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Re: Dropbox is not searchable in Mac OS Monterey 12.0.1

Dropbox is not searchable in Mac OS Monterey 12.0.1

robinwn
Helpful | Level 6
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Dropbox files/folders are not searchable in spotlight on new MacBook Pro with M1 chip - Monterey OS 12.0.1. Have re-indexed spotlight. Have uninstalled and reinstalled Dropbox and rebooted. Have made sure Dropbox has full access in Security and Privacy. Help please?

1 Accepted Solution

Accepted Solutions

davidarden
Helpful | Level 6
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I have found a solution, everyone! I hope everyone struggling with this will find this post. The problem isn't with dropbox, it's with Mac Spotlight. Which surprised me, as I always thought the finder search was separate from Spotlight, but apparently, on the back end, both are one-in-the-same. I've heard many times that re-indexing spotlight didn't work, but it does! You just have to do it a different way for everything to ACTUALLY 100% reindex.

 

Tutorial is here on apple's forums: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253479408

Just giving credit where credit is due.

 

In case that goes away, instructions are also listed below.

 

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

Spotlight will re-index. After finish re-indexing, the search in folder works for me.

 

(To see if Spotlight is indexing, use Command+Space to invoke Spotlight, and type in something. Wait a second. You should see a progress bar to show indexing progress)

 

Of note, I am on Mac OS Monterey 12.6 (21G115). My dropbox version is 158.4.4564. These are both the lastest, as of now, 10.3.2022.

 

Hopefully this helps! Changed my life - I can work again!

 

 

 

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181 Replies 181

Hannah
Dropbox Staff
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Hey @robinwn, thanks for letting us know about this. 

Does this happen only with Dropbox files/folders?

And does it happen with all of them or just specific ones?

Keep me posted.

Hannah
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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robinwn
Helpful | Level 6
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It happens with all files and folders.

Walter
Dropbox Staff
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Hey @robinwn, sorry to jump in, but could you send us a screenshot of how it looks like on your end?

Also, is the app showing 'up to date' or is it still syncing in you menu bar?

Walter
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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robinwn
Helpful | Level 6
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searching for chicken in chicken - no results/keeps "searching"searching for chicken in chicken - no results/keeps "searching"folders/files in dropboxfolders/files in dropboxdesktop confirms files up to datedesktop confirms files up to date

Jay
Dropbox Staff
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Hi @robinwn, could you confirm the version of the Dropbox desktop application you're running? 

You can do this by hovering your mouse over the Dropbox icon in the system tray or menu bar.

Also, try quitting the Dropbox desktop application and try searching for the files again in Finder.

Jay
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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robinwn
Helpful | Level 6
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139.4.4896

Jay
Dropbox Staff
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Does quitting the app make any difference when searching in Finder?

Jay
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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robinwn
Helpful | Level 6
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No, quitting did not help. Reinstalling did not help. Rebooting did not help. 

Jay
Dropbox Staff
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Is this occurring only in the Dropbox folder itself or anywhere in Finder?

Jay
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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