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Dropbox content isn't searchable in Spotlight when using 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!
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- Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
In Finder, select Dropbox Locations
In the search bar, search a word => No results when Search "Dropbox" is selected
Click Search This Mac => results are displayed
- Nancy
Hi kevin_shkfjh12324, sorry to hear you’re having the same issue.
Can you let me know what’s the current syncing status of your desktop app, as well as its app version?
The problem seems to have solved itself over a long weekend of neglect. Now spotlight is finding things again. I have no idea why, but I'll take it.
Having this same problem with a brand new M1 14" Mac running Monterray 10.5.
It's extremely frustrating, as search is one of the most basic features I expect to work.This issue seems to have been going on since January with no solution and a lot of tire-spinning.
I'm having the same problem finding files and folders in Monterey. I'm weary of continually having to work around technology issues instead of just being able to get work done.
I've been trying to decide whether to move completely to Dropbox or GoogleDrive. This makes the decision much easier.
Here are three screen shots looking for two new docs I saved in Dropbox. Spotlight finds them in "This Mac" but not in "Users" nor in "Dropbox"
I should add - I am only having this problem on my brand new iMac with the Apple M1 chip (in my university office), and not on my Intel iMac at home. Same Dropbox. So maybe something to do with M1 chip?
- Jay
Hi izaguirres, you should've received an email from the support agent with a ticket number in the email subject. If it's not in your inbox, try checking your junk or spam folder.
Please could you provide that number in order for us to investigate further.
Hi Megan, this is what I got. There was more but I wasn't able to screenshot it all at once
