight-V100!

 

If not and you see a Operation not permitted error message, while he tried to delete the .Spotlight-V100 folder, you have to give the Terminal which Alfred executes when you push the button on the image above, full disk access via:

System->Security&Privacy->Privacy Tab

1. Pick "Full Disc Access" on the left panel
2. Pick your terminal on the right panel
3. Or add it from your Application folder (optional, point 5)

 

 

 

Then Alfred should be able to delete the Spotlight Index File, if not or you want to do it manually, you can also do it by yourself, in terminal (with full disc access) via:

 

sudo mdutil -a -i off
sudo rm -Rf /System/Volumes/Data/.Spotlight-V100
sudo mdutil -a -i on

 

A bit patience and the Spotlight as like Alfred should find your applications or missing files again.

 

 

Maybe the developers could update the reindexdel.sh a bit

 

To check for a Operation not permitted from:

 

sudo rm -R /.Spotlight-V100
sudo rm -R /System/Volumes/Data/.Spotlight-V100

 

And trigger a message to give Full Disc Access permissions to the Terminal.app.