[Bug] Application Search extension huge delay on first login after reboot (MacOS)

[J-Siu]

Describe the bug

If I login after rebooting my Macbook Air, I have to wait a few minute before any applications show up in search window.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Set Ueli to auto start on login
2. Reboot computer
3. Login (Waiting 5min+ before login does not change the end result)
4. Bring up Ueli search window with hot-key
5. Try searching for any application
6. No application shows in result <-- ISSUE
7. Application will eventually show up after a few minutes. (I think more than 3min, even 5min)
8. After application show up normally, issue does not occurs in subsequence login as long as machine is not rebooted.

Expected behavior

Application should show up in search result.

Screenshots

No application showing at all:

After a few minutes and open search window again:

Environment

• OS: MacOS 15.2
• Version 9.15.2

Additional context
n/a

[oliverschwendener]

Can you show us the application search settings?

[J-Siu]

@oliverschwendener

I did rearrange the order of the directories but didn't have any effect.

[oliverschwendener]

Are you sure that the application search causing the delay? Did you try disabling the extension and check if the delay still is there? While the apps are not showing up, are you seeing the little rescan indicator on the bottom left?

[J-Siu]

I disabled all other extensions, reboot and following is the screen recording:

Recording.at.2025-02-14.21.01.49.mp4

[oliverschwendener]

It seems that the extension is not doing any scan.

What happens when you do a manual rescan?

Can you show us your search engine settings?

[J-Siu]

Recording.at.2025-02-15.03.48.04.mp4

[oliverschwendener]

Is there something in the debu log? Open the settings and go to "Debug" and check the logs.

[oliverschwendener]

Can you show us your search engine settings?

☝

[J-Siu]

[J-Siu]

I reset settings and notice following:

1. Apps in /System/Applications don't have this issue, eg. Terminal.app
2. Apps in /Applications and /Users/js/Applications are affected, eg. Orion RC.app, Ghostty.spp

[oliverschwendener]

To me it looks like there is not a delay, there is no search results at all, right?

[J-Siu]

That's correct.

[oliverschwendener]

Did you try playing around with the Application Search settings, for example the mdfind filter?

[J-Siu]

I didn't try changing the filter in setting. However, I did try running the mdfind with all 3 filters in terminal right after reboot and I get result right away, while ueli result empty.

I did tried rearranging the directory order by putting /Applications and /Users/js/Applications on top. But that doesn't make a difference.