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File search issues with beta for Mac
I just installed the beta version a few days ago. I use Alfred as a superior alternative to Spotlight to search files etc. since installing the beta Alfred can’t find files in my Dropbox folder. I have talked to their customer support but they say it’s an issue with Dropbox and not them. Anyone having weirdness with file search using third party apps post upgrade to the Mac beta?
Thank you for reaching out about this issue and sorry about the problems you experienced. The issue you’re experiencing where files returned in a Spotlight search don’t open when clicked is a known issue and should have been fixed by updating your Mac to macOS 13.3. For more information on using Dropbox on macOS, visit this article.
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I have Alfred Powerpack and my Dropbox folder is at ~/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox. This is how I fixed the issue.
1. Go to Alfred Preferences --> Features --> Default Results.
2. In Search Scope, add the directory ~/Library/CloudStorage
3. Now go to Alfred Preferences --> Advanced
4. Click Rebuild macOS Metadata
5. This now gives you two options: "Reindex macOS...." and "Delete .Spotlight....". I chose the latter option and followed the steps to rebuilding the index. Took some time, but in the end, Alfred now shows the contents of my Dropbox folder.
Was this issue ever resolved? I upgraded a couple days ago & have tried numerous attempts to re-index the folder & waited days. (I use the folder all day, every day to work), the search ability has still yet to resolve itself & its essential to my job.
- Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi georgecwbrown, welcome to our Community!
In regards to your search issue, can you clarify the version of the app that you're using on your end?
Also, have you tried all the available troubleshooting steps mentioned throughout this thread? Any screenshots you might have are welcome.
Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!
Hey Megan,
After further research I found another thread on this board regarding search problems, where they recommended re-indexing the entire drive using the Spotlight privacy trick, for now I've attempted this & it seems to have had a small reward in terms of results (Instead of just re-indexing the folder). That said I've seen comments in the thread saying it's a small immediate fix but new files have issues indexing... so I hope that isn't the case as my job requires finding all the files, rather than just some.
With time I'll know whether its fully worked,Thanks for your response though!
Dropbox V169.3.5667
Ventura 13.0.1- Megan
Hi georgecwbrown, I see where you're coming from!
Can you keep an eye out, and update me on the behavior you see when you search for your files?
- The issue is that Spotlight can see them, but it can't open them. Enter doesn't work, clicking doesn't work, and Cmd + clicking (to open in Finder) doesn't work. And since we can't search for files in Finder either, this makes searching files in Dropbox literally impossible.
Latest version of macOS. Latest version of Dropbox. Files are set to Access offline/are downloaded. Hi all,
Exactly the same for me, I have contacted the DB customer service and nothing come. It's absolutely not serious from DROPBOX. We need help on this please ! Indexation is the base ! Sorry for my English I am french 😬
I'm on DB pro on Ventura OS
Regards
- Walter
Hey DropBozizzle & Guest57, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.
Can you please clarify if you've tried re-indexing Spotlight or any other troubleshooting steps?
As for you Guest57, could you also share your ticket ID for your support interaction?
Yep, already tried re-indexing in Spotlight. Indexing isn't the issue - as I mentioned, the files will appear in Spotlight results. I just can't interact with them (quick look; open; open file location).
