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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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Thank you all. I have not yet had the opportunity to try the fixes.
You are right, this is the only solution. If you want spotlight to index Dropbox content you can’t update to last version. if you update to the last version, it will move all the files to the Library/Cloudstorage folder and spotlight will stop indexing the files properly. It’s like they are all the same type of file, and if you click them nothing append..
The "fix" of "preventing" Spotlight from searching in ~/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox/ worked for me. Someone should mark this as the "proper" answer for now, rather than the suggestion to do the clean reinstall of Dropbox.
I'm posting here both to add weight against the other answers, but also in the hopes that when Dropbox gets around to fixing the problems, they'll make a post here so that we all will be notified about ending this "temporary" kludge.
And yes, I know I'm using double-quotes everywhere above - it's needed, unfortunately, to be accurate. As in, Dropbox is a "quality software product" on Mac with "proper change control procedures".
Hi,
Does anyone have same problem?
I upgraded to macOS Ventura 13.1 on December 2022 then I found that
Spotlight can't search online-only files contents (ex. text, tags, comments, URLs).
Why? I'm in a lot of trouble about this.
Is this a technical specification change?
Is this related to Dropbox folder's location change to ~/Library/CloudStrage/ directory on Apple Silicon Macs?
This happened only on Apple Silicon Mac.
I still can search online-only files contents on Intel iMac.
MacBook Air 13.3 inch M1 2020
macOS Ventura 13.1Dropbox 166.3.2847
- Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
After all, re-indexing Spotlight doesn’t work.
And I found this. What a terrible change :’(
Expected changes with Dropbox for macOS - Dropbox Help
“Searching through Finder won’t find all content in your Dropbox folder.
- Only file names will display in these search results, not the file contents.”
Had the same problems.
The "fix" (preventing Spotlight from searching the new Dropbox "folder") works for me too.
For now.
I am just here to put some weight on this issue. After many years of everyday use without any problems this is just super annoying and I am thinking about moving on.
This needs to be fixed AND communicated properly (instead of marking this topic as solved).
Totally agree - it need to be communicated properly and it have to be unmarked as solved! Does any one knows - is there a way to deactivate Dropbox Notifications about this new "update"? Terminal command etc?
- Hannah
Hey everyone. If you're still having an issue with this, can we reach out to you via email, so we can investigate?
Please let us know!
