Files not showing up in Finder (Catalina)

Same symptoms here on Catalina 10.15.1 on a MacBook Pro with internal SSD formatted APFS.

I do use both Dropbox and iCloud but this is occurring in the Downloads folder which is not synced with either of those.

killall Finder or searching for the downloaded file by name with Spotlight does work as a workaround, but of course that's ridiculous. This is a bug and needs to be fixed.

Update: I did a Force quit on Finder and a reboot and my issue is gone (for 2 days now). I have also had Dropbox off most of that time, but not all (Dropbox isn't syncing some of the folder the issue has been in too). Dropbox seems to be using a crazy amount of CPU all the time. I feel like I need to wipe it and reinstall.

I think I've tracked down the issue. There may be more than one app at fault. I thought that the Dropbox app was the culprit because it installs a Finder extension but the problem persisted. I also have BetterZip installed which installs a finder extension that creates a dropdown button in the Finder Toolbar - quick access to some zip and unzip presets. I disabled that in the BetterZip preferences and completely removed every trace of the Dropbox app and the problem seems to have gone away. Later, I installed the Google Backup and Sync app and reinstalled the Dropbox app and have not had any issues so far with files not showing.

It may be a combination of apps with Finder extensions that are in conflict or it may be code in any one of these apps that is based on an outdated api. For anyone else who has BetterZip installed: open up the BetterZip preferences and uncheck "Show BetterZip button in Finder windows".

If you don't have BetterZip and have already tried disabling the Dropbox and Google apps, then check for any other apps that install finder extensions - even just toolbar buttons or additional menu items in the right-click menu (excluding items listed under "services").

> If you don't have BetterZip and have already tried....

I never had BetterZip on my system. And I am using DropBox continuously, before, during and after the Finder issue. I only had noticed the issue (discussed in this topic) once. I never again had it since stumbling upon it once. I think I had to reboot my machine to see Finder working properly again.

Yes, I had the same issue and on my main hard drive.

Opened up a terminal window and navigated to the folder, hey presto, there they are.

Only when I restarted the machine did they appear. Something fishy going on here.

I am having this same issue as well. Every time I download a new file I can't find it in the downloads folder, which is totally disruptive to my workflow. When I export images from the Photos app they can't be found in Finder, but they're there when I go to upload them to the web; I can also view them in Adobe Bridge. Email attachments that I save cannot be found. It's becoming impossible to get work done. The lack of this basic functionality is unacceptable and Apple needs to fix it pronto.

I am running Catalina v 10.15.1 on a 2015 MacBook Pro. I use Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive to sync files in the background. I never had this issue until I installed Catalina. What a painfully frustrating experience.

For anyone with this issue who happens to have Keyboard Maestro installed:

I created a macro to automatically refresh the front Finder window via AppleScript.

It only executes when the Finder is active and repeats every 5 seconds with very little overhead. Does the job for me for the time being until Apple engineers fix this.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tqhswmfsuwbp1hx/-Auto%20Refresh%20Finder-.kmmacros?dl=1

As everybody I also have this problem. It doesn't matter if it is a pdf, pds, ai, etc. Some time the files show up and some times they don't.

I found some work around without having to restart Finder or reboot the machine.

I am doing like this, save the file one time. Them save it again. When asked to replace the file, you will see the first file you saved before. Now right click on the first file and you either send it to the trash bin, or duplicate it. Your file will show up in the trash, just put back. Or duplicated on the desktop.

If you know the path for the vile, go to Go > Got to Folder > put the path for the file.

But this is very bad, we are in 2020 and Apple having these issues is unbelievable.

Hope this help and let's wait for the fix.

I am experiencing this problem too. its a major glitch-can someone PLEASE sort this out....

i find if i re start the whole machine they do appear but this isn't a practicable solution. its nuts this basic functionality isn't working.

I’m having the same problem! Anyone find a permanent fix????

yes it is horrible. I open the folder where I saved the file and then manually insert some file into it and then the saved files appear.

but I want to know how to solve this problem forever!?

same problem. no real solution.

The only fix for this so far is to periodically relaunch the Finder. Right-click on the Finder icon in the Dock and select Relaunch or use the killall Finder command in Terminal.

good luck!!