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??

[jat1971]

Finally a solution (one solution)

Dropbox will ask you to re-index dropbox folder or delete and reinstall - this is a moronic suggestion and a waste of time.

Discussed with Apple - they had not idea either - BUT they did ask me to select all possible items to index by spotlight AND then just re-index the mac HD. This works - this solves the dropbox indexing. Note I have not yet moved dropbox to the cloud location as per the new Mac OS option. I have kept it where earlier db folders were. 

I my case during migration/set-up my spotlight indexing did not tick all options. Items like "calculator" or "app" were not selected to be indexed. You might ask 'so what' I don't want to search for those things on my dropbox folder.... i.e. not obvious this is relevant to searching files within a dropbox folder....

After selecting all spotlight search categories - then moving your HD in and then out (+ then -) of the "don't index option" (Siri & Spotlight) - and wait a few hours to re-index, you will have full dropbox search options restored.

Notably, why this works is unclear - perhaps spotlight needs to index the dropbox app, as well as the folder, to search within it (that makes no sense but....)

It remains to be said Dropbox service is a complete joke - they are not only not interested in solving mac problems but they give bad advice that will waste days of your time. 

[jat1971]

Finally a solution (one solution)

Dropbox peopole will ask you to re-index dropbox folder or delete and reinstall - this is a suggestion that will waste lots of your time and when it fails they vanish.... 

Discussed with Apple at length - they had no idea either - BUT they did ask me to select all possible items to index by spotlight AND then just re-index the mac HD. This works - this solves the dropbox indexing. Note I have not yet moved dropbox to the cloud location as per the new Mac OS option - I moved it back to the where earlier db folders were (which did not at all solve the indexing issue)

I my case the error occured setting up the new M2 during migration/set-up - my spotlight indexing did not have all options ticked. Items like "calculator" or "app" were not selected to be indexed - just all the files. You might ask 'so what' I don't want to search for those things on my dropbox folder.... i.e. not obvious this is relevant to searching files within a dropbox folder....but if you select everything for indexing within dropbox folder researchers are restored (spotlight always indexed the files - but would not let a within folder search produce results). 

After selecting all spotlight search categories - then moving your HD in and then out (+ then -) of the "don't index option" (Siri & Spotlight) - and wait a few hours to re-index, you will have full dropbox search options restored.

Notably, why this works is unclear - perhaps spotlight needs to index the dropbox app, as well as the folder, to search within it (that makes no sense but....). 

It remains to be said Dropbox service is a complete joke - they are not only not interested in solving mac problems but they give bad advice that will waste days of your time and do it with a degree of arrogance beyond belief. How diffcult would it be for them to buy 1 mac, and test out the spotlight options so they could provide real advice? 

[Dannytsan]

Actually you only have to go to settings, then Siri and Spotlight.

On the bottom right corner there's a button called Spotlight Privacy. There an empty list should appear and you have to ad Macintosh Hd, you'll find it clicking on the folder that's on the top of the window.

Then you select it and ad it. After that you have to go there again and take it out with the "-" button. I know it sounds weird but after that you're done. 

NOTE: Try to do it at the end of your day and let you computer on and connected so it doesn't runs out of battery if it's a MacBook. 

[Dannytsan]

I'll leave the pictures. 

[Dannytsan]

I'm sorry you have to add your Mac mini, not only the Macintosh HD.

[nikhil84]

Can you confirm if this solves the problem? I'm not able to add the machine itself as the topmost level is Macintosh HD. How did you go about doing that?

[Jacob]

returning to the subject - has anyone installed latest update with "dropbox for macOS with File Provider extension is ready to instal"? Does it solve the issue with spotlight and does not serve any new ones? I haven't installed Dropbox for macOS for the last 6 months at least as I knew what mess i caused and I'm not willing to experience it again. 

[KiwiGraham]

Same problem happened for one of my machines after FileProvider update on Monterey. (Search within Dropbox hierarchy wouldn't find files but they were able to be found when scope was "This Mac")

Spotlight re-index of Dropbox folder did NOT fix.

Spotlight re-index of entire hard drive (Macintosh HD) DID fix.

[Jacob]

Hi! Thanks for your reply. It confirms my doubts so I’m not installing the update. I’m eager to face the same issues when I once decided to keep up with „new” version. Everything runs ok without it.