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Forum Discussion
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. No...
- 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.
Megan
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffHey dsnidey, thanks for posting here!
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.
Is the app showing 'up to date' or is it still syncing in you menu bar?
Also, feel free to try and quit the Dropbox desktop application and then search for the files again in Finder.
Keep me posted!
Hi, like I wrote before, a newest Dropbox update broke my Spotlight completely. So I installed Dropbox again like I described and it worked again perfectly. Dropbox asked me again to migrate the data, because otherwise I "wont be able" to use the all functionality with my macOS 13.1. But it still worked very well. Hm...I thought I wont do it, because it was possibly a reason why my Spotlight didn't work any more. But after I got an email from Dropbox encouraging me to accept the update, I thought, probably Dropbox team did some corrections and this time I will succeed. For my huge disappointment - the same procedure, the same result.
I would recommend everybody - DO NOT accept a Dropbox request to update to a newest version and to move your data to user/CloudStorage location as it brakes a Spotlight search o my mac system completely! Here are 2 screenshots:
If you go forward with it, your Spotlight wont work properly any more:
Trying to search for Bartok pieces on my Dropbox. No Preview (just seldom slim Finder icons), cannot open any file, not possible to locat a file with Control click:
Hi, I'm running 160.4.4703. After a clean install and allowing all files to download locally and finish syncing it now seems to be working for the most part. There are some folders that still show in spotlight search results with a Dropbox icon rather than a folder icon, even though their parent folders are set to be available offline. All icons show everything is up to date. Any ideas? Yes quitting dropbox solves the problem but that is not a viable solution...
Same problem here.
I can see Dropbox files in the Spotlight search, but when clicking on them nothing happens.
Dropbox version is v 160.4.4703
- Megan
Hey dsnidey, could you send me some screenshots, in order to have visual of what you just described?
Also, dquaglione, does this happen with all of your Dropbox files, or files that are available online-only? If you could also send me a couple of screenshots, that'd be amazing.
I'm having the exact same issue, and I have tried all the solutions offered in this 5-page thread. Nothing works. This makes Dropbox non-functional for me! Please add me to the ticket. I am running the newest version of Dropbox and OS Ventura 13.0.1.
I previously requested being added to the open ticket for this, but so far I haven't been. This issue makes Dropbox nearly useless to me. Unless this is fixed or addressed soon, I will no longer be using Dropbox.
loglow--My problem may have just been solved despite previous failed attempts. I unlinked Dropbox, deleted Dropbox and its files completely from my computer, and reinstalled it--just now. Suddenly I'm able to open files and folders through Spotlight again. Maybe worth a shot?
