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Couldn't Start Dropbox - macOS Monterey
After installing the new macOS Monterey I am getting the below error
Couldn't start Dropbox
This is usually because of a permissions error. Storing your home folder on a network share can also cause an error. For more information, click the help button below.
I tried to remove dropbox using instructions on the website and re-install using advance install and still see the error.
bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 133.4.4089
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 51
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: 523bf589-eb29-56d6-9beb-1631aa56ce2b
pid: 1077
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='amirnathoo', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Amirali Nathoo', pw_dir='/Users/amirnathoo', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='amirnathoo', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Amirali Nathoo', pw_dir='/Users/amirnathoo', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
euid: 501
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/amirnathoo'
appdata: '/Users/amirnathoo/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/amirnathoo/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/amirnathoo/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/amirnathoo/Dropbox'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/xq/rpxg71x17dj4ylbw_svqhdjc0000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/xq/rpxg71x17dj4ylbw_svqhdjc0000gn/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 808, in wrapper
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6497, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 307, in _wrapped
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6030, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5954, in create_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 226, in make_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 280, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 222, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 152, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 217, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 587, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 185, in __init__
File "desktop/extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__
nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to register icons |>> fchflags syscall: _set_hidden |>> Permission denied"
please assist
Hi everyone, with the macOS Monterey update (macOS 12.0 and above), some stricter permissions have been enforced by Apple which have probably led to the issue you are experiencing.
The following steps should help to resolve this behavior:
- Click on the Apple icon in the top left hand corner of your screen
- Select "System Preferences..."
- Then "Security & Privacy"
- Select the Privacy tab
- Select "Full Disk Access"
- Under Dropbox, ensure that all the folders are checked. (To make changes, you will need to click on the lock icon, and enter your macOS password)
- Repeat these steps under 'Files and Folders' and 'Accessibility'
- Once you've completed this, please attempt to restart the Dropbox desktop app
If need be, a reboot of the Mac itself would also help.
91 Replies
Replies have been turned off for this discussion
- Not sure it could be a different issue
Hi Jay,
Are these steps (or instructions for doing them) going to be incorporated into the Dropbox app at some point? I doubt all Mac users upgrading to Monterey are going to come here to read this.
Also, is there a reason this page still says Big Sur is the latest supported? https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/desktop/system-requirements Perhaps that will be updated once the app helps Monterey upgraders through these manual steps?
I’m still holding off on the Monterey upgrade until I see fewer threads on here reporting problems and the System Requirements page updated to say Monterey is supported, to be honest.
Hi Jay
(Apologies for duplicate post, but wanted to link your username so you see it)
Are these steps (or instructions for doing them) going to be incorporated into the Dropbox app at some point? I doubt all Mac users upgrading to Monterey are going to come here to read this.
Also, is there a reason this page still says Big Sur is the latest supported? https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/desktop/system-requirements Perhaps that will be updated once the app helps Monterey upgraders through these manual steps?
I’m still holding off on the Monterey upgrade until I see fewer threads on here reporting problems and the System Requirements page updated to say Monterey is supported, to be honest.
Thank you for the tips! I have been so frustrated for two days unable to access Dropbox App. Your suggestions - and the step-by-step of what finally worked for you is magic - and I now am able to get it going as it should be. It's nice for you to take so much time to help those of us who were lost!!
Hi Hannah
I'm having a problem where dropbox app quits unexpectedly now that I've upgraded to Monterey 12.01.
I can't see the steps you are referring to in your post above. Please can you advise how I can go about rectifying this issue.
Thanks
Matt
Thank you this solution worked perfectly!
You are a life saver; it worked, thank you so much!
I got the message: Unable to launch the Dropbox application.
This is most likely due to incorrect permissions. Storing your user folder in a network share may also cause this error.
Ok everyone that still can't get Dropbox to work after trying @Jay and others solutions in this thread – at last, I found a solution that worked for me!
Rename your local Dropbox folders and restart Dropbox. It then says that your folder/folders are moved and can't sync. You then get the alternative to re-connect your Dropbox account, re-installing the app. Choose that and it will re-install your folders with the old names – and voila, it syncs! You can then trash the re-named Dropbox folders.
Good luck!
Following these permissions settings fixes from Jay did the trick for me!
