Child Item

The desktop app on my Mac is stuck on 'Indexing'

Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
MacOS12.7.6
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)
231.4.5770
Syncing Status
Indexing frozen

I have an issue with Dropbox. In the Activity (top right) I am seeing Indexing (25%)... this does not progress. I have had a new hard disk on my Mac a while back could this be an issue? When I look online through a browser some of my files have a Cloud symbol with exclamation mark. I want to download files off the cloud to work on but unable.

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Comments

Mark

Have you tried a reboot at all? Restarted Dropbox?

Hannah

Hey @RaphN, thanks for your post and sorry to see that you're having this issue.

Apart from restarting your computer and the Dropbox app like Mark suggested, can you also send me a screenshot of the icons next to your files? The ones you mentioned appear when looking at your files online.

Thanks in advance!

RaphN

Hi Hannah, I restarted my Mac but as you can see its still says "indexing (25%)

Megan

Hey @RaphN, thanks for the screenshot!

Can you clarify how long the Dropbox desktop app has been stuck at 'indexing'? Also, do you have any 3rd party apps running on your computer that might be monitoring your files somehow?

On a side note, have you tried adjusting your bandwidth settings through the app's preferences to see if it helps at all?

Keep me posted!

Megan

Hey @RaphN!

A quick follow-up to our last message! Let us know if you still need assistance or if everything is working as expected.

monoman

hello - is there a fix for this other than restarting? Those have not worked for me.

Other things I've tried...
Reinstall Dropbox app
Pause / Restart Sync
Remove last files I put in the dropbox folder
Check all security permissions

It has been around 3 days indexing now - the desktop app won't acknowledge any changes in the folders. No changes are seen online in the browser version either.

Please help dropbox is the core of my workflow so will change that if not resolved.

Nancy

Hey @monoman. Does your desktop app show how many files it’s stuck indexing, or it doesn’t provide any further details? Feel free to send me a screenshot as well, if you wish.

Other than that, I’d like to know the current app version of your Dropbox app.

monoman

Hi @Nancy

Version - 232.4.5926

It doesn't say anything other than "Indexing..."

Model Name: MacBook Pro

Monterey 12.5

Model Identifier: MacBookPro18,2

Chip: Apple M1 Max

Megan

Hey @RaphN!

How many files do you currently have in your Dropbox folder in Finder, including any online-only files? You can always check by looking at the folder's properties by clicking "Get info".

One last thing I'd recommend is rebuilding your configuration settings by unlinking and relinking your Dropbox account to your computer. This will restore any settings that may have been changed, without affecting or removing your files. You can do this by following these steps:

-Click the Dropbox icon in your menu bar.
-Click your avatar (profile picture or initials) in the bottom-left corner, then select Preferences.
-Select the Accounts tab.
-Click Sign out under the Accounts tab. Dropbox will then prompt you to re-enter your account information.

monoman

on disk

in dropbox online

I've signed in and out but no change. It's completely unresponsive to new files / changes on my computer.

I shared some links to old files (Listening Versions + Sweet Feather) yesterday - these have been highlighted in the task bar as an update screen grab below.

any new files i've added to the dropbox folder haven't been uploaded and i'm not able to view / share them. it's only registering changes / shares to existing files.

Hannah

Thanks for the update here, @monoman.

Would you mind using our selective sync feature to reduce the number of folders/files in your Dropbox folder and letting us know if that helps at all?

monoman

I'd done that already

I've now reduced the number of files on my HD by 200gb to give it a bit more space to work.

Now a percentage is visible indexing

monoman

i just watched it inch up from 95 to 100% while indexing - at 100 it failed and the progress bar slid back to 0 and it has stalled.

So back to the same place even with a much reduced selective sync and loads more space on my drive..? Please help with some other suggestions...?

Megan

Hi @monoman, I think the best course of action is for us to continue via email.

I just created a ticket on my end for you. Check your inbox and reply back to me, thanks!