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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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Hi!
Version change to 162.4.5419 but no changes, still can't open folder form spotlight search.
- Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
Thanks for the additional information Guntis1111 and sorry to hear you're also having issues with this ulba
Following the update where the Dropbox folder was moved to ~/Library/CloudStorage, Spotlight sometimes does not re-index the folder until after it is opened for the first time. You can simply open the Dropbox folder in Finder (it should be under Locations in the left sidebar), allow a little time for indexing to take place then retry the Spotlight search.
Another reason is that the Spotlight index may need to be rebuilt, carry out the steps in this article. Note that the article mentions the Documents folder but you need to use the Dropbox folder instead.
If none of the above steps help, please let us know and we can investigate further.
- I’m also having this same exact issue where Spotlight results appear with the Dropbox icon and do nothing when selected. This is a showstopper bug. Please add me to the ticket as well.
I did the spotlight indexing but has no change.
And I found another issue after the mac update, which is that newly downloaded files from the dropbox won't open by double clicking.
I have to right click the files and chose certain app to open.
The files that are already downloaded before the Dropbox update can be open by double clicking.
Please fix the problems.
My OS version is Ventura 13.0.1
Hi!
For me too, this bouth things didn't help.
I think that problem are not in indexes becouse folder is found, but it just didn't open form spotlight.
Please fix this issue!
me too
I'm having the same issue with mac OS Ventura. After changing dropbox directory to cloud storage folder spot light does not open searched files. They are visible in search results with dropbox icon but nothin happens when I try to open them. Any working solution yet?
Nothing which has been suggested to me thus far has worked. I was instructed to wait for Dropbox engineers to look into this and then hopefully they will find a solution.
Ok we'll wait then. Hope it will be solved soon as lack of this function is really annoying and making dropbox "unhandy"
