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Spotlight Search Doesn't Link to Files in Dropbox in macOS 13 Ventura

After upgrading to macOS Ventura, I was prompted to upgrade to "Dropbox for macOS 12". I proceeded with that, it moved my Dropbox folder to ~/Library/CloudStorage and confirmed all was successful. Now when using Spotlight to search (I often type something like 'drawings folder' to open a folder called Drawings) the results in Spotlight show the Dropbox app icon beside the name of the item I want (rather than a Finder icon for folder or file). Hitting Enter or clicking on the result switches to Finder and does nothing, or sometimes will open the Applications folder and show the Dropbox app. It's not linking me to the actual file in ~/Library/CloudStorage.

I have done the following and the problem is not solved:

Restarted
Ensured all files are available for offline access
Rebuilt the spotlight index
Unlinked Dropbox from this Mac, did a complete clean install of dropbox, performed the upgrade to v159.4.5870 and synced just one folder to begin

Nothing works. Any suggestions??

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Accepted answers

dsnidey

That’s the same problem I had. I solved it by doing a complete clean install of dropbox. You may not need to do all of this, but to be safe, in Dropbox settings Selective Sync uncheck all of your folders and wait for them to be removed from your Mac. Once that’s done, unlink your Mac from Dropbox preferences. You should see the Dropbox getting started screen. Quit Dropbox and move the app to the Trash. Remove all dropbox files from ~/Library being careful to look at the path name. Only remove things that are within a Dropbox parent folder. Look in library application support, and library preferences. Empty the Trash. Restart your Mac. Reinstall Dropbox from dropbox.com. Once reinstalled, to make things faster sync only one small folder and wait for the prompt that new Dropbox for macOS 12 is available. You should see the message within a few minutes of reinstalling Dropbox. Allow it to upgrade and migrate your files to the new location. Once that’s done you can then sync all your folders. Let your Mac index itself and the problem should be solved.

All comments

MikeCTZA

For those who were waiting for it macOS Ventura 13.3 has been released.

Fingers crossed all is good after this update.

Will report back when I get time to do the update.

reformedtexan

It's fixed! Euge!

BenDBX

Hi Everybody,

We expect this issue to be resolved with macOS 13.3. Thanks for reporting back that updating to 13.3 has provided resolution @MikeCTZA and @reformedtexan

We don't expect this problem to persist, but if anybody continues to experience it, please don't hesitate to let us know!

Regards,

Ben

ThePlanner

Fixed! I just updated to macOS 13.3 Ventura and can search and open all files from Spotlight Search. Woohoo! FINALLY!!!

minpi

Spoiler

Hi Ben, experimenting with Dropbox team together I was upgrading 4 times and all of them was unsuccessful. Thats why I would like to ask you about an extra confirmation, that a new Dropbox version on a new Ventura 13.3 is able to open files or folders "in place" by pressing Cmd+Enter directly from the Spotlight search. I mean not to open a file it self, but to show a location where it was saved. It's is my daily workflow and the old version still works fine. Please let me (us) know

Rijak

Hi @minpi I have just updated to Os 13.3 and everything seems to work fine like it used to. Pressing Cmd+enter opens the finder locations of the file highlighted in spotlight.

Hope this helps.

minpi

Thank you very much. I will try😊

JoePL

@Rijak @ThePlanner, can you confirm Spotlight indeed works if you fully upgrade and enable the Dropbox files to be stored in the ~/CloudStorage/ folder?

Rijak

@JoePLyes, I am running the latest dropbox build (v170.4.5895) and files are stored in the CloudStorage folder. Up to this morning Dropbox did not work like it used to, but after the os update it does.

Hope this helps.

minpi

I did an upgrade and it works! Everything works just fine on Ventura 13.3. But...my data was NOT MOVED as an assistant was telling me..And Dropbox location wasn't changed. 😊 Does it mean Dropbox team have decided to leave an old version finally like it was? Any way - it works and there is no upgrade request any more!

Bildschirmfoto 2023-03-28 um 10.39.31.png

Bildschirmfoto 2023-03-28 um 10.39.03.png

barbazul

After updating to Ventura OS 13.3 it is working again. In the end it was a permission issue after all.

The first time you try to access a file, dropbox will now ask you if you allow the app to access dropbox files.

minpi

I do not really understand how it was "solved" again!!!!! - I did this last Dropbox update already second time on 13.3, it goes well, but after all I do have an old version again. Files are not moved. And after a while I will be asked to update again! What a...f..?

v170.4.5895.

Bildschirmfoto 2023-03-28 um 20.10.06.png

josting

Gave up waiting for a solution for the spotlight problems. Moved everything to iCloud Drive. Works perfectly

camicanu

I solved the issue with a non-intuitive workaround. First, I did what others had done by uninstalling and installing again. And then I did:

Choose Apple menu  > System Settings.
Click Siri & Spotlight in the sidebar, then scroll down and click Spotlight Privacy on the right.
Drag the Dropbox folder or click the add button (+) and select the folder ~/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox.

Just leave it like that, keep the folder in that list, and somehow, non-intuitively, it works.

diethylether

After upgrading to Ventura 13.3, the Spotlight issue is solved, but the Dropbox context menu items still don't show up when searching for something in Finder (first image). In order to get a context menu and Copy Dropbox Link, I have to first choose Show in Enclosing Folder and then the context menu items appear (second image).

This is a huge pain, as I need this functionality a lot.

Is this still happening to everyone else?

minpi

It's funny after 4 months Ben (if I remember right) from Dropbox Team wrote here finally. Everything is solved with 13.3 but if you do have problems, please contact. Yes and I do have problem. And I wrote again. If I do an update, nothing happens - my Dropbox stays on an old version and I will be requested to update again and again. I did it 2 times. Another 4 months to wait? Im totally curious how Dropbox support works...If it works at all..

gordonwalker39

After uninstalling Dropbox, following the instructions above to reinstall and allow reindexing without success... I found something that worked!

SOLUTION:

You can get Spotlight to re-index specifically the ~Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox folder

In Finder, navigate to ~Library/CloudStorage/ so you have the Dropbox folder visible

Open the System Settings --> Siri & Spotlight pane

At the bottom of the pane, select "Spotlight Privacy..."

In the window that allows you to "Prevent Spotlight from searching these locations." drag the Dropbox folder into this view to EXCLUDE it from search. Click 'Done'.

Go back into the "Spotlight Privacy..." window, select Dropbox and hit the '-' button to remove the Dropbox folder from the EXCLUDED list.

After you click 'done' it should re-index the Dropbox folder and allow you to open files from the spotlight window -- at least it did for me!

Megan

Hi @minpi, I hope you're having a good week so far!

Could I reach out internally, in order for us to have a closer look into this?

minpi

Yes, how you would like to?

Megan

Hi @minpi, I just sent you an email, I'll see you there!

MagicParadiddle

This worked for me!

Richard O.3

This problem happened to me too. The Dropbox upgrade has been nothing but trouble.

Nancy

Hi @Richard O.3, I hope you’re doing well.

Just to clarify; did you upgrade your OS to macOS 13.3, and you’re still having this issue?

diethylether

I'd like to bring up again the issue I'm having, where I can't get the Dropbox context menu to appear when in Finder's search results. Can anyone else confirm whether this is happening?

Cmd+shift+spacebar
Search for something in Dropbox
Right click something in the results
Do you see Dropbox items in the context menu?

NL8

A recent update to MacOS 13.3.1 (22E261) seems to have fixed the issue!

Megan

Hi @diethylether, how are you today?

Can you try what @NL8 suggested, and let me know if this solves the issue for you?

diethylether

@Megan,

I just upgraded to the latest version of Ventura and it does not solve the issue. I still cannot get the Dropbox features in the context menu in Finder search results; I have to select Show in Enclosing Folder first.

Hannah

Hey @diethylether, would you mind trying these steps, to rebuild the Spotlight index on your computer, to see if that helps?

HAL9000 Design

It's more simple to try the opposite. Keep Dropbox files synced on Mac. Open System preferences/spotlight. Drag and drop the HD/SSD where Dropbox files are to Privacy. Restart the machine. Open system preferences again and delete the volume from Privacy prefs. Mac will rebuild the spotlight. Take a coffee because it's take time. After rebuild, Mac OS will find files inside Dropbox folder correctly.

diethylether

Hi @Hannah

I rebuilt the index and repeated the process.

Dropbox items still do not show up in Finder search results context menus.