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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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Just to add my two cents that this issue is incredibly frustrating, though it does affect all kinds of cloud storage apps so not sure we should be specifically mad at Dropbox for not having an instant reaction time to it. I'm more mad at Apple for not caring about the consequences of shifting the location of the files.
But I'm more particularly writing to say there is a different workaround than I've seen mentioned in this thread (well, the first and last couple of pages that I perused when doing a deep dive on this issue this afternoon). You can simply use the native search from within the Dropbox desktop app (taskbar icon > search icon). Yes, it is one more click; yes, it requires changing your behavior; but for now I have found this the most feasible thing. (With my box-checking personality, there's no way I can install an older version of Dropbox and bear the constant "do you want to update?" proddings.)
So I started writing this post, saying 'this worked for me... ' [see below]. I finished writing, then just to be sure, tried a few final tests (having already tested successfully on 5-6 files and a few different folders). Lo and behold, something happened in the background and whatever had been fixed, is now broken again.
I'm no software engineer, but from the sequence of what I did (and what worked when, then didn't), this does not seem to be an Apple issue per se, but a Dropbox issue (and I believe one that the current implementation of sync is responsible for, as it seems like it was only after I saw Dropbox sync'ing some recent files that spotlight reverted to its former non-functioning state).
I'm back to square one, but instead of saying F-it and deleting the whole post, I'm posting in hopes this helps someone figure out how to restore this basic and crucial functionality.
#longtimelistenerfirsttimecaller
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Original post:
Apologies if this solution has already been suggested, but this worked for me:
- quit Dropbox app
- removed Dropbox from mac login items
- restarted mac (confirmed that Dropbox app is not running)
- rebuilt spotlight index for Dropbox location [per https://support.apple.com/en-ie/HT201716 ]
- (I waited ~ 5 minutes to let the index start rebuilding)
- with no Dropbox app running, tested spotlight to search and open files and folders that are in Dropbox subfolders (it worked, including for the exact files that weren't working pre-workaround)
- restarted the Dropbox app
- re-tested spotlight file and folder search and open... and it still worked!
(except, then it didn't...)
- dp75
You can revert it.
Uncheck all your folders in selective sync (dropbox settings)
Wait and check they are gone from computer
Unlink your Mac/log out in Dropbox app
Delete the Dropbox app.
Download Dropbox from their website again
Install like normally.
IGNORE THE UPDATE NOTIFICATION MENTIONED A COUPLE POSTS EARLIER
Works fine! Could somebody confirm, that reinstalling STILL works? I did it 2 months ago, did ignore update notification and I am happy user again. My version shows a number 169.4.5684. But if I understand right, some users complain, they are not able anymore to revert, because Dropbox installs already a newest broken version directly?
I followed the workaround on page 1 (and have ignored the DB prompt to upgrade) and it seems to be working.
Dropbox app v170.4.5895
afaic: i'm out.
byebye dropboxnot only did nothing work what was suggested here (there was no way for me to not-install the dropbox-folder in library\cloudstorage).
furthermore i realized, that db lost data in the last few months. skimming through backups i found out that some folders simply and suddenly became empty a few months ago - obviously by not getting synced any more.so i transferred everything to icloud (yep ... from the ones that brought me mobileme 😉 and though its not as finder-like as dropbox used to be it does a good and searchable and launchable job - and you want nothing more from such a tool.
the only pain now:
i need to tell close to 100 actual and former project partners (yes, i've earned an awful lot of free db gb's) that i am switching and would suggest for them to do the same.bye also to this forum, which i spent a lot of time with, but which was and will not be of any use.
thx + sryThis bug is destroying my productivity. Please fix ASAP. This is the type of bug that makes you test the competitor's solution.....
4 months are gone and still no announcement or fix..
disgraceful
- I’m in a similar boat -
