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Forum Discussion
Spotlight Search Doesn't Link to Files in Dropbox in macOS 13 Ventura
After upgrading to macOS Ventura, I was prompted to upgrade to "Dropbox for macOS 12". I proceeded with that, it moved my Dropbox folder to ~/Library/CloudStorage and confirmed all was successful. Now when using Spotlight to search (I often type something like 'drawings folder' to open a folder called Drawings) the results in Spotlight show the Dropbox app icon beside the name of the item I want (rather than a Finder icon for folder or file). Hitting Enter or clicking on the result switches to Finder and does nothing, or sometimes will open the Applications folder and show the Dropbox app. It's not linking me to the actual file in ~/Library/CloudStorage.
I have done the following and the problem is not solved:
- Restarted
- Ensured all files are available for offline access
- Rebuilt the spotlight index
- Unlinked Dropbox from this Mac, did a complete clean install of dropbox, performed the upgrade to v159.4.5870 and synced just one folder to begin
Nothing works. Any suggestions??
- That’s the same problem I had. I solved it by doing a complete clean install of dropbox. You may not need to do all of this, but to be safe, in Dropbox settings Selective Sync uncheck all of your folders and wait for them to be removed from your Mac. Once that’s done, unlink your Mac from Dropbox preferences. You should see the Dropbox getting started screen. Quit Dropbox and move the app to the Trash. Remove all dropbox files from ~/Library being careful to look at the path name. Only remove things that are within a Dropbox parent folder. Look in library application support, and library preferences. Empty the Trash. Restart your Mac. Reinstall Dropbox from dropbox.com. Once reinstalled, to make things faster sync only one small folder and wait for the prompt that new Dropbox for macOS 12 is available. You should see the message within a few minutes of reinstalling Dropbox. Allow it to upgrade and migrate your files to the new location. Once that’s done you can then sync all your folders. Let your Mac index itself and the problem should be solved.
Dropbox please fix this! This is a deal-breaker issue.
Dropbox version 166.4.2920
Dropbox please fix this issue ASAP, you are absolutely trashing your brand here.
I am running v169.4.5684 on OS X 13.2.1 (22D68). I experience the same problem everyone else does (when I search in Spotlight, I see the results with a Finder icon beside them, but clicking on them does nothing)
I have paid for Dropbox for almost a decade because it "just works". You need to make this "just work" yesterday. I am losing probably an hour a day for months to this bug, it's absolutely intolerable.
If you have pushed a breaking change that has borked the experience for large numbers of users, you should revert it. Telling your users "it's fixed" when it's not is completely unacceptable. Noting you can downgrade to an old version is not acceptable. Dropbox needs to fix this NOW.
Hi!
I'm update dropbox to latest version and now I have annoying isssue.
When I search something in spotlight search it finds it but I cant open folders, when I click on folders that find in dorpbox nothing happening.
Can somebody help me please 🙂
- Walter
Dropbox Staff
Hey Guntis1111, sorry to hear about this.
Can you let us know the version and exact status of the desktop app installed on your computer as shown in your menu bar?
If you could also send us a screenshot of how it looks on your end when you do this, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks!
I have Mac OS
Dropbox version
When try to open this folders what spotlight found nothing hepens.
I'll be very grateful if you help solve the problem because it is very disturbing to work.
I got the same problem.
- Walter
Thanks for the additional information Guntis1111 and sorry to hear you're also having issues with this ulba
Following the update where the Dropbox folder was moved to ~/Library/CloudStorage, Spotlight sometimes does not re-index the folder until after it is opened for the first time. You can simply open the Dropbox folder in Finder (it should be under Locations in the left sidebar), allow a little time for indexing to take place then retry the Spotlight search.
Another reason is that the Spotlight index may need to be rebuilt, carry out the steps in this article. Note that the article mentions the Documents folder but you need to use the Dropbox folder instead.
If none of the above steps help, please let us know and we can investigate further.
Hi! After the update, all Dropbox files were moved to the Cloud Files folder. [/Users/username/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox] The Spotlight search function has not worked since then. Or it works, but doesn't open the file. What is the solution to this? Thanks!
Hi, I have a problem with Dropbox app on MAC - M1 - after typing desired file in Spotlight it shows me the desired file name but with Finder icon next to it, instead of icon for pdf or doc file, when I click on file to open it, nothing happens. To view the file I need to go to "Search in Finder" then I can access them. I cant go directly from Spotlight and open a file. Tried to run Mac in safe mode and there is no problem with spotlight then, uninistaled the dropbox and all was fine. My OS is Ventura 13.2
- Megan
Hi jotemel, how are you today?
I merged your post under this thread, since others had expressed the same inquiry, and I want to keep everything at the same place.
Could you clarify the Dropbox version that you have installed on your device?
Feel free to have a look at what others have suggested, and all the troubleshooting steps mentioned, and let me know how it goes.
Thank you!
My Dropbox version is v167.4.4719
- I’m in a similar boat -
have to wonder if some unwanted attention on the socials might elicit a different response from the DB powers that be?
I contacted Dropbox Team per Facebook and got quite quick respons. But it was a PM message, not some artical about this issue. Probably it would be a good idea to post something on their FB wall and to see if it will be deleted imediately.
- This issue occurs on Mac OS Ventura (v 13.0.1) and I'm a Dropbox Basic user.
- Basically if you search for a dropbox folder (e.g. "2 Real Estate") as seen in the below screenshots, it appears in spotlight search but when you actually select the folder to quickly access it, nothing happens.
- This issue only applies to dropbox folders not the files or items within them so if I searched for a specific PDF within the "2 Real Estate" folder, I am able to open it via Spotlight search. However, obviously we tend to search for folders rather than specific items and not being able to open folders is really frustrating.
- Note - I started experiencing this issue only after some Dropbox setting update (which moved location within Ventura). Oddly enough, previously, the Dropbox folders I search would have the typical Apple Folder Icon beside them when displayed in Spotlight Search as opposed to the Dropbox Icon beside the folder (which you see above) so that might provide a clue to people.
- So far I've restarted my Mac, Quit & relaunched Dropbox, Signed out & Signed in but none of these have resolved the issue.
Any help here would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, the same issue here. As Dropbox destination to save all the data was moved within Ventura to /Users/mp/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox, Spotlight doesn't work any more properly. All the files I am working with each day are showed in a search, but there is a very thin Finder icon on the right side and these files cannot be opened, previewed or opened with +CTRL (if you would like to find where this file is saved). New start doesn't solve a problem. New index as well. Very frustrating!
Hi Hannah, I tried Walter's suggestion of rebuilding the spotlight indexing and it still does not work. What's next?
- This issue occurs on Mac OS Ventura (v 13.0.1) and I'm a Dropbox Basic user.
I have been using Dropbox for a while and it used to work fine. But more recently I have noticed that I cam unable to open an excel file right from the spotlight search in Mac. I have to open excel and find that file and then open it or go to the folder where the file is and open it. Does anyone know how to enable spotlight search in mac to find a excel file and open it in excel when pressed enter?
My old method of searching from the top right search bar brings up the usual...Search: This Mac "Dropbox". When I select Dropbox, no files appear. Before Ventura (or before OS 13), the Search always worked for Dropbox files. Please help. Thank you!
- Mark
Super User II
This is the known, and expected, behaviour I'm afraid.
https://help.dropbox.com/installs/macos-support-for-expected-changes
Thank you for the link.
I am baffled by why it says under the row "Searching through Finder won’t find all content in your Dropbox folder [but] Search using Spotlight isn’t affected."
Unless I am misunderstanding, CMD F or Spotlight bring up the same "Search" box whether from Desktop or Finder. And, once I enter a search word, the results are always the same from Dropbox...nothing (when I clearly have many files). To me, that means Spotlight is affected!
Is there any email (or phone number?) to contact someone in IT at Dropbox instead of putting this burden on good samaritans like yourself to help with these questions and where we can offer suggestions for change?
It's funny after 4 months Ben (if I remember right) from Dropbox Team wrote here finally. Everything is solved with 13.3 but if you do have problems, please contact. Yes and I do have problem. And I wrote again. If I do an update, nothing happens - my Dropbox stays on an old version and I will be requested to update again and again. I did it 2 times. Another 4 months to wait? Im totally curious how Dropbox support works...If it works at all..
Hi,
Does anyone have same problem?
I upgraded to macOS Ventura 13.1 on December 2022 then I found that
Spotlight can't search online-only files contents (ex. text, tags, comments, URLs).
Why? I'm in a lot of trouble about this.
Is this a technical specification change?
Is this related to Dropbox folder's location change to ~/Library/CloudStrage/ directory on Apple Silicon Macs?
This happened only on Apple Silicon Mac.
I still can search online-only files contents on Intel iMac.
MacBook Air 13.3 inch M1 2020
macOS Ventura 13.1Dropbox 166.3.2847
After all, re-indexing Spotlight doesn’t work.
And I found this. What a terrible change :’(
Expected changes with Dropbox for macOS - Dropbox Help
“Searching through Finder won’t find all content in your Dropbox folder.
- Only file names will display in these search results, not the file contents.”
After these struggle, Dropbox folder location has changed AGAIN.
I didn’t realized that alias linked to the old Dropbox archive.
But it’s good for me that I can choose the default folder location.
Well.
The worst thing is this change doesn’t contribute for the contents search issue.
