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Forum Discussion
What is going on with Dropbox on MacOS? Spotlight and Finder don't work!!
Dropbox randomly updated to some new version and said everything is moving to Library/CloudStorage or something like that,
now I can't open files directly in Spotlight OR find using folder search in Finder (although global search "This Mac" works).
Biggest issues:
1. Searching using spotlight and clicking on it DOES NOTHING!
2. If I am in a folder within Dropbox folder on my Mac, and I want to search for a file IN that folder using Finder, it doesn't find any file if I search using the search box in Finder, I have to click "This Mac" to find files but it finds files from EVERYWHERE when I only want to find files from within that specific Dropbox folder that I am currently in
How do I fix this? I need this functionality working ASAP !
Moderated edited to remove swearing
Hi Jay,
Finally after 7 months of basically not being able to use my laptop I found the solution in another thread.
I have managed to fix this. (For reference, I have tried re-indexing Spotlight using command line, and does not work).
- Open System Preferences and go to Spotlight's Privacy tab.
- Add the entire hard disk INTO the Privacy list.
- Maybe wait 30s.
- Remove the hard disk FROM the Privacy list.
@davidarden also posted the solution in another Dropbox thread: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Create-upload-and-share/Dropbox-is-not-searchable-in-Mac-OS-Monterey-12-0-1/m-p/626720/highlight/true#M58591
This upgrade is a disaster. As well as what you say, I now can't edit any files in Dropbox by pressing spacebar in Finder and adding text, numbers, signatures etc. Instead, I have to move folders out of Dropbox, make the changes, and move them back in. Looking for another provider.
- Mark
Super User II
This is a known an expected behaviour I'm afraid: https://help.dropbox.com/installs/macos-support-for-expected-changes
I don't think the problems being experienced by many users can be categorized as an expected behavior, because the scope of the issues goes far beyond that matrix you linked to, from DB on potential upgrade issues.
I'm now just discovering that:
1. I am not the only one who lost access to both a functional Finder and Spotlight after the MacOS update.
2. DropBox Help is handing out entirely wrong and ineffectual fixes that do not work.
3. DropBox is not acknowledging the problem.
I am having the same issue. The other threads refer to Spotlight not finding files, which is different than my issue. I appear to have the same problem as OP. Files can be found, but they simply can't be opened, though. This how they look:
There is this weird scrunched Finder icon next to the file names. I can open folders, but not specific files. I tried changing my file type association back and forth, no dice. Tried rebooting, all the usual nonsense.
Dropbox v165.4.4300
MacOS 13.1 (22C65)
- How can I downgrade to the last version that worked properly? I don’t want this new version in cloud storage library folder I want it the way it was before
I just upgraded to new Dropbox version and search appears to be screwed. I can see my files, I can open them no problem. But if I enter *ANY* search criteria in Finder, I get empty results.
To add insult to injury, I tried reaching out to Dropbox chat support and I am told that it is an Apple problem.
Needless to say this is totally unacceptable. If anyone from Dropbox support is reading this, then please address this immediately. Otherwise I'm thru with Dropbox.
Same thing. Post the MacOS upgrade, all my Excel files lost their Excel icons, and were replaced with Finder icons, and then Spotlight was no longer a means to open these files. You could tell that clicking on a file offered by Spotlight would trigger DropBox to start working (tiny clock appeared on DB icon) but then the open operation failed.
This is really amazing that DropBox not only unleashed this much damage, but is not acknowledging it yet.
I had to back up my entire laptop, erase the laptop entirely, reinstall MacOS. And the problem still did not get solved.
The current functions of Dropbox are not good. The recent updates change the basics of how Dropbox has worked since I started using it, over ten years ago. The Spotlight search should work, Dropbox files should work and save in predictable ways. I have played with Google Drive a bit--as I am going to have to switch to something different if Dropbox doesn't respond--and it saves files in the same basic way that Dropbox did and creates a shortcut in the "Locations" settings to the appropriate folder.
Dropbox - the choice is yours. Are you going to respond to the complaints many of us have with the changes (Twitter is full of them) or just ignore us?
Thanks
A long time Dropbox user, always happy, until now.
I was active here in March,when DropBox released its new update for MAC OS, as I along with many others experienced a meltdown in indexing, file access, and a total disabling of Spotlight and Finder.
The thread is here: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Apps-and-Installations/What-is-going-on-with-Dropbox-on-MacOS-Spotlight-and-Finder-don/td-p/652761/page/2
Did DropBox ever solve this problem? I had to do a hard reset on my MacBook Pro M1 (2020) and have never dared to take any new DropBox update since. Incredible really, given what I pay each year.
--DropBox User since 2010
