I think it could be a valid design decision to show the gear button disabled if tracker isn't installed/running. On the other hand, it doesn't provide any information to the user about what's wrong.
Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. The issue you are reporting is an upstream one and it would be nice if somebody having it could send the bug to the developers of the software by following the instructions at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/GNOME. If you have done so, please tell us the number of the upstream bug (or the link), so we can add a bugwatch that will inform us about its status. Thanks in advance. -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop Packages, which is subscribed to gnome-control-center in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1702878 Title: Cant add folders to Search in Gnome Control Center Status in gnome-control-center package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: When I go to Gnome Control Center-Search the bottom right gear is greyed out and I cant add any folders to Search. lsb_release -a No LSB modules are available. Distributor ID: Ubuntu Description: Ubuntu Artful Aardvark (development branch) Release: 17.10 Codename: artful apt-cache policy gnome-control-center gnome-control-center: Installed: 1:3.24.2-0ubuntu4 Candidate: 1:3.24.2-0ubuntu4 Version table: *** 1:3.24.2-0ubuntu4 500 500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu artful/main amd64 Packages 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10 Package: gnome-control-center 1:3.24.2-0ubuntu4 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.10.0-26.30-generic 4.10.17 Uname: Linux 4.10.0-26-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm nvidia_modeset nvidia ApportVersion: 2.20.5-0ubuntu5 Architecture: amd64 CurrentDesktop: GNOME Date: Fri Jul 7 12:36:34 2017 InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-06-17 (19 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 17.10 "Artful Aardvark" - Alpha amd64 (20170616) SourcePackage: gnome-control-center UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-control-center/+bug/1702878/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : desktop-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp