Dropbox folder missing from indexed locations for searching on Windows 10

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, @colsar.

Can you please check the "sync" tab in the Dropbox app preferences to see the location of the Dropbox folder? Is it the one you mentioned in your original post?

Also, have you tried to close the Dropbox app and reopen it, to see if that helps?

If not, restarting the computer could also be helpful.

Let me know how it goes.

Hi, in preferences > Sync > Dropbox folder location, it shows C:\Users\micro\Documents\Dropbox which matches my screenshot above where Dropbox is in file manger but not in the indexing list of folders.

I have closed and restarted Dropbox and have rebooted the computer.

Thanks for the update, @colsar.

Are you using the updated version of the Dropbox app by any chance?

If so, can you enable the following and let me know if it helps?

Go to:

Settings > Privacy & security > Searching permissions > Cloud content search

Dropbox and windows version info. I don't see searching permissions under the settings security area.....

Dropbox App Version (if using the app)
238.4.6075

Sorry I didn't clarify that, @colsar, I meant your computer settings.

Let me know if it works!

Rich

colsar wrote:
I went to indexing options to remove dropbox from indexing and re-add it hoping it would rebuild the index. IT'S NOT THERE TO SELECT AT ALL!!

It's not listed for me either, on any of my systems, and search still works as expected. Personally, I never mess with the default indexing options and search just works.

It's on.

It's always worked in the past, it's just recently stopped indexing dropbox. I never checked for it before so I don't know if it disappeared or if it was never there like yours!!

Thanks for checking that, @colsar.

Would you mind sending me a screenshot of a file in your Dropbox folder and then what you see when you search for said file through your search bar?

Also, are you files in the Dropbox folder currently set to "available offline" or to "online-only"?

Where do I check for the available offline or online-only?

This exercise showed me something I hadn't noticed. Search will find the file name but not the contents. ...

Megan

Hi @colsar, let me also jump in here!

As a last resort, please try changing the file to online only and then available offline again to see if there's any difference with the behavior.

While you're at it, feel free to check out this article too.

I have a LOT of files. If I make it online only, is it going to start deleting them from my computer!!??

Hi @colsar!

No need to make everything online-only yet, just as a test, try it with a couple of files to see if it does help.

Okay. I did the file above that I searched and didn't get a hit on the contents. I made if online only , the icon went to a cloud. Then I switched it to offline and it cycled and went to a green check. I waited a few minutes to see if it would index and then searched. No luck.

Thanks for trying, @colsar.

I just sent you an email, so we can take a closer look into this.

Just reply back to me when you have a chance.

Cheers!

I haven't seen the email. Can you resend it. Thx.

Happy Monday, @colsar!

I can see that you found my email and replied to it, so I replied back.

See you there!

SDave

I'm having the same issue - looking forward to any solutions.

Hey @SDave - sorry to hear about this.

Can you clarify your computer's OS version and the version/status of the Dropbox desktop app as shown in your system tray?

Also, did you try any of the suggestions mentioned above?

SDave

Windows 10 - Dropbox 238.4.6075

And yes

Thanks for the additional information there, Dave. Can you also send us a screenshot of a file in your Dropbox folder on your computer and what you see when you search for it?

inF1

I'm having exactly the same issue as the original poster, so adding to this thread as a "me too"

Device
Desktop PC
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6600K CPU @ 3.50GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB
Storage 932 GB SSD CT1000BX500SSD1, 3.64 TB HDD ST4000VN006-3CW104
Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (8 GB)
System Type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Operating System
Windows 10 Pro Version 22H2
OS Build 19045.6466
Dropbox App Version
238.4.6075
Syncing Status
Up To Date

In these screenshots you can see that Dropbox does not appear in the options for an Indexed Location in Windows.

Also, searching in the dropbox folder for "classcharts" - which IS in that folder - returns nothing.

Cloud content search is enabled.

And I used to be able to search all my dropbox contents until recently (maybe a couple of weeks ago?).

My dropbox sync preference is "Available offline" - all the files are on my computer, I only use Dropbox for an off-site backup.

Please can you help/suggest to be able to search inside the Dropbox folder again?

Hey @inF1 - sorry to hear you're also having issues with this.

Can you clarify if you've tried all the troubleshooting steps that were mentioned in the thread, like closing and restarting the Dropbox desktop app and the computer?

Sure have! I just changed my account email address so I could reply to an email from Hannah with a matching 'from' email. I think she is going to open a case or something??

inF1

Thanks for the quick reply.

Yes, even after a fresh reboot and stopping/starting dropbox the special Dropbox folder does not appear as an option for Search Indexing.

In that case, may I reach out via email to investigate further @inF1?

As for you @colsar, I'd suggest taking a look at your inbox for Hannah's email to continue with her directly at this point.

inF1

Hi Walter, yes please, either private message or email will be perfect, thank you.