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File search issues with beta for Mac

I just installed the beta version a few days ago. I use Alfred as a superior alternative to Spotlight to search files etc. since installing the beta Alfred can’t find files in my Dropbox folder. I have talked to their customer support but they say it’s an issue with Dropbox and not them. Anyone having weirdness with file search using third party apps post upgrade to the Mac beta?

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Emmet

Thank you for reaching out about this issue and sorry about the problems you experienced. The issue you’re experiencing where files returned in a Spotlight search don’t open when clicked is a known issue and should have been fixed by updating your Mac to macOS 13.3. For more information on using Dropbox on macOS, visit this article.

All comments

Jay

Hi @daninSTL, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Are your files available offline in your Dropbox folder?

What icon do you have next to the files themselves?

This will help me to assist further!

Malinalda

I have the same problem, I couldn't find any thing with Alfred or Spotlight after I agree to install the new beta Dropbox version and agree to move all my files to "new place".

Nancy

Welcome aboard the forum, @Malinalda!

Can you clarify what you mean when saying that you moved your files to the new place?

Also, like @Jay asked above, can you let me know what type of syncing icons do you see next to your Dropbox files now?

Cheers.

Malinalda

Hello, thanks for help.

Now my files had been moved to "/Users/user/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox" after recently update.

I made a screenshot and upload to this message

Hannah

Thanks for the update here, @Malinalda, and sorry to jump in.

If you right/control click on a file with the cloud icon, and change it to 'available offline', does searching for it work?

Malinalda

Thanks for help.

After making my files offline, macOS spotlight can find them, but Alfred still can not find anything.

drmacnut

Aloha Nancy. I know I am coming in a month after your reply to @Malinalda about Spotlight apparently not working in the new Dropbox beta. I also have this issue. Here is some info:

1. I installed the Dropbox beta on Oct 18, 2022 on one of my iMac M1s which is now running Ventura 13.0 RC2 (22A380)

2. All files and folders are set to be local on the Mac, not "cloud only"; icons in the name column are all green checkmarks in small circles

3. Dropbox is v160.3.4650

4. Spotlight does not work at all on the Dropbox folder or any subfolder therein

5. I had macOS re-index the folder by adding the Dropbox folder to the Spotlight Privacy settings at the following location: System Settings > Siri & Spotlight > Spotlight Privacy. I then let the mds_stores, mds, and fileproviderd processes calm down to background levels (as ascertained using Activity Monitor), at which point I removed Dropbox from Spotlight Privacy. The same three processes ran at relatively high cpu usage for several minutes (my Dropbox folder is about 200GB in size) before settling down again.

6. At that point, I tried Spotlight again, but it still doesn't find anything in the Dropbox folder.

Please let me know if I can provide any other information that may help solve this problem.

Nancy

Hi @drmacnut, thanks for providing all this info!

Can you let me know what’s the current syncing status of your desktop app?

Also, where’s your local Dropbox folder located at the moment?

dr_chicken

I have the same issue. I have been on the macOS beta for months and just today Dropbox prompted me to move my files to ~/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox. Since that move, I cannot open files from Spotlight searches. Files/folders still show up when I search but single/double clicking on them does nothing.

I can click "Search in Finder" at the bottom of the Spotlight window to open a finder search and then open any Dropbox files/folders from there. The Dropbox files/folders I'm trying to open are fully synced and available offline. I right clicked on them, selected the offline option, and there is a green checkmark (no cloud) next to them.

Can anyone help?

dr_chicken

I just got off the beta and have the same issue, cannot open Dropbox files/folders from Spotlight.

Nancy

Hi @dr_chicken,

There are a few reasons why you may be experiencing issues when searching for files within Dropbox using Spotlight.

Following the update where the Dropbox folder was moved to ~/Library/CloudStorage, Spotlight sometimes does not re-index the folder until after it is opened for the first time.

Could you try opening the Dropbox folder in Finder (it should be under Locations in the left sidebar), and then allow a little time for indexing to take place before retrying Spotlight search?

Another reason is that the Spotlight index may need to be rebuilt (you can check the steps in this article on how to do this). The article mentions the ‘Documents’ folder but you need to use the Dropbox folder instead.

If none of the above steps help, don’t hesitate to ping me!

allann

Hey There!

I've also run in to this issue since upgrading to Dropbox Beta. I noticed it first with Alfred app which I use a lot to find a manipulate files and folders on my system. Since Dropbox moved my files on the recent beta, Alfred can not find any files even though they are searchable by spotlight and are offline files. I have made sure that Alfred has access to the folders, etc, but to no avail.

You can see the thread over on Alfred's forum: https://www.alfredforum.com/topic/18184-alfred-cannot-find-files-after-installing-dropbox-beta-for-cloudstorage-intel/#comment-100100

dr_chicken

Thanks, @Nancy. I left the Dropbox folder open for hours and then followed the Spotlight reindexing steps. It's been a day reindexing and it's still unreliable. Occasionally there's a file/folder that will show up with a normal icon and work but most show up with the Dropbox logo and won't open. 😞

BrandonCho

I have the same issue.

The thing is, the file in the Dropbox folder is shown in Spotlight search, but not in Alfred search.

dr_chicken

Just to reup this, I've still got this issue too. I have to search in finder to be able to find files in my Dropbox folder.

Nancy

Hi @BrandonCho, thanks for posting here.

Can you let me know what’s the app version of your Dropbox app, as well as its current syncing status?

I’m sorry to hear you’re still having trouble with this, @dr_chicken. Is it OK if I log a ticket for you, so that we can check this internally?

dr_chicken

That’d be great, Nancy. Please do.

Nancy

Hi again, @dr_chicken! I’ve just logged a ticket for you, so please reply back to it, when possible.

jbowdach

I also have this exact issue and it appeared ONLY after the Dropbox beta moved everything to the new folder within */CloudStorage.

I've actually considered migrating away from Dropbox due to this issue as it majorly limits its usefulness as I'm forced to search for my filed within Dropbox - which proceeds to open them within the web browser.

I confirmed even with all files kept too "offline" that you are unable to search with spotlight, Alfred or any other application other that the Dropbox app.

shmtd

I had this issue, and this process worked for me

Open Alfred's preferences and navigate to the following configuration:

Features > Default Results > Search Scope

Perform the following actions:

Untick macOS Applications Folder
Untick Folders in Home (ignoring the warning)
Remove all scope folders by clicking a folder, pressing ⌘A to select all of the folders, then pressing backspace, or the - button below the folder list.

sashwattanay

I have Alfred Powerpack and my Dropbox folder is at ~/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox. This is how I fixed the issue.

1. Go to Alfred Preferences --> Features --> Default Results.

2. In Search Scope, add the directory ~/Library/CloudStorage

3. Now go to Alfred Preferences --> Advanced

4. Click Rebuild macOS Metadata

5. This now gives you two options: "Reindex macOS...." and "Delete .Spotlight....". I chose the latter option and followed the steps to rebuilding the index. Took some time, but in the end, Alfred now shows the contents of my Dropbox folder.

georgecwbrown

Was this issue ever resolved? I upgraded a couple days ago & have tried numerous attempts to re-index the folder & waited days. (I use the folder all day, every day to work), the search ability has still yet to resolve itself & its essential to my job.

Megan

Hi @georgecwbrown, welcome to our Community!

In regards to your search issue, can you clarify the version of the app that you're using on your end?

Also, have you tried all the available troubleshooting steps mentioned throughout this thread? Any screenshots you might have are welcome.

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!

georgecwbrown

Hey Megan,

After further research I found another thread on this board regarding search problems, where they recommended re-indexing the entire drive using the Spotlight privacy trick, for now I've attempted this & it seems to have had a small reward in terms of results (Instead of just re-indexing the folder). That said I've seen comments in the thread saying it's a small immediate fix but new files have issues indexing... so I hope that isn't the case as my job requires finding all the files, rather than just some.

With time I'll know whether its fully worked,

Thanks for your response though!

georgecwbrown

Dropbox V169.3.5667
Ventura 13.0.1

Megan

Hi @georgecwbrown, I see where you're coming from!

Can you keep an eye out, and update me on the behavior you see when you search for your files?

DropBozizzle

The issue is that Spotlight can see them, but it can't open them. Enter doesn't work, clicking doesn't work, and Cmd + clicking (to open in Finder) doesn't work. And since we can't search for files in Finder either, this makes searching files in Dropbox literally impossible.

Latest version of macOS. Latest version of Dropbox. Files are set to Access offline/are downloaded.

Guest57

Hi all,

Exactly the same for me, I have contacted the DB customer service and nothing come. It's absolutely not serious from DROPBOX. We need help on this please ! Indexation is the base ! Sorry for my English I am french 😬

I'm on DB pro on Ventura OS

Regards

Walter

Hey @DropBozizzle & @Guest57, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Can you please clarify if you've tried re-indexing Spotlight or any other troubleshooting steps?

As for you @Guest57, could you also share your ticket ID for your support interaction?

DropBozizzle

Yep, already tried re-indexing in Spotlight. Indexing isn't the issue - as I mentioned, the files will appear in Spotlight results. I just can't interact with them (quick look; open; open file location).