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Spotlight Search Doesn't Link to Files in Dropbox in macOS 13 Ventura
After upgrading to macOS Ventura, I was prompted to upgrade to "Dropbox for macOS 12". I proceeded with that, it moved my Dropbox folder to ~/Library/CloudStorage and confirmed all was successful. Now when using Spotlight to search (I often type something like 'drawings folder' to open a folder called Drawings) the results in Spotlight show the Dropbox app icon beside the name of the item I want (rather than a Finder icon for folder or file). Hitting Enter or clicking on the result switches to Finder and does nothing, or sometimes will open the Applications folder and show the Dropbox app. It's not linking me to the actual file in ~/Library/CloudStorage.
I have done the following and the problem is not solved:
- Restarted
- Ensured all files are available for offline access
- Rebuilt the spotlight index
- Unlinked Dropbox from this Mac, did a complete clean install of dropbox, performed the upgrade to v159.4.5870 and synced just one folder to begin
Nothing works. Any suggestions??
- That’s the same problem I had. I solved it by doing a complete clean install of dropbox. You may not need to do all of this, but to be safe, in Dropbox settings Selective Sync uncheck all of your folders and wait for them to be removed from your Mac. Once that’s done, unlink your Mac from Dropbox preferences. You should see the Dropbox getting started screen. Quit Dropbox and move the app to the Trash. Remove all dropbox files from ~/Library being careful to look at the path name. Only remove things that are within a Dropbox parent folder. Look in library application support, and library preferences. Empty the Trash. Restart your Mac. Reinstall Dropbox from dropbox.com. Once reinstalled, to make things faster sync only one small folder and wait for the prompt that new Dropbox for macOS 12 is available. You should see the message within a few minutes of reinstalling Dropbox. Allow it to upgrade and migrate your files to the new location. Once that’s done you can then sync all your folders. Let your Mac index itself and the problem should be solved.
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You were right. The issue returned after one day of correct working. Not spotlight doesn't find files in dropbox anymore.
I selected the Dropbox menu bar icon, clicked my user logo (the right-most button), then chose Preferences, then selected the General tab.
There was a button at the bottom that allowed me to leave the so-called "beta experience." I clicked it, and then Dropbox restored my synced files to a folder named "Dropbox" in my user folder. Spotlight now functions correctly; files and folders in the Dropbox folder can be searched and opened again with Spotlight.
The "beta experience" is simply not ready for use until this bug is fixed. For anyone struggling with this, I suggest leaving the "beta experience."
Dropbox currently shows that I'm running v163.3.5436. System is macOS 13.0.1 (22A400) on an M2 chip.
I don't have such option
- Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi everyone, happy Friday!
If you're using a paid plan, could you try to open a ticket with our Support team, in order for them to have a closer look into this?
Let me know the ticket number reference here, as long as you do. For the rest, that might be having an issue reaching our Support, just give me a heads up, and I'll be more than happy to reach out to you internally.
Thanks a bunch!
Over the past month, Dropbox had a major upgrade in which Dropbox is now considered a drive location on macOS (not an automatic upgrade but required files to be moved temporarily). Unfortunately, the search feature in Finder folders no longer returns any results (though search does work on dropbox.com). My macOS is up to date (Ventura 13.0.1) and Dropbox application is up to date (v162.4.5419). I also restarted the computer. Does anyone have a fix, or does this need to be escalated to the Dropbox team?
- This issue occurs on Mac OS Ventura (v 13.0.1) and I'm a Dropbox Basic user.
- Basically if you search for a dropbox folder (e.g. "2 Real Estate") as seen in the below screenshots, it appears in spotlight search but when you actually select the folder to quickly access it, nothing happens.
- This issue only applies to dropbox folders not the files or items within them so if I searched for a specific PDF within the "2 Real Estate" folder, I am able to open it via Spotlight search. However, obviously we tend to search for folders rather than specific items and not being able to open folders is really frustrating.
- Note - I started experiencing this issue only after some Dropbox setting update (which moved location within Ventura). Oddly enough, previously, the Dropbox folders I search would have the typical Apple Folder Icon beside them when displayed in Spotlight Search as opposed to the Dropbox Icon beside the folder (which you see above) so that might provide a clue to people.
- So far I've restarted my Mac, Quit & relaunched Dropbox, Signed out & Signed in but none of these have resolved the issue.
Any help here would be greatly appreciated.
- This issue occurs on Mac OS Ventura (v 13.0.1) and I'm a Dropbox Basic user.
Here is my ticket number: #20080622
