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Dropbox is not searchable in Mac OS Monterey 12.0.1
Dropbox files/folders are not searchable in spotlight on new MacBook Pro with M1 chip - Monterey OS 12.0.1. Have re-indexed spotlight. Have uninstalled and reinstalled Dropbox and rebooted. Have made...
I have found a solution, everyone! I hope everyone struggling with this will find this post. The problem isn't with dropbox, it's with Mac Spotlight. Which surprised me, as I always thought the finder search was separate from Spotlight, but apparently, on the back end, both are one-in-the-same. I've heard many times that re-indexing spotlight didn't work, but it does! You just have to do it a different way for everything to ACTUALLY 100% reindex.
Tutorial is here on apple's forums: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253479408
Just giving credit where credit is due.
In case that goes away, instructions are also listed below.
- 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.
Spotlight will re-index. After finish re-indexing, the search in folder works for me.
(To see if Spotlight is indexing, use Command+Space to invoke Spotlight, and type in something. Wait a second. You should see a progress bar to show indexing progress)
Of note, I am on Mac OS Monterey 12.6 (21G115). My dropbox version is 158.4.4564. These are both the lastest, as of now, 10.3.2022.
Hopefully this helps! Changed my life - I can work again!
OMG. It worked! I followed your suggestion, davidarden, from the apple forum, with a couple of minor differences (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253479408):
- Open System Preferences and go to Spotlight's Privacy tab. (On my computer, I went to System Settings, then "Siri & Spotlight," then scrolled all the way down to find "Spotlight Privacy.")
- Add the entire hard disk INTO the Privacy list. (I did that, clicked "Done," and closed the window.)
- Maybe wait 30s. (I went to make a cup of tea. 😉)
- Remove the hard disk FROM the Privacy list. (I went back in to the window, highlighted the disk and clicked the minus "-" button, then clicked done and closed the window.)
Spotlight will re-index. After finish re-indexing, the search in folder works for me. (IT WORKED!!!)
(To see if Spotlight is indexing, use Command+Space to invoke Spotlight, and type in something. Wait a second. You should see a progress bar to show indexing progress)
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
This solution works for me on a temporary basis but then the problem persists. I have since updated to MacOs Ventura 13.2.1 and the very recent Dropbox update but I have the same issue. Can you help please?
Hi Walter
Yep, ive tried re-indexing after upgraidng to ventura. It's 169.3.5651
thanks
Hi Megan. Yes please. I assume you have my email address from my account details? Thanks
