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Searching Not Working on iPadOS Files app

Hi,

According to this link: https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/mobile/ios-files-app

I should be able to search for stuff in the current dropbox folder when accessing it from the iPadOS built-in Files app. But unfortunately this is not working for me. No matter what I search for, the result is always empty, even if there's only one file in the folder. I'm using the latest iPadOS and Dropbox app for ipad. Any idea how I can fix this?

Thanks!

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Fiona

Hello @jasontx0426. Thanks for reaching out.

I will help you figure out what is going on.

Do you see your Dropbox files in the iPad? I just want to confirm that you have already taken the steps in this article: How to add Dropbox to the Files app on Your iPhone or iPad

Please visit Dropbox.com and try to search for your files there. If you get results online then we need to troubleshoot on the device. We can start with reinstalling the Dropbox app on your iPad.

Let me know how this goes!

jasontx0426

Hi @Fiona , thanks for your reply.

I do see my Dropbox files in the ipad and can access them with no problem. But I just can't search for anything, not even in the current folder. I can do the search through the Dropbox app, but not through the iOS built in Files.

Deleting and reinstalling the Dropbox app did not help. Any other suggestions?

Lusil

Hey @jasontx0426, thanks for trying that out.

Could you also try removing the Dropbox mobile app as a location from your Files app and add it again?

Let us know how it goes!

jasontx0426

Hi @Lusil ,

I just tried that as well. No luck. Any other ideas?

Lusil

Thanks for your swift reply, @jasontx0426!

Hmm. :thinking: Have you tried another WiFi network or searching for an item in a specific folder while you're connected to cellular data?

How about rebooting your device? Maybe that will do the trick.

Keep us posted!

jasontx0426

Hi @Lusil ,

I've tried in both my home and workplace wifi and no luck. It does not seem to be a network problem. My ipad does not have cellular connections so I can't test for that.

I also tried rebooting, deleting the app and rebooting, neither works.

I'm not sure if this is a Files thing or Dropbox thing. It seems like I can't search dropbox items under the built-in Files app on my iphone either. I can access the files alright, but searching does not work at ant scope, even when the files are local.

Thanks a lot for all your help, but any other suggestions?

Lusil

Thanks for trying those out as well, @jasontx0426!

At this point, I'd recommend getting in touch with Apple Support to see if they have any additional info on the matter.

If you reach a dead-end or you have any other questions, don't hesitate to get back to us. In the meantime, have a lovely day ahead!

rgonzalez

I’m having the same issue on iOS. Google Drive seems responsive within the Files app in search. Dropbox won’t return results when I try to search within the Files app. Search works well in the Dropbox app.

Lusil

Hey @rgonzalez, thanks for nudging us on this thread.

By any chance, did you also remove and add back Dropbox as a location?

How about clearing your Dropbox mobile app's cache?

Let me know of any updates!

rgonzalez

Did both operations and search still not working for Dropbox on the stock Files app.

Lusil

Thanks for trying those out for me, @rgonzalez.

I'd suggest reaching out to Apple Support then, since they may have more info on this.

Don't hesitate to give me a shout though if anything else comes up or if you have any updates. Cheers!

jasontx0426

Hi, @Lusil ,

I've asked around in the Apple community and no luck. However, I also tested Google Drive as @rgonzalez did and searching through Files app does work there, which seems to suggest it is a Dropbox problem. Could you maybe investigate?

Lusil

Thanks for the feedback, @jasontx0426, however, I'd recommend contacting Apple's official support team as they may have more info on this since the Files app is connecting to the Dropbox API.

Let me know how it goes or if you have any other questions. Thanks!

lowpan

Same issue here. ipados 13.3.1. The Files App search function works on all locations except Dropbox. Tried all above suggestions, no luck.

Lusil

Hey @lowpan, thanks for nudging us on this thread and sorry to hear that you're also having trouble with searching your Dropbox files on your iOS.

Since you've already checked out some of the troubleshooting suggested here - great work by the way! - could you also confirm if you've got the latest iOS and Dropbox mobile app installed?

Keep me posted!

Stanners1980

I have exactly the same problem, and I have the latest iOS and Dropbox app installed.

No matter what I try, I can't get any search results when searching my Dropbox. This seems to be quite a common issue.

Sanchez

Hey there, @Stanners1980, thanks for reaching out.

Try clearing the Dropbox app’s cache, from our app’s settings, and then restart your device.

You could also try deleting our app, restarting your device, and then installing again.

Keep me posted!

tcs11

Just unboxing my new iPad Pro 11. I am also having the same problem. Had tried all the things suggested in this thread.

David B.139

I have also had the same issue since transitioning to iPad Pro. Tested every suggestion. No luck.

The favorites used to at least show up for a moment upon opening Files app, before they disappeared.

Now they don't even show up.

Also, trying to "Unfavorite" a previously favorited item does not work.

It is not so strange that Apple might not have Dropbox issues as their first priority, but what is Dropbox mgmt. doing to address these issues that obviously effect a lot of people?

Thanks.

tcs11

Hope dropbox can rectify the problems. I had been subsribed to Plus plan, but now this might makes me to switch to iCloud plan instead due to this issue.

mza1

I’m also having this problem on my iOS devices. I’ve tried all of the possible fixes and nothing changes. I find the basic integration with the iOS Files app and Dropbox to be very poor. Dropbox has failed to address bugs for example favouriting a Dropbox file via the files app doesn’t work. Searching Dropbox via the files app also doesn’t work. This is not a files app problem but a Dropbox problem as other third party apps work without issue.

Stanners1980

The only solution I have found to this problem is to delete the Dropbox app and reinstall it. It then works a couple of times before going back to never showing any search results.

Yesterday I was also trying to upload some Garageband files to Dropbox, and I was met with the message 'Dropbox doesn't support this yet'. I'm finding it very frustrating.

Bearing in mind the price increase, I'm getting a bit fed up with Dropbox not addressing this issue. I use my iPad as a second computer now and not having a properly functioning search facility is becoming a real pain. I too might look at an iCloud plan if this can't be solved.

xtcforever

I contacted Dropbox about this almost a year ago and never got a reply back. In fact i think they said this is due to apple changing something (it used to work beautifully before the Files app came into effect on apple) and that they need to work on it. Whether it's apple or Dropbox, i think it's pretty impossible to fix as it's been 12 months. It's either apple trying to shift customers away from Dropbox or Dropbox not doing their things enough to fix it. Either way, it will end up as a loss for Dropbox as it's a pretty significant problem. A lot of my colleagues can't "click" on the copied link that i send them from Dropbox app behind firewall and it's a major annoyance to have to close mail app, go to Dropbox app, open the file, "share" to open it in some PDF app, then to email it from there. Just doesn't make sense and if I'm paying more than 100 bucks a year for this premium service i think i deserve something better..

mza1

Whatever the issue it is clear that there is a lack of will to address this or communicate the problem in a transparent way. Just think of the sheer number updates to the app there have been over the last 12 months none of them which have addressed these fundamental issues. I would also really like them to support the full range of iOS 13 features such as multiple instances and not just Dark mode.

Can someone from Dropbox please respond to this with some answers??

Heeseung-Lee

I also have same problem.

I just bought iPad Pro and installed DropBox...

Mrmetro

I have the exact same problem, already tried all your methods.

Brand new iPad Pro 12.9 - 2020 version

iPadOS 13.4.1

All other drive searching works perfect in Files App, except Dropbox is always a No File, even after just typing 1 simple letter.

mza1

This is very frustrating, hopefully it gets sorted under iOS 14. This is clearly not a priority for Dropbox as they simply save use their app rather than files. Perhaps this explains the lack of will to resolve this issue.

Mrmetro

Ive stared moving all my personal files to iCloud since her file and folder sharing is now available. If it works, Ill be moving the company documents to a business iCloud as well. Apple Just Works together!

Pistol_Petey

Thanks for posting this problem! I've thought this was a shortcoming of the Files app. Turns out it's a shortcoming of Dropbox. I hope either they fix this soon - or the next version of iPadOS fixes the problem. I manage about 15 Dropbox accounts and this is becoming a bigger issue as more people use Dropbox on iOS.

jasontx0426

I wish I could do the same. But I work across different platforms and my collaborators use dropbox so I really hope apple and dropbox could sort it out. It's been a while since any dropbox staff replied to this thread, and my bug report to apple didn't get any response, either. It is becoming so frustrating.