macOS on File Provider - Identify non-supported files

For those that have asked for an update, I have an ongoing support case with Dropbox, once resolved I will post an update here.

Thanks

I'm on OS 12.6 on two Macs with what I guess people refer to as the "old Dropbox". I have been dealing with the limitations of not being able to open online only files directly through an app, by just making them local before I work on them.  Little bit of a hassle, but I can deal.

But I was about to take the plunge and upgrade both machines to the current OS (13.5)  today, and see I'm getting the same message, when I look to see if I can update Dropbox to the File Provider version

"Your Dropbox folder contains some file types that are not supported"

Really can't figure out what files these might be.  

So not sure what do do now. Do I go ahead and update to the latest OS and see what happens, or should I figure out what these files are, and try to do the File Provider update first?

Really need to get current on the latest OS, which I havn't done in over a year just because of Dropbox.

Hi

Caveat:

Please note I am not recommending the following will work if you are having the same issue, if you follow the steps you do so at your own risk as you may lose files. If in doubt contact Dropbox support.

After much backward and forwards between support and I (+product support) here is the guidance I got:

From Dropbox Support:

"Our engineering team have suggested to sync your Dropbox files to a new Dropbox folder.
To accomplish this, please follow these steps:
 

1. Under the Mac section of our advanced reinstall article, complete steps 1-4. Ignore the remaining steps: https://help.dropbox.com/installs/advanced-reinstall 
2. Rename your Dropbox folder in /Users/xxxxx to Dropbox (old)
3. Rename your Dropbox folder in /Users/xxxxx/Library/CloudStorage to Dropbox (old)
   • For this folder to appear, you will need to show hidden files:
     1. Open the folder where you want to search for hidden files.
     2. Press the “Command” + “Shift” + “.” (period) keys at the same time.
     3. The hidden files will show up as translucent in the folder.
     4. If you want to obscure the files again, press the same “Command” + “Shift” + “.” (period) combination.
     5. Note: If your Dropbox folder can't be renamed due to an error, skip this step
     6. Reinstall Dropbox from this link: https://www.dropbox.com/downloading?full=1&os=mac

This did "work".

Effectively what this did was delete my installation that appeared to be a half way failed move to Dropbox for MacOS on File Provider and take me back to a clean pre-File Provider installation.

I could then sync to this new folder.

Some observations:

1 - Any files I had created and saved to the local Dropbox folder had not been sync'd back to Dropbox since I started having this issue (3 weeks);

2 - I have to manually identify these and and move them from the Dropbox(old) folder to the new Dropbox folder;

3 - I am now having difficulty removing the Dropbox (old)  folder;

To resolve 3 I have been provided the following commands:

1. Open the Terminal app via the Launchpad or using Spotlight search
2. Copy and paste this command into the Terminal: sudo rm -f ~/Users/xxxxx/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox (old)
3. Press return on your keyboard to run the command
4. Copy and paste this command into the Terminal: sudo rm -f ~/Users/xxxxx/Dropbox (old)
5. Press return on your keyboard to run the command

These have not worked and I continue in discussion with Support.

Just thought I would provide an update.

Cheers

BTW: I have not tried to move to "Dropbox for MacOS on File Provider" - I don't have the time to go thourgh all this again if the move fails!

Yeah, that all seems like a waste of effort in my case, since it still won't get me on the File Provider version and everything is generally working OK except for being able to open online only files directly, which I am working around without too many issues.

I just want to know either

1) How can I identify which files are causing the message "Your Dropbox folder contains some file types that are not supported" that is preventing me from updating to the File Provider version.  The  only thing I see in the link provided earlier in this thread is this, 

and I don't have either type of file in my Dropbox. Could Dropbox not find a way to flag the offending files, rather than just give such a vague message??

OR 

2) Some assurance that if I just kick the can down the road on File Provider, and simply upgrade my systems from OS 12.6 to 13.5 that I can continue to  use the Old Dropbox as I have been without encountering any new issues.

Hi

1 - I cannot answer as Dropbox did not provide me a way of doing that (not sure even they know that);

2 - I am on 13.4.1 and old Dropbox that I have gone back to appears to be working fine.

Cheers

Thanks, so I went ahead and updated one of the Macs from 12.6 to 13.5 and all went smoothly as far as I could tell with Dropbox, and interestingly I am now getting a notice that the File Provider update is available, and am no longer getting the message that there are incompatible files in my Dropbox.

This seems odd since I didn't move any files out of my Dropbox, and from what I've read the File Provider update should have worked with 12.6 also.

But anyway, that's where I am.  I think I'll hold off for now on doing the File Provider upgrade, cause, well, i can only handle change in small increments, and my main goal was to get my Macs onto the current OS, so gonna just be sure this is all working as it was before I attempt then next step.