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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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- I have the exact same issue as dalw
Hi, I was on a latest Dropbox version. Sorry cannot specify which version it was, because I deinstalled it yesterday already. I didn't take some screenshots.
A Mac/Dropbox behaviour was quite ridiculous. I wasn't able to work any more in a normal usual way. In a Spotlight popover I saw all the date from Dropbox, but instead showing a preview icons, there was a thin Apple Finder picture. Clicking on it with or without Cmd just did nothing. Popover each time was going away..
I was in contact with AppleSupport. First - usual process with a first level. In SafeMode I was able to open files and I saw file preview, but I still wasn't able to open same files "on place" clicking with cmd. A new user didn't solve this problem as well - there were the same ridiculous icons of a thin Apple Finder.
Solution:
1. Backup all your Dropbox data
2. Uncheck all synced folders in Dropbox preferences
3. Deinstall Dropbox (Move in to a trach. I use CleanMyMac for that)
4. Delete all the Data from new Dropbox destination, which I am quite sure causes this issue: user/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox
5. Install Dropbox again
6. Sync your Data
7. Do not update! Dropbox will ask you about it straight after you do this clean install.
It worked very well for me. The only backside of it is, that Dropbox asking me in a very obsessive way now to update to a new version - after I did a clean Install from an official Dropbox website 1-2 hours ago. Dropbox tells it wont work with my macOS 13.1 but it does. Everything works again perfectly. My files are saved again to the user destination. So the only way to work is to ignore completely Dropbox warnings. It's a pity I cannot deactivate them. I think a main problem is a files destination, which a newer version of Dropbox tries to change - from user folder (where my Pictures, Music etc are saved) to user/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox. I do not remember that macs could be able to search with Spotlight their Libraries destinations. At least by default. I do not understand why Dropbox team tries to change a very well working system with a version which causes this massive issue.
I am testing dropbox at the moment and wanted to go for the paid version. After finding out that Finder search for dropbox isn't working (see article here https://help.dropbox.com/installs/macos-support-for-expected-changes) and tests I have done, I think I will leave that for now.
Applications like Alfred and Houdahspot work with the changes caused by Ventura. It is a clear message from dropbox that there is no priority for supporting dropbox on Mac OS when you see small software companies manage to solve the issue and dropbox just writes an article that it doesn't work.
I am having the same problem. Tried all the suggestions on this thread multiple times, none of the suggestions work, or if they do work, the problem returns in a few minutes.
This appears to be a chronic problem with Dropbox, and there seems to be little interest on the part of Dropbox to fix the issue.
Thus I am looking at switching to a different platform.
Any suggestions from others on this thread for what other platforms actually work? What have you switched to?
Hi, like I wrote before, a newest Dropbox update broke my Spotlight completely. So I installed Dropbox again like I described and it worked again perfectly. Dropbox asked me again to migrate the data, because otherwise I "wont be able" to use the all functionality with my macOS 13.1. But it still worked very well. Hm...I thought I wont do it, because it was possibly a reason why my Spotlight didn't work any more. But after I got an email from Dropbox encouraging me to accept the update, I thought, probably Dropbox team did some corrections and this time I will succeed. For my huge disappointment - the same procedure, the same result.
I would recommend everybody - DO NOT accept a Dropbox request to update to a newest version and to move your data to user/CloudStorage location as it brakes a Spotlight search o my mac system completely! Here are 2 screenshots:
If you go forward with it, your Spotlight wont work properly any more:
Trying to search for Bartok pieces on my Dropbox. No Preview (just seldom slim Finder icons), cannot open any file, not possible to locat a file with Control click:
Hi,
After Dropbox upgrade I could not find any file in Dropbox folder in finder.
This solution not working for me
What exactly solution do not work for you? This one?
1. Backup all your Dropbox data
2. Uncheck all synced folders in Dropbox preferences
3. Deinstall Dropbox (Move in to a trach. I use CleanMyMac for that)
4. Delete all the Data from new Dropbox destination, which I am quite sure causes this issue: user/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox
5. Install Dropbox again
6. Sync your Data
Would be interesting to know what exactly do not work for you. Just please do not update after clean install:)
So are you suggesting to ignore the dropbox suggestion and NOT MIGRATE data in /Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox but keep in the old default location?
