Hi, i have dropbox installed and have noticed i have recently started seeing Windows 10 Protected Folder Access Blocked alerts for Dropbox.exe tryign to access the Music and Documnets folders in my profile even though i have not setup these fodlers for synicng and do not have the Backups feature enabled? Could someone advise why dropbox is trying to access these folders and how to stop? Thanks

I am having this issue too, with all of our managed Windows devices. We have backups disabled in Dropbox, and Folder Protection enabled in Microsoft Endpoint Manager. Users constantly receive protected folder access blocked notifications. Dropbox is attempting to access %userprofile%\Music repeatedly. Microsoft Endpoint Manager | Folder Protection EnabledMicrosoft Endpoint Manager Windows Defender Log | Dropbox Blocked ExampleWindows Defender Protected Folder Error Dropbox | Backups DisabledDropbox Admin Center - Backup Disabled

Hi Walter, Yes i did check this before reaching out to the community. I had this issue before even knowing about the feature. Doign my research i found an article where someone said you might have this enabled check. On checking i enabled it as its not a very intuative interface. I then followed the article to disable. I still get the warnings regarless. Just to also mention i am in I.T for over 20 years so if there is any other higher level troubleshooting i can do please advise. Thanks again

Go to windows security, Virus protection and then Protection History.I get the message that my administrator (LOL) has blocked this action:App or process blocked: Dropbox.exeProtected folder: %userprofile%\DocumentsBlocked by: Controlled folder access You can access the Controlled Folder settings from Protection History (the main settings are in Ransomware protection) then and add dropbox which will stop the notification but I don't think it answers your original question - why would dropbox be poking around in Documents if that is not a folder in your dropbox.

Hi Walter, Yes you can reach out via as i woud like this resolved as soon as possible please.

Hi stlouey, I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with this! Did you have the computer backup enabled previously on your computer, for the Music and Documents folders? If so, can you let me know if you followed the steps at the bottom of this article to disable the backup? Let me know and we'll go from there!

Windows 10 Protected Folder Access | The Dropbox Community

28 Replies

Daphne
Dropbox Community Moderator
5 years ago
Hi stlouey, I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with this!

Did you have the computer backup enabled previously on your computer, for the Music and Documents folders?

If so, can you let me know if you followed the steps at the bottom of this article to disable the backup?

Let me know and we'll go from there!
stlouey
Explorer | Level 4
5 years ago
Hi Daphne,

I dont see the steps at the bottom of the article?

Coul you please advise?

Thanks
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
5 years ago
The Help Center article Daphne mentioned is this one stlouey,

Did you have the chance to have a look there?
stlouey
Explorer | Level 4
5 years ago
Hi Walter,

Yes i did check this before reaching out to the community.

I had this issue before even knowing about the feature. Doign my research i found an article where someone said you might have this enabled check. On checking i enabled it as its not a very intuative interface. I then followed the article to disable. I still get the warnings regarless.

Just to also mention i am in I.T for over 20 years so if there is any other higher level troubleshooting i can do please advise.

Thanks again
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
5 years ago
I see; thanks for the additional information stlouey.

Could you please send us a screenshot of how this looks like on your end so that we can have a visual too?
Aidski
Explorer | Level 4
5 years ago
Go to windows security, Virus protection and then Protection History.
I get the message that my administrator (LOL) has blocked this action:
App or process blocked: Dropbox.exe
Protected folder: %userprofile%\Documents
Blocked by: Controlled folder access

You can access the Controlled Folder settings from Protection History (the main settings are in Ransomware protection) then and add dropbox which will stop the notification but I don't think it answers your original question - why would dropbox be poking around in Documents if that is not a folder in your dropbox.
stlouey
Explorer | Level 4
5 years ago
Hi Walter,

Could you please advise which screenshots you are after? The Windows protection alerts or the configuration of Dropbox Backups? Thanks
stlouey
Explorer | Level 4
5 years ago
Hi Aidski,

What you are suggesting is something i did consider but you are correct in that it should NOT be doing that unless i have configured Dropbox to access these folder. Adding to bypass the alert is not the solution but i do appreciate you reading my post and taking the time to provide help. Thanks
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
5 years ago
Both would help stlouey!
stlouey
Explorer | Level 4
5 years ago