What is going on with Dropbox on MacOS? Spotlight and Finder don't work!!

[dragononamac]

Dropbox randomly updated to some new version and said everything is moving to Library/CloudStorage or something like that,

now I can't open files directly in Spotlight OR find using folder search in Finder (although global search "This Mac" works). 

Biggest issues:

1. Searching using spotlight and clicking on it DOES NOTHING!

2. If I am in a folder within Dropbox folder on my Mac, and I want to search for a file IN that folder using Finder, it doesn't find any file if I search using the search box in Finder, I have to click "This Mac" to find files but it finds files from EVERYWHERE when I only want to find files from within that specific Dropbox folder that I am currently in

How do I fix this? I need this functionality working ASAP ! 

Moderated edited to remove swearing

[Hannah]

Sorry to see you're having this issue, @EFARR.

Have you tried any of the troubleshooting steps in this thread, to see if they help?

[a1a1]

I am also having the same problems and can't search dropbox from the finder.

I rebuilt the Spotlight index and nothing changed. I am using Ventura 13.3 with an M2 chip and have wasted HOURS and HOURS looking for a fix. Dropbox no longer functions for me. 

[Jay]

Hi @a1a1, could you try reinstalling the Dropbox desktop application, without uninstalling it first, via this link?

[a1a1 · Accepted solution]

Hi Jay,

Finally after 7 months of basically not being able to use my laptop I found the solution in another thread.

Instead of re-indexing Dropbox I had to re-index the entire hard drive.

From keganx: 

I have managed to fix this. (For reference, I have tried re-indexing Spotlight using command line, and does not work).

1. Open System Preferences and go to Spotlight's Privacy tab.
2. Add the entire hard disk INTO the Privacy list.
3. Maybe wait 30s.
4. Remove the hard disk FROM the Privacy list.

@davidarden also posted the solution in another Dropbox thread: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Create-upload-and-share/Dropbox-is-not-searchable-in-Mac-OS-Monterey...

[Gregor M.]

Thanks for responding. Historically, DropBox helpers have provided consistently wrong information. This added an extra layer to the disastrous DropBox update I experience this Spring, which forced me to entirely rebuild my entire laptop from scratch. 

Here is what was particularly disturbing: thousands of DropBox users had this problem, and DropBox spent weeks if not months failing to even acknowledge it.

Not sure what to say. I have refused all DropBox updates on my MacBook Pro now for 7 months. Can't imagine trusting DropBox ever again.

Note: I am one of the oldest DB users, taking the app onto my devices many, many years ago.