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aroberts's avatar
aroberts
New member | Level 2
4 months ago

No Spotlight results for folders on Dropbox with Sequoia

Since I upgraded to Sequoia 15.1 on my Mac, folders and documents on Dropbox are no longer shown. What can I do?

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    Hi aroberts, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

     

    Could you clarify exactly what you're experiencing on your machine when attempting to search? Are you doing the search from within the Dropbox folder in Finder?

     

    Do you have the Dropbox Backup feature enabled?

     

    Any other info or screenshots would be helpful!

    • Mikeyluv's avatar
      Mikeyluv
      New member | Level 1

      Search function on Mac Sequoia 15.1 immediately defaults to "This Mac", finds the folder on Dropbox in the thread, but doesn't actually search the Dropbox heading without leaving the Dropbox search heading.

    • aroberts's avatar
      aroberts
      New member | Level 2

      I don't because I actually have all of my files on Dropbox, with many of them exclusively on Dropbox to save space on my computer.  I solved the issue with Spotlight not searching Dropbox by eliminating Dropbox from the permissions for search and then re-adding it.  This caused the computer to re-index the files on Dropbox and the issue was solved.

  • Victoria Godfrey's avatar
    Victoria Godfrey
    New member | Level 1

    Just upgraded to Sequoia and I have the same issue.  When I sign into Dropbox in a browser all my files are there, but the finder will no longer show them in search.  I got a message popup when my Mac restarted after installation - that said something about Dropbox not being compatible and might not work and that the developers needed to update it.  But I can't remember the exact message and dismissed it as a warning... not as it not being able to search anymore!

    • Beth122's avatar
      Beth122
      New member | Level 1

      I have the same issue. I have Sequoia 15.1.1 and Dropbox 213.4.4597. When I search, Finder does not show files in Dropbox, but when I look online at Dropbox, the files are there. Has anyone solved this issue??

      • Hannah's avatar
        Hannah
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

        Hey Beth122, thanks for letting us know.

        If you navigate to those files within the Dropbox folder in your Finder, are you able to see them?

  • JCDC's avatar
    JCDC
    New member | Level 2

    I also have the same problem. Only Started when updated to Sequoia 15.1.
    updated to Sequoia 15.2, with no effect.  Issue is still there (Dropblox  v214.4.5217)

    DB Files are in the finder, but Spotlight is just not able to search for them or is only able to search for recently accessed files...  

    I have re-indexed spotlight, Seems to work for a while until I restart my mac, Then it goes back to minimal search results in spotlight.... And then I have to re-index all over again to make it work...

    Has anyone solved this issue?? Dropbox please help

    • aroberts's avatar
      aroberts
      New member | Level 2

      You have to actually delete Dropbox in the Mac privacy settings, wait 10 seconds, and then add it back.  It will then permanently index all of Dropbox.  It has worked ever since.

      • mat060's avatar
        mat060
        New member | Level 2

        Hi Arobert. Delete Dropbox from where exactly in the Privacy Settings?

        I deleted it from the 'Full Disk Access' section and then added it back after 10+ seconds but still no results are coming up on spotlight (CMD + SPACE)

        I also added it to Spotlight Privacy settings and the removed it after a 10+ seconds, but still nothing.

  • mat060's avatar
    mat060
    New member | Level 2

    My issue is slightly different, not in Finder but in the overlay CMD+SPACE spotlight. 

    Ever since I installed Sequoia and the latest Dropbox version I'm not able to search files stored on the Dropbox Folder. In previous Sequoia/Dropbox versions I had always been able to search files within the dropbox folder by just using Spotlight (CMD+Space) at any moment. Now it's not working.

    Using the magnifying glass on a Finder's window it does search/finds files within the Dropbox Folder.

    I have tried the following but nothing works:

    - Adding the Dropbox Folder to Spotlight Privacy settings and the removed it after a 10+ seconds to rebuild the Spotlight Index. Didn't work.

    - Deleting Dropbox from the 'Full Disk Access' section and then added it back after 10+ seconds but still no results are coming up on spotlight (CMD + SPACE). Didn't work.

    Is there any other trick I can try?

    I would appreciate it. Thanks!

  • JCDC's avatar
    JCDC
    New member | Level 2

    I had the exact same issue.
    Only way to fix this issue is to totally rebuild your Spotlight Library (Everything). Not just the Drobox folder..
    Fix:
    - Restart Mac
    - In Spotlight Privacy, add Macintosh HD
    - Restart Mac
    - In Spotlight Privacy, remove Macintosh HD
    - Restart Mac, and give it time to rebuild the full Library.
    Only thing that worked for me.. 

    • mat060's avatar
      mat060
      New member | Level 2

      Thanks JCDC . Unfortunately I have tried everything and nothing works. I'm actually starting to believe that in my case is not a Dropbox Issue but an issue with Sequoia all together.

      I have tried your method and the following methods but nothing works:

      • Adding the 'Mchintosh HD' Drive to Spotlight Privacy settings and the removed it after a 10+ seconds to rebuild the Spotlight Index. Didn't work.
      • I have also tried multiple 'mduti' options such as -X, -E, -Eai off, -Eai on. Nothing works.

      I'm creating a thread in the Apple Community to see if somebody can give me some new ideas.

      https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255959099

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