Spotlight search/ setting search not working in iOS 12.1/12.2/iPhone Xs [Solved]


iPhone XS Max/8plus users after upgrading iPhone to iOS 12.1 are facing issue with spotlight search not working with iOS 12.1. Basically, whenever user go to spotlight search and search for anything like apps, the spotlight return no result. After pressing search in spotlight, the Siri suggestions stay, and nothing appears in result. After about 5-10 seconds, the Siri suggestions completely disappear and the options to search web, app store, and maps appear about 5-10 seconds later.
 
spotlight search not working in iOS 12


Similarly issue is faced while searching for something in settings app, the setting app search is not working with iOS 12.1. The issue seems to be with iOS 12.1 as the iOS 12 the spotlight search was working just fine.



How to fix spotlight search not working in iOS 12/ iOS 12.1

Fix 1: Change region language
Changing the language region, restarting the device, and then switching it back again, seems to fix the issue for some users. You can give it a try. (eg switch the device language from English to English (UK).)

Fix 2: Turn on Suggestions in Search

Go to Settings > Siri & Search > Scroll down and make sure that “Suggestions in Search” is turned on.

Fix 3: Reset your iPhone as new

If none of that works it looks like it could be a persistent bug. In this case it is recommend to do a factory resetting the device and starting as a new iPhone. That means photos etc that are backed up to iCloud will still be available but you’ll lose data that hasn’t been backed up on iTunes/. So it is recommended to  take backup of iPhone before doing reset and later restore the same backup.

Comments

EricAndi said…
Fix #1 fixed my Spotlight Search issue. I can now successfully search for apps and other items using Spotlight search, however another issue still remains. This is an issue that discovered when I tried Fix #2 to fix my Spotlight issue. When I open Settings and tap in Siri & Search, the Settings app freezes up entirely. It doesn’t advance to the Siri & Search settings. The only thing that happens is that the title “Siri & Search” becomes highlighted in gray and it’s stick there. I am unable to select or do anything in the Settings app. I can close the app and switch to another app, but the only way to unfreeze the Settings app is to force close it. Then if I try again to open Settings and tap on “Siri & Search”, it freezes up again and again, so I am unable to change any of my Siri & Search settings on my iPhone XS Max with iOS 12.2.

Fix #1 fixed my Spotlight issue, but it didn’t fix my Siri & Search settings issue. Any suggestions other than a full restore as new?
EricAndi said…
Fix #1 fixed my Spotlight Search issue. I can now successfully search for apps and other items using Spotlight search, however another issue still remains. This is an issue that discovered when I tried Fix #2 to fix my Spotlight issue. When I open Settings and tap in Siri & Search, the Settings app freezes up entirely. It doesn’t advance to the Siri & Search settings. The only thing that happens is that the title “Siri & Search” becomes highlighted in gray and it’s stick there. I am unable to select or do anything in the Settings app. I can close the app and switch to another app, but the only way to unfreeze the Settings app is to force close it. Then if I try again to open Settings and tap on “Siri & Search”, it freezes up again and again, so I am unable to change any of my Siri & Search settings on my iPhone XS Max with iOS 12.2.

Fix #1 fixed my Spotlight issue, but it didn’t fix my Siri & Search settings issue. Any suggestions other than a full restore as new?