Apple Mail is stuck "Indexing…"

Search in E-Mail is an essential function for users.


I have a big search problem on all Apple systems with MacOS Sonoma.


The systems destroy the Mail index again and again.

I have reinstall Sonoma on three different systems.

It works after the first setup of the Mail Account until

the next reboot.


Normally the following steps should work (It works on all older systems [BigSur is my oldest in town]

  1. Close the MailApp
  2. Remove all Index files in /User/username/Library/Mail/V10/MailData (Envelope Index,Envelope Index-shm,Envelope Index-wal)
  3. Start the MailApp
  4. Start the Activity Monitor (Mail -> Window -> Activity)
  5. Enter something to search


In the case of Sonoma the indexing starts and I can see new index files

staff 9887744 Jan 3 17:37 Envelope Index

staff 32768 Jan 3 17:38 Envelope Index-shm

staff 1487352 Jan 4 08:03 Envelope Index-wal


But the Search does not work and the index process runs forever.


Dear Apple Mail developers, please fix this bug.

My only solution at the moment is the usage of an alternative E-Mail client (Thunderbird).


See the details in the screen shot. But the main problem is that it happens again and again and even

if a rebuild is successful, it needs to much time for users with tons of mail.


Kind regards

Andreas **

Head of IT




[Edited by Moderator]

iPhone 15

Posted on Jan 3, 2024 11:26 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 24, 2024 10:23 AM

Hello Community,


I'm experiencing the same issue. I have an iMac M1 where email is working correctly; however, on my MacBook Air M1, the search functionality has stopped working. I've tried different options gathered from various forums and communities, such as:


  1. Disabling and enabling accounts.
  2. Syncing mailboxes.
  3. Rebuilding mailboxes.
  4. Uninstalling and reinstalling accounts.
  5. Clearing mail cache.
  6. Disabling and re-enabling Mail and Spotlight messages.


Unfortunately, none of these actions have worked. The search function in my MacBook Air M1's email is still not functioning.


I hope someone from support can help us with this issue. I wouldn't want to switch email clients at the moment.

Best regards, and thanks to everyone for their contributions. Greetings.

Similar questions

6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 24, 2024 10:23 AM in response to arosoft

Hello Community,


I'm experiencing the same issue. I have an iMac M1 where email is working correctly; however, on my MacBook Air M1, the search functionality has stopped working. I've tried different options gathered from various forums and communities, such as:


  1. Disabling and enabling accounts.
  2. Syncing mailboxes.
  3. Rebuilding mailboxes.
  4. Uninstalling and reinstalling accounts.
  5. Clearing mail cache.
  6. Disabling and re-enabling Mail and Spotlight messages.


Unfortunately, none of these actions have worked. The search function in my MacBook Air M1's email is still not functioning.


I hope someone from support can help us with this issue. I wouldn't want to switch email clients at the moment.

Best regards, and thanks to everyone for their contributions. Greetings.

Jan 5, 2024 07:53 AM in response to leroydouglas

I have also done the "Spotlight Privacy" step. It happen only on M processor systrems.

It does not happens on Intel systems. We have three M systems with Sonoma and

two Intel systems with Sonoma. All five systems have the same software stack.


I hope that a product feedback helps to solve the situation.


At the moment I go back on one system to Ventura.


Thanks a lot for your feedback.


Andreas

Jan 5, 2024 06:20 AM in response to arosoft

arosoft wrote:

1. Search in E-Mail is an essential function for users.

I have a big search problem on all Apple systems with MacOS Sonoma.

The systems destroy the Mail index again and again.
I have reinstall Sonoma on three different systems.
It works after the first setup of the Mail Account until
the next reboot.

Normally the following steps should work (It works on all older systems [BigSur is my oldest in town]
Close the MailApp
2. Remove all Index files in /User/username/Library/Mail/V10/MailData (Envelope Index,Envelope Index-shm,Envelope Index-wal)
3. Start the MailApp
4. Start the Activity Monitor (Mail -> Window -> Activity)
5. Enter something to search

In the case of Sonoma the indexing starts and I can see new index files
staff 9887744 Jan 3 17:37 Envelope Index
staff 32768 Jan 3 17:38 Envelope Index-shm
staff 1487352 Jan 4 08:03 Envelope Index-wal

But the Search does not work and the index process runs forever.

Dear Apple Mail developers, please fix this bug.
My only solution at the moment is the usage of an alternative E-Mail client (Thunderbird).

See the details in the screen shot. But the main problem is that it happens again and again and even
if a rebuild is successful, it needs to much time for users with tons of mail.

Kind regards
Andreas Roscher
Head of IT
Studio Olafur Eliasson


https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/1955b4d6-beac-47e0-bed6-06b00b4f6f36


Sorry I do not have this issue...macOS 14.2.1

and never had to jump through all your hoops as presented above...


you can file a bug report /submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple



Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac - Apple Support


Most complete best method I found— Macintosh HD drag & drop method







My best advise:

Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/VPN/Anti-Virus

all known to cause issues on the macOS


third-party sync software like: OneDrive, GoogleDrive, BackBlaze or DropBox

has been known to cause issues as well—disable to compare your results if in doubt



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Apple Mail is stuck "Indexing…"

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