---
syntax: markdown
tags: [tldr, osx]
source: https://github.com/tldr-pages/tldr.git
---
# mdutil

> Manage the metadata stores used by Spotlight for indexing.
> More information: <https://keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/mdutil.1.html>.

- Show the indexing status of the startup volume:

`mdutil -s {{/}}`

- Turn on/off the Spotlight indexing for a given volume:

`mdutil -i {{on|off}} {{path/to/volume}}`

- Turn on/off indexing for all volumes:

`mdutil -a -i {{on|off}}`

- Erase the metadata stores and restart the indexing process:

`mdutil -E {{path/to/volume}}`
