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Dropbox re-indexes files during every startup on my Mac Mini.
Application Affected Dropbox Mac version Device Mac Mini M4 Operating System/Browser (if using the web) Sequoia 15.6.1 Dropbox App Version (if using the app) v230.4.8797
Question or Issue
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After several tests, I discovered that Dropbox takes an unusually long time to reindex at every startup when my Dropbox folder is on an external SSD, even if only a small number of files are kept locally.
I eventually moved Dropbox back to my internal SSDâthe last thing I wanted to doâand everything returned to normal.
It seems that the Dropbox Mac app doesnât work well with external SSDs, most likely due to macOSâs frustrating limitations on cloud storage.
Mark
Super User II
Super User IIHow can I prevent Dropbox from reindexing on every restart?
You cant I'm afraid.
Its how it knows that the files have not changed since the last time the app was launched - and it compares the files between the web cloud version and locally. However, it shouldnt take huge amounts of time, or, slow the system down too much. But, if they are all local that DOES slow things down as it has to check each manually where as if they are all in cloud that part doesnt have to happen for those files.
It doesnât appear to slow down the system, but the process takes several hours, during which I canât sync files across my devices. My Dropbox contains about 1.2 TB of photos and videos, which seems to be causing the issue.
- Mark
It shouldnt take that long.
I wonder if the database is corrupted. To resolve that an unlink/relink works as it rebuilds it from scratch. BUT that does take time, so, do it when you have a spare few hours!
By âunlink/relink,â do you mean signing out of the Dropbox app and then signing back in?
Iâve already tried that, but it didnât resolve the issue. My Dropbox app has still been indexing/syncing for 3.5 hours now.
