2.1 KiB
2.1 KiB
Commands
Disable the index:
mdutil -i off /
Enable the index:
mdutil -i on /
Erase the current Spotlight index:
mdutil -E /
Help
Usage: mdutil -pEsa -i (on|off) -d volume ...
Utility to manage Spotlight indexes.
-p Publish metadata.
-i (on|off) Turn indexing on or off.
-d Disable Spotlight activity for volume (re-enable using -i on).
-E Erase and rebuild index.
-s Print indexing status.
-a Apply command to all volumes.
-V vol Apply command to all stores on the specified volume.
-v Display verbose information.
NOTE: Run as owner for network homes, otherwise run as root.
Sources:
- http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/man1/mdutil.1.html
- http://www.mikesel.info/disable-spotlight/
- http://osxdaily.com/2007/03/22/how-to-completely-disable-spotlight/
Special files:
There is a thorough recent non-ai article here: https://eclecticlight.co/2024/07/09/excluding-folders-and-files-from-time-machine-spotlight-and-icloud-drive/
Special Files still working in Sequoia
- Ending an file or folder in
.noindexwill disable indexing of the folder. Examplemkdir private-folder.noindex. In former times it was .no_index, so beware the change. Similar is .nosync for keeping files out of sync with icloud.
Special Files working until ventura
- On the root
/directory of a internal or external Volume.metadata-never-indexwill turn of indexing for the whole drive. Use the terminal tosudo touch \.metadata-never-indexfor the root drive. Or use\Volumes\NAMEOFVOLUME\.metadata-never-indexfor another drive. - On the root
/directory of a (competing) boot drive with a version of OS X you can intelligently disable indexing by using.metadata_never_index_unless_rootfsto prevent the data from the drive to appear unless it is the boot drive. Use the terminal tosudo touch \.metadata_never_index_unless_rootfs. Or use\Volumes\NAMEOFVOLUME\.metadata_never_index_unless_rootfsfor another drive.