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Search feature isn't working when using my desktop app.

I'm currently searching my Dropbox for a text string. I'm looking at the file on my desktop, I'm fully synced and Dropbox does not find the file when I use search. What's up!?

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Shmuel P.

This seems to have fixed the 'Desktop Seach on Windows' issue by me.

Credit: Superuser.com - Windows 7 Index Search does not work in Google Drive folder

In short: (Detailed instructions after this)

Make sure that the 'SYSTEM' user/group has full permission access to your 'Dropbox' folder. (In 'Properties'>'Security')
Make sure that Windows can index the 'Dropbox' folder contents. (In 'Properties'>'General'>'Allow files in this folder to have contents index in addition to file properties')
You may also have to rebuild your Windows search index.

Detailed instructions:

Navigate to the folder that contains your 'Dropbox' folder. (This is usually 'C:\Users\<Username>)
Right-click on the 'Dropbox' folder, and click properties, then click the 'Security' tab.
Under 'Group or user names:' make sure that 'SYSTEM' is in the list. (If 'SYSTEM' isn't in the list then you need to add it by clicking 'edit'>'add'>'Advanced'>'Find Now', select 'SYSTEM' from the search results, and click 'OK'>'OK'>'OK')
Select 'SYSTEM' in 'Group or user names:' (the top big box).
Look under 'Permissions for SYSTEM', and make sure that there aren't any checkboxes under 'Deny'.
If there are checkboxes under 'Deny' then you need to click the edit button, uncheck all checkboxes under 'Deny', then click 'OK', then again 'OK'. Windows will now apply the permission to your 'Dropbox' folder. This can take an hour or more depending on how large your Dropbox is, so be patient.
You can also go to the 'General' tab (in the same properties of the 'Dropbox' folder as before), click 'Advanced' and make sure that the checkbox by 'Allow files in this folder to have contents index in addition to file properties' is checked.
You may also have to 'Rebuild your Index', here's a guide for this: How to Solve Windows Search Issues with an Index Rebuild - tekrevue.com/tip.

Please reply if this worked for you, thanks.

All comments

Brian C.47

+1 for search being very poor. Basic or Advanced search is not reliably finding by (parts of) filenames or extensions.

Javier B.1

Search is not very poor, it doesn't work whatsoever. As Jeff, I have a folder with 4 files, I am looking at the files, all contain the term "agriculture"; I search "agriculture", it returns "NOT FOUND". This is beyond ridiculous.

GSI A.

I'm having the same problem. Just started about two weeks ago. It's like the indexing of my Dropbox just stopped or is corrupt.

Granted P.

Same issue here, started today. The only things that are showing up are those things that are deleted. I just did testing, and I was able to manually find a folder, move it to a new location (which deletes from current location) and now the only thing that will show up in the search is the deleted file in the old location. Nothing else.

Mike C.51

Ok, so whats so great about this Dropbox community forum when there is not a single answer or response back from anyone on this issue as to how to fix it or what is being done to repair the issue. I have this same issue dating back to late September or early October too. There I feel better now, I've vented and not a single response will ever be generated to answer the issue. Thanks Dropbox tech crew!!!

Perpetuity P.

Same issue. I have a folder with one file in it that contains the word "schedule." I search in that folder for schedule and receive a "no results found" message. Nor does it find the full file name. Ridiculous!

Rick D.24

Same exact problem. I can SEE the file, I can OPEN the file, but search will not FIND the file.

Hello Dropbox, is anyone listening? If we cannot solve this, Dropbox becomes useless to me.

Midamar C.

same exact issue, when searching for something can't find it, Yet whatever I am looking for is in the dropbox folder.

Shmuel P.

This seems to have fixed the 'Desktop Seach on Windows' issue by me.

Credit: Superuser.com - Windows 7 Index Search does not work in Google Drive folder

In short: (Detailed instructions after this)

Make sure that the 'SYSTEM' user/group has full permission access to your 'Dropbox' folder. (In 'Properties'>'Security')
Make sure that Windows can index the 'Dropbox' folder contents. (In 'Properties'>'General'>'Allow files in this folder to have contents index in addition to file properties')
You may also have to rebuild your Windows search index.

Detailed instructions:

Navigate to the folder that contains your 'Dropbox' folder. (This is usually 'C:\Users\<Username>)
Right-click on the 'Dropbox' folder, and click properties, then click the 'Security' tab.
Under 'Group or user names:' make sure that 'SYSTEM' is in the list. (If 'SYSTEM' isn't in the list then you need to add it by clicking 'edit'>'add'>'Advanced'>'Find Now', select 'SYSTEM' from the search results, and click 'OK'>'OK'>'OK')
Select 'SYSTEM' in 'Group or user names:' (the top big box).
Look under 'Permissions for SYSTEM', and make sure that there aren't any checkboxes under 'Deny'.
If there are checkboxes under 'Deny' then you need to click the edit button, uncheck all checkboxes under 'Deny', then click 'OK', then again 'OK'. Windows will now apply the permission to your 'Dropbox' folder. This can take an hour or more depending on how large your Dropbox is, so be patient.
You can also go to the 'General' tab (in the same properties of the 'Dropbox' folder as before), click 'Advanced' and make sure that the checkbox by 'Allow files in this folder to have contents index in addition to file properties' is checked.
You may also have to 'Rebuild your Index', here's a guide for this: How to Solve Windows Search Issues with an Index Rebuild - tekrevue.com/tip.

Please reply if this worked for you, thanks.

rhoadrunner67

I am a business user and I have business account synced to my computer but also have a personal account that isn't synced to this computer (though it's available). I had the same problem (hence why I came here). While trying out the suggestion, I noticed that I have two dropbox folders on my computer, one which just says "Dropbox" and looks like it is a shortcut that should take me to my dropbox, and Dropbox (LTV) for my business.

If I do anything in "Dropbox", it works fine except the searching. If I manually go to the Dropbox (LTV), and go to my folder, I can actually search. Not sure why.

Alex F.24

It is pretty ashamed - search in Dropbox subfolders does not work. What a wonderful revelation! I spent so much time to fix Cortana,

Indexing Options, permissions, but problem is in the Dropbox.

If you want to search within the subfolder you have to search through the whole Dropbox foler, and do it from Explorer, otherwise it does not work eihther from the task bar.

What a disgrace.

sd4

2 years and it still not working?! Is dropbox abandonware?

LFPuntel

I have the same problem here and dropbox support is not working

Really feels like abandonware, that´s sad.

[This thread is now closed by moderators due to inactivity. If you're experiencing a similar behavior, feel free to start a new discussion in the Ask a Question section here.]

kanooc

Try searching for a folder or file you know you have in either; the Dropbox App or at Dropbox.com, and it will not find it. Instead, it finds something else entirely.

kanooc

I'll have to amend this post. Appears that it is a single folder that is having the problem. All other folders appear to be working properly in regards to the search function.

Megan

Hi @kanooc, how are you today?

Would you mind sending a few screenshots my way, of the folder you're having trouble locating? I'd appreciate the visual.

Thanks so much!