Can't find mails while indexing osx

The frustration of not being able to find emails while indexing on macOS!

Here are some troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the issue:

  1. Check the Mail app's indexing status: Open the Mail app, go to Mail > Preferences > Accounts, and select the account you're having trouble with. Look for the "Indexing" section. If the indexing is paused or stuck, try restarting the indexing process by clicking the "Start Indexing" button.
  2. Verify the Mail app's permissions: Ensure that the Mail app has the necessary permissions to access your email accounts. Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and make sure the Mail app is allowed to access your email accounts.
  3. Check for duplicate email accounts: If you have multiple email accounts set up in the Mail app, try removing any duplicates or unnecessary accounts. This might help resolve indexing issues.
  4. Update the Mail app: Ensure that you're running the latest version of the Mail app. You can check for updates in the App Store or by going to System Preferences > Software Update.
  5. Reset the Mail app's preferences: Sometimes, resetting the Mail app's preferences can help resolve indexing issues. To do this, go to the Terminal app (located in Applications/Utilities) and run the following command: defaults delete com.apple.mail
  6. Check for corrupted email databases: Corrupted email databases can cause indexing issues. Try rebuilding the email databases by going to the Terminal app and running the following command: mbsync -c
  7. Check for conflicts with other apps: Other apps might be interfering with the Mail app's indexing process. Try closing any other apps that might be running in the background and see if the indexing process resumes.
  8. Reindex the Mail app: If none of the above steps work, you can try reindexing the Mail app by going to the Terminal app and running the following command: mdutil -i on /
  9. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC): Resetting the SMC can sometimes resolve issues with indexing and other system processes. To reset the SMC, press the power button, the Command (⌘) key, and the Option (⌥) key at the same time, and hold them for 10 seconds.
  10. Reinstall the Mail app: If all else fails, you can try reinstalling the Mail app. Go to the App Store, search for "Mail", and click the "Install" button.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may want to consider seeking assistance from Apple Support or a professional IT expert.