Does this match your problem?
- A recently added photo never appears in search.
- Only part of the library seems searchable.
- A photo appears in Apple Photos but not in Queryable.
- A formerly visible result disappears after permission changes.
Likely causes
Limited Photos access
iOS can expose only a user-selected subset. Queryable treats that state as valid and indexes the permitted subset rather than silently expanding access.
Pending incremental index
New library items are detected after the existing index loads. The search screen exposes an update-index action when it finds pending photos.
Active time filter
A week, month, year or specific-year filter removes out-of-range candidates before results are shown.
Unavailable iCloud asset
An optimized library can show an item in Apple Photos even when enough local image data is not available to Queryable’s offline index request.
Semantic mismatch
The photo may be indexed but ranked below other candidates. Concrete visible wording or a reference image can distinguish this from an indexing problem.
Recovery steps, in order
Check the permission scope
Open iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos → Queryable. If access is Limited, add the missing items or choose Full Access if that matches your privacy preference.
Remove the time filter
Set Queryable’s time filter back to all indexed years, then repeat a concrete search. A valid index cannot return a candidate excluded by the filter.
Update new photos
On the Queryable search screen, use the update-index control when it reports new photos waiting. Public issue #25 documents this manual incremental workflow.
Try a visible query
Describe subject, color, setting and action. Avoid names or private context that are not visible in pixels. If you have a related image, try search by photo.
Check the original in Apple Photos
Open the missing item in Apple Photos while online and wait for the full image to render. If it was not part of the local index, return to Queryable and run the available index update.
When to report it
If the item is permitted, locally available, within the selected date range and still absent after an index update, report the media type, approximate dimensions, capture date, device and iOS version. Keep the actual private image unless support explicitly requests a safe reproduction.
Common questions
Does Limited Photos access work with Queryable?
Yes. The current authorization code accepts both Full and Limited access, but Limited access intentionally restricts the searchable set.
Are new photos indexed automatically immediately?
Not necessarily. The app detects pending photos and offers an update-index control so the model is not loaded for every single library change.
Can a date filter hide a correct semantic match?
Yes. Date filtering restricts candidates; semantic ranking cannot return an item outside that range.
Evidence used for this guide
This page is based on the current public source and real support reports. Issue reports describe specific devices and versions; they are evidence of observed failures, not proof that every device has the same cause.