After updating to iOS 26, you may find that when you search in the Messages app, a banner at the top of the screen reads, “More results will be shown once Messages has finished indexing.” As many users in this Apple Community discussion have discovered, this indexing process can feel stuck, sometimes lasting for several days even on a new iPhone 16 Pro with a stable charging connection. This issue is typically caused by the sheer volume of messages and attachments the system needs to process after an update, but it can also be a sign of a software glitch.
Why Message Indexing Gets Stuck
When you update iOS, the system needs to rebuild its search index for many apps, including Messages. This process involves scanning every text, photo, link, and attachment you’ve ever sent or received so that it can be found quickly via the search bar. The duration of this process depends heavily on the size of your message history—a user with 26GB of messages will experience a much longer indexing time than someone with 2GB.
The process is designed to run in the background when your iPhone is idle, connected to Wi-Fi, and charging. If the process seems stuck, it could be that the device hasn’t had enough uninterrupted idle time, a temporary software bug has stalled the indexer, or a system setting is interfering with the process.
How to Fix an iPhone Stuck Indexing Messages
Follow these steps to resolve the stuck indexing issue. It’s recommended to start with the first solution, as patience is often all that’s required.
1. Be Patient: Connect to Power and Wi-Fi
The indexing process is resource-intensive and is automatically paused when you are actively using your phone. The most reliable fix is to give your iPhone the time it needs to complete the task.
- Connect your iPhone to a power source using a charging cable. While wireless charging works, a direct cable connection is often more stable for long background tasks.
- Ensure your iPhone is connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network.
- Lock the screen and leave the device undisturbed, preferably overnight. Repeat this for two to three nights, as large message histories can take 48 hours or more to index fully.
2. Force Restart Your iPhone
A force restart can clear out temporary system glitches that may have caused the indexing process to stall.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears, then release.
3. Reset the Search Index for Messages
This method forces the indexing service for Messages to restart, which can often resolve a stuck process.
- Go to Settings > Siri & Search.
- Scroll down and tap on the Messages app.
- Turn off all the toggles on this screen, such as Show App in Search and Show Content in Search.
- Force restart your iPhone using the steps above.
- Return to the same settings page (Settings > Siri & Search > Messages) and turn all the toggles back on.
4. Toggle iCloud Sync for Messages
If you use Messages in iCloud, turning the feature off and on again can re-initiate the syncing and indexing process.
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
- Tap Show All, then tap Messages in iCloud.
- Tap Sync this iPhone to turn it off. Choose Disable and Download Messages if prompted.
- Wait a few minutes, then tap Sync this iPhone again to re-enable it. Your iPhone will begin re-syncing and re-indexing your messages from the cloud.
5. Update to the Latest iOS Version
The issue could be a known bug in your current version of iOS. Apple often releases follow-up updates with bug fixes.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If an update is available, tap Download and Install.
6. Free Up iPhone Storage
The indexing process requires free space to create and manage its database files. If your iPhone is nearly full, the process can slow down or fail.
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Review the recommendations and delete any unnecessary apps, photos, or files to free up at least a few gigabytes of space.
7. Turn Off Lockdown Mode
Lockdown Mode is an extreme security setting that limits many background processes, including indexing. If you have it enabled, it will prevent indexing from completing.
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode.
- If it is on, turn it off.
If none of these solutions work, contact Apple Support.
