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Forum Discussion
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 sure Dropbox has full access in Security and Privacy. Help please?
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!
- I've been getting problems with Spotlight and Dropbox in MacOS 12.5 Monterey: Dropbox is either not being indexed by Spotlight, or Spotlight isn't showing Dropbox results. Frustrating! I've tried some of the commonly-mentioned strategies, like re-indexing. So far, none have worked. I'm on Dropbox 154.4.5363.
Hannah_ I have this problem too. I can find files in Dropbox by a direct Dropbox search and by a direct Spotlight search (⌘-space, ⌘⌥-space), but the same files are not found in the Finder search. I've done the usual restart of Mac and Dropbox. A solution would be fantastic.
p.s. when I search "This Mac" I can see the file. When I click on "Dropbox" the list of matches disappears.
- I updated Dropbox to version v159.4.5870 on my Mac, which (as expected) moved the files to ~/Library/CloudStorage. Now, searching my Dropbox folder in Finder no longer works - zero results returned, every time. I'm running Mac OS 12.6. Any idea how to fix this?
I had a feeling this issue would happen when Dropbox forced me to move the Dropbox folder into the Library folder, and I was right. The Library folder is hidden and not searchable. What were they thinking?
I think all the tech companies think we have good internet access 24/7 and only save to and work from the cloud. Sorry, but there are millions of us stuck with satellite or DSL on copper lines. Even if we live in a city. Dropbox is my back-up drive. And I'd like to change my answer about the Spotlight fix. It worked for a day, now Finder can't find anything on Dropbox again. I'm not sure why. If this doesn't get fixed, I will switch my cloud storage provider.
I'm having the same issue. What's more, my apps on Mac OS 12.6 can't see any DropBox files. I literally can't work right now, as one of my apps uses a database located inside of DropBox. I updated to the new version of DropBox last week, and assume all would be synced by now. I tried selecting "make files available offline" but no change. Help!
Exact same issue except im on monterey 12.6.1. and dropbox v161.4.4923.
Want to note that this only happened after the update where the Dropbox folder was moved to ~/Library/CloudStorage. It really messed up my workflow and I wish I could go back. If anyone knows how to undo that and move back in dropbox versions, that'd be great.
Additionally, have two issues:
1. Preview no longer works properly on files in dropbox, all files just shows as the dropbox logo in spotlight
2. Can no longer jump to the folder location with CMD+return on a file that is held inside dropbox. It will open the file as if you clicked on the file every time if the file is held in dropbox.
Lastly:
Tried Nancy's solution to reindex and it doesn't help. I reindexed and restarted multiple times. No difference.
Other issues are the same:
In Spotlight (cmd+space) :Searching for a file in the Dropbox folder *by name* works, but not *by content* (PDF files that should be indexed without a problem)
In Finder search : neither by name nor by content works in the Dropbox folder.
Elsewhere on the same volume is fine.
I have tried adding then removing the Dropbox folder to the Spotlight privacy exceptions list, that didn't help.I'm having trouble with this exact same issue for the past 2 weeks. These are my details:
- macOS Montery version 12.6
- MacBook Pro M1 chip, 16 inch
Just to reiterate, I type keywords into finder a many results are shown when looking through 'This Mac' is selected. However, I want to narrow down my results, to when I click to the current folder, results disappear.
Hoping to have some concrete way to deal with this as I've done what the original poster went through. Please help!
I am having the same issue, and even exchanged my MacBook Pro thinking that there was a bug.
14" MacBookPro with Monterey 12.5
And updated Dropbox version.
Is there any solution?
- Walter
Dropbox Staff
Hi all, could you try re-indexing Spotlight and let us know how it goes?
I have already tried that (and I just tried it again for second time) but it has not resolved the issue
thanks
I'm having the same issue - Dropbox is not searchable by either Mac Spotlight or the search field in the Finder windows:
• My Dropbox sync/files are completely up to date
• Dropbox version 157.4.4801
• Mac Studio, Monterey 12.4, M1 Ultra Processor
• Files are stored locally on my Mac
Thanks so much.
I have the same issues:
I'm having the same issue - Dropbox is not searchable by either Mac Spotlight or the search field in the Finder windows:
• My Dropbox sync/files are completely up to date
• Dropbox version 157.4.4808
• iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017), Monterey 12.5.1
• Files are stored locally on my Mac
Thanks so much.
- Nancy
Hi!
With the last Dropbox update on Mac the folder was moved (yes, you know) and now it sits in "Locations" section in Finder sidebar.
After this spotlight search have stopped working in Dropbox folder at all.
I've tried rebuilding index but no luck.
Anybody has the same issue?
I've upgraded from macOS 10.15.7 Catalina directly to macOS 13.1 (22C65) Ventura a few days ago and and since then have to report the exact same issues.
- Quick Look only works with files manually made available offline by clicking the cloud icon
- Spotlight cannot find anything when searching in finder window from within dropbox folder (dropbox root). Even when searching for folder names nothing shows up.
- Spotlight in finder window can surprisingly sometimes find things when starting search from "My Mac" or Macintosh HD root.
- Spotlight from menubar can surprisingly sometimes find things
(i.e. exactly not the search behavior described on https://help.dropbox.com/de-de/installs/macos-support-for-expected-changes )
I have not yet tried to completely recreate the spotlight index as of now.
- I have the same issue.
FYI, I had to shut down System Preferences and then open it back up before it worked for me.
