Hey all, I cannot get my search to work. I'm not using smart sync. I can see the file I need, and it will not find it in a search. Help.
I have an apple M1 and Monterey.
Thanks for the info. The ability to search the documents themselves for keywords is available on paid plans.
As you mentioned you're on a Basic plan, this wouldn't be available on your current plan.
Hey there @kimsel, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.
Can you please let us know the Dropbox desktop app's exact version and status as shown in your menu bar at the moment?
Also, are you having with searching your files in Dropbox via a web browser too?
Keep us posted!
Hi Walter. I'm using the web version. When I download the app to my desktop, it automatically goes to my work upgraded dropbox account. The issue is with the free web version.
Thanks!
I see, thanks for clarifying that for me @kimsel
Could you clear your browser's cache or try another browser and let me know if you get any different results?
I made the switch to a different browser and still...nada. (BTW thanks for your help!)
Hey @kimsel, are you searching for a specific file when this happens, or does the search function fail for all of your files?
Feel free to include some screenshots of the issue on your next response.
Here is a "generic search" for the word first. Some docs come up, but none from the folder I need to search.
Here is what it looks like when I search for the word "first" in the folder I want to search. There are dozens of documents in that folder with the word first.
Hi @kimsel, just for clarification, is the keyword in the name of the file itself, or a word visible inside the document itself?
Could you provide a screenshot, while hiding any personal details, of files in that folder as shown on the site with the word 'first' visible?
the key word is a word visible within the document.
I'm having the same problem with files when I search by a word in the title using finder, which I've always been able to do before. I assume it's related to the recent Mac OS 13 update, but I can't figure out how to fix it. The file does come up when I broaden the search from "dropbox" to "thie Mac."
Hi @intw, it's possible that the Spotlight index may need to be rebuilt, could you carry out the steps in this article? Note: the article mentions the ‘Documents’ folder but you need to use the Dropbox folder instead.
So you made it impossible to search in (free) dropbox. All the more reason not to pay, but to move to iCloud. Not really nice of you to include (or rather exclude) that possibility in an upgrade.
Thaks, jay. I finally tried that, but it didn't seem to work. I note that Dropbox documents do show up (along with other documents) when I seerach in finder on "This Mac" instead of "Dropbox."
Since the last big update to DropBox where the location moved to the Library on the Mac I'm not able to search (via the finder) for online only files. Only the offline files come up in a search. This is very painful and annoying, because now if I am looking for an online only file I have to go search on my phone or via the browser. Is there a way to fix this issue?
I have a paid account and I have the same issue with the desktop app. It's very annoying and painful.
Hi @markcq, thanks for posting here today!
Can you clarify the version of the desktop app that you're using on the device, that's facing the search issue?
You can find your version, by locating your Dropbox icon on your menu bar, next to your WiFi and hovering your mouse over it. If you can send me a couple of screenshots of the results you get when you try to search for files using your Finder, that'd be amazing too!
Thanks a bunch!
Dropbox v169.4.5684
Apple M1 Pro
Ventura 13.2.1
So in the example below it doesn't matter if the file is offline or online only... I still can't find it in the search.
When Dropbox was not in the Library I never had this issue. I was able to search and find files.
Thank you for this @markcq!
Can I send you an email, in order for us to have a closer look into this?
Yes Please do you have my email address from my account?
Hi @markcq, I just sent you an email.
I'll see you there!
hi guys,
did anybody find a solution for this matter?
i moved to macbook M2 pro with Ventura 13.2.1 since a week;i have dropbox plus account;
i cannot search file by name in dropbox folder anymore since dropbox updated into "posizioni" (position)
can u help?
thanks
There are a few things you can try to troubleshoot this issue: Check your Spotlight settings: Make sure that the folder containing the file you're trying to find is included in the Spotlight index. To do this, go to System Preferences > Spotlight > Privacy and make sure that the folder is not listed in the "Prevent Spotlight from searching these locations" list. Rebuild the Spotlight index: If the folder is included in the Spotlight index but the file still isn't showing up in search results, try rebuilding the index. To do this, go to System Preferences > Spotlight > Privacy and add the folder containing the file to the "Prevent Spotlight from searching these locations" list. Then, remove the folder from the list and Spotlight will start re-indexing it. Check your search syntax: Make sure that you're using the correct syntax when searching for the file. For example, if you're searching for a file named "example.txt", make sure that you're typing "example.txt" into the search bar, not just "example". Use a third-party search tool: If none of the above solutions work, you could try using a third-party search tool like Alfred or HoudahSpot to find the file. These tools often provide more advanced search options and may be better at finding files that Spotlight misses.
thank you so much for suggestions;
the first 2 options not working unfortunately....
what a nightmare, dropbox unuseful in this way....
Yes, it's finally working again. The issue was with Macos, since they moved the cloud storage to the Library. With the latest updates for Macos and Dropbox it's all working again.
This is also not working for me. Using finder on a Mac (not searching in browser). MacOS 13.4.1, MacBookPro 2020 Apple M1, Dropbox v178.4.4811, Personal Plus account. Able to see a file or document in finder if search "This Mac" but nothing returned if search is limited in finder to the enclosing file which is contained in dropbox. If I move the enclosing file out of dropbox to desktop finder it can return all searches fine and if I move it back again - nothing. I have enabled "make available offline" for dropbox. I have tried re-indexing as suggested above and elsewhere.
Hey @Ableasiswas, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.
Could you try reindexing your Spotlight and let us know if this persists?
