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All Dropbox Finder sync icons disappeared after updating to macOS Tahoe 26.2.
After updating my Mac to macOS Tahoe 26.2 all Dropbox Finder sync and status icons disappeared completely. I no longer see any green ticks blue syncing arrows or cloud icons on files or folders inside my Dropbox folder. This worked perfectly before the macOS update and is a critical part of my workflow as I work with multiple people and rely on those visual indicators to confirm whether I created the files or someone else updated them. I am running Dropbox desktop app version 240.4.8609. In Preferences greater than Sync greater than Dropbox folder updates it shows only the message You are not eligible for Dropbox on File Provider at this time. There is no Get started option and nothing indicating I am already on File Provider. Since the macOS update Finder shows no Dropbox sync overlays at all on any files or folders and reinstalling or updating Dropbox and checking permissions has not restored them. Has anyone else experienced all Dropbox Finder badges disappearing immediately after a macOS update and is it now expected behaviour on newer macOS versions for legacy Dropbox sync to show no Finder overlay icons at all or is there any supported workaround to restore per file sync visibility for large Dropbox accounts that cannot use File Provider yet.
Just wanted to update everyone because this has fixed it for me after days of trying everything else.
This turns out to be a conflict with the Adobe Creative Cloud File Provider extension not macOS itself and not Dropbox legacy vs File Provider. What worked for me (found by Juhn huge credit to them):
- Open System Settings
- Go to General
- Open Login Items & Extensions
- Scroll down to Extensions
- Click By App
- Find Creative Cloud
- Turn OFF “File Provider” for Creative Cloud
The moment I turned this off all Dropbox Finder sync icons came back immediately (green ticks, blue syncing arrows, cloud icons, folder badges...everything).
I’ve added screenshots below to show exactly where this is.
Important note I use Creative Cloud heavily for my work so I haven’t yet tested what long term impact this has on Adobe syncing. For me this is a temporary workaround but it immediately restores Dropbox’s per file sync visibility which is critical when working with multiple people and hundreds of files a day. Hopefully Dropbox and Adobe can resolve this conflict properly but for now this is the only fix that’s worked for me. Massive thanks again to Juhn for spotting this!
38 Replies
That did the trick for me too! Thank you consettprint! I can't imagine how you figured that out, because it was not an intuitive correlation. Have you found there to be any complications with Creative Cloud after making this adjustment in settings?
Hi consettprint. Just a quick update from my end. I tried my potential solution on my clients computer yesterday and unfortunately it didn't work. So I think this is now a Dropbox and Tahoe problem and I guess its just a waiting game now for a Dropbox update 🤷
Hi Lordfader,
Did you try to disable the MEGASync File Provider Extension?
Maybe, this is conflicting with the Dropbox File Provider Extension.
Just wondering (and fingers crossed)...
I’m so pleased it’s worked for you too mrosenbergnyc! I’ve had no complications whatsoever with Creative Cloud since changing the setting. I use Creative Cloud for all my work and everything’s been totally fine. I think it would only really cause an issue if you were using the file provider side of Creative Cloud (similar to Dropbox) which most people won’t be especially if Dropbox is already handling that side of things. No impact at all on saving, editing or creating files, so fingers crossed it stays this way 🤞😂.
These screen shots were from my machine just for the purpose of this thread as my client is 5hrs away from me. She doesn't have MEGA or Adobe Cloud on her system.
Lordfader I’d say exactly the same as Juhn here. From everything I’ve dug into it really does seem to be a File Provider Extension conflict somewhere on the system. If there’s any other app using a File Provider (MEGASync, Creative Cloud, OneDrive etc) it’s definitely worth disabling it temporarily to test. Fingers crossed it turns out to be that 🤞 because if not I agree it’s probably a waiting game for a Dropbox update unfortunately.
I too am having the same issues, but most specifically, I use alias folders of interior Dropbox folders on my desktop, and they will randomly, but very often, have the folder icon disappear, only to comeback if I force Relaunch Finder. Sometimes it's every alias folder, sometimes it's only a select few. It's never consistent.
I've also tried to "Solved" comment, since I use Creative Cloud, but it did not solve it for me.
As far as I know, this started happening after the recent Dropbox update, but very well could have been after the recent Tahoe update. I'm on Dropbox v241.4.4853 and macOS Tahoe 26.2.
It doesn't prevent me from using anything, but boy is it annoying to look at!! Thanks!
Asked chat gpt and this totally worked for me, finally. 🙌
Been struggling with this for weeks too.
After updating to macOS Tahoe, Dropbox sync icons not showing in Finder is usually related to the Finder extension not loading properly. This is common after major macOS updates.
Here’s how to fix it:
1 Re-enable Dropbox Finder Extension
• Open System Settings
• Go to General
• Click Login Items & Extensions
• Scroll to Extensions
• Click Finder Extensions
• Make sure Dropbox is turned ON
If it’s already ON:
• Turn it OFF
• Restart your Mac
• Turn it back ON
