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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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kohji, thanks for outlining your steps below . . .
- Making sure I have the newest Dropbox v170.4.5895, from "General" - "About Dropbox"
- Making sure my Dropbox folder is located as ~/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox, and ~/Dropbox is now a symbolic link to that
- Making sure that there is no Finder window currently opening a folder under the Dropbox folder
- Making sure the whole Spotlight index is deleted and rebuilt, by issuing the command sudo mdutil -E /
On step 2, could you clarify how to make ~/Dropbox a symbolic link?
JoePL wrote:On step 2, could you clarify how to make ~/Dropbox a symbolic link?
There are several ways to confirm this:
(1) to see the Finder showing the icon of symlink (or what is called “alias” in old way) like this:
(2) to see the "Get Info" (“symbolic link” in UNIX and Linux can be regarded as “Alias” in the macOS world):
(3) or to see in the terminal like this (the leftmost “l” denotes symbolic link):
For those who were waiting for it macOS Ventura 13.3 has been released.
Fingers crossed all is good after this update.
Will report back when I get time to do the update.
It's fixed! Euge!
BenDBXCommunity Manager
Hi Everybody,
We expect this issue to be resolved with macOS 13.3. Thanks for reporting back that updating to 13.3 has provided resolution MikeCTZA and reformedtexan
We don't expect this problem to persist, but if anybody continues to experience it, please don't hesitate to let us know!
Regards,
Ben
Fixed! I just updated to macOS 13.3 Ventura and can search and open all files from Spotlight Search. Woohoo! FINALLY!!!
Hi Ben, experimenting with Dropbox team together I was upgrading 4 times and all of them was unsuccessful. Thats why I would like to ask you about an extra confirmation, that a new Dropbox version on a new Ventura 13.3 is able to open files or folders "in place" by pressing Cmd+Enter directly from the Spotlight search. I mean not to open a file it self, but to show a location where it was saved. It's is my daily workflow and the old version still works fine. Please let me (us) know
Thank you very much. I will try😊
Rijak ThePlanner, can you confirm Spotlight indeed works if you fully upgrade and enable the Dropbox files to be stored in the ~/CloudStorage/ folder?
