Spotlight Search Doesn't Link to Files in Dropbox in macOS 13 Ventura

[dsnidey]

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??

[Megan]

Hey @dsnidey, thanks for posting here! 

Could you confirm the version of the Dropbox desktop application you're running? You can do this by hovering your mouse over the Dropbox icon in the system tray or menu bar.

Is the app showing 'up to date' or is it still syncing in you menu bar?

Also, feel free to try and quit the Dropbox desktop application and then search for the files again in Finder.

Keep me posted!

[dsnidey]

Hi, I'm running 160.4.4703. After a clean install and allowing all files to download locally and finish syncing it now seems to be working for the most part. There are some folders that still show in spotlight search results with a Dropbox icon rather than a folder icon, even though their parent folders are set to be available offline. All icons show everything is up to date. Any ideas? Yes quitting dropbox solves the problem but that is not a viable solution...

[dquaglione]

Same problem here.

I can see Dropbox files in the Spotlight search, but when clicking on them nothing happens.

Dropbox version is v 160.4.4703

[Megan]

Hey @dsnidey, could you send me some screenshots, in order to have visual of what you just described? 

Also, @dquaglione, does this happen with all of your Dropbox files, or files that are available online-only? If you could also send me a couple of screenshots, that'd be amazing. 

[dquaglione]

As you can see, when I, for instance, search for "iqi and spinoff", I see the folder in the spotlight search, but if I click on it nothing happens, even though the folder is available offline (second photo). All of the files and folders in my Dropbox are available offline.

Davide

[dsnidey · Accepted solution]

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.

[Styline]

I'm having the same issue. Dropbox Version: v162.2.3802

Just did a complete reindex of Spotlight as well. When clicking on files nothing happens - and also they all have the Dropbox icon instead of their respective file icons.

When holding CMD it shows the path, but upon clicking only the Application Folder opens with the Dropbox application being selected. It makes Spotlight pretty much unusable. Please advise!

[Ricky Wong]

Dear Support, 

I am having the same issue just like everyone else. I have been Dropbox Premium user for the last decade and this upgrade has totally screwed dropbox and Seriously, it is worse than One Drive and Google Drive.

Please see my uploaded image, all the folders now is Dropbox icon. When i click it, it does nothing.

Please fix this Dropbox!

 

[Megan]

Hi everyone! Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

There are a few reasons you might be experiencing issues with searching for files within Dropbox using Spotlight.

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. 

Could you try opening the Dropbox folder in Finder (it should be under Locations in the left sidebar), and then allow a little time for indexing to take place before retrying Spotlight search?

Another reason is that the Spotlight index may need to be rebuilt, carry out the steps in this article. Keep in mind 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 me know and we can take another look.

Thank you!