Disable automatic updates

Hi, is there a chance to block updating dropbox in MAC osx.

After you have done all those various things without any progress - such as gone through the registry and done all you possibly could to prevent the spate of dropbox 'failed to update' pop-up windows (eg...5 or 6 minimized notification windows that you see when you eventually come back to your computer after many hours) ..... then you can use 'Process Blocker' for Windows systems. That will sort it out once and for all. Once you install it, you just configure its blocked applications list with 'dropbox-upgrade*.exe' and 'dropboxupdate*.exe'. You can even disable the blocking notification. No more problem.

Why not make a button in Dropbox Preferences so you can tick (auto update or not) ???

Every other application have this feature.

PLEASE

Mac OS X

I absolutely agree that there should be an update mechanism that at least allows users to opt out. For me it's quite horrifying that they just place a hidden backdoor on my computer that allows them to push executable code to my machine at their will without me even knowing.

Ever since I found out that Dropbox downloads new software secretly and without my consent I kind of stopped trusting the company. And after reading that Dropbox actually ignores their user's demands to stop forcing unwanted buggy updates on them I would really like to find a provider that treats their users with basic respect.

Does anybody happen to know an alternative service, maybe even with an open API and 3rd-party clients available? Dropbox-style synchronization to S3/SFTP/SCP would also be an option, as long as there is an easy way for family members without IT background to set it up.

first i uninstall version 3.x then installed 2.10.52 , setup login details, after it started syncing end task with task manager the process: dropbox.exe  because it could be already downloading the updates...

complete uninstall dropbox, means after normal uninstallation
delete manually DropBox folders :

C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\Application Data\Dropbox\

and C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Application Data\Dropbox\

end task/reload Explorer.exe, since some files might still be in use

or restart your OS if neccesary !!

open notepad and copy this:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\DisallowRun]
"DropboxUpdate.exe"="DropboxUpdate.exe"
"DropboxUpdateBroker.exe"="DropboxUpdateBroker.exe"
"DropboxUpdateHelper.msi"="DropboxUpdateHelper.msi"
"DropboxUpdateOnDemand.exe"="DropboxUpdateOnDemand.exe"
"DropboxUpdateHelper.exe"="DropboxUpdateHelper.exe"
"dropbox-upgrade-3.10.7.exe"="dropbox-upgrade-3.10.7.exe"
"dropbox-upgrade-3.10.8.exe"="dropbox-upgrade-3.10.8.exe"

"StefanF"="dropbox-upgrade-*.exe"

save it, then rename the extension from .txt to .reg

doble clic on it, say yes when asked, reboot your system

Now your problem is gone !!

 i did in XP PRO SP3, so far it works and no errors.

simple fix and anyone could do it. try it !

Note: i posted 2 other methods that failed, this one is bullet proof..!

I Think I've found a way on windows:

Essentially just make a firewall rule to block all outgoing connections for the following program:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Dropbox\Update\DropboxUpdate.exe

I shan't go into detail as the process is pretty explanatory.

Hope this helps. 

Upvoted Jason's post.

I think this wouldn't be a problem for Dropbox if they didn't keep renaming their client after a new version number (which may alert a properly functioning firewall).

Thanks for all those who helped. Wonder if Dropbox will figure out a way to drive away all loyal users.

For Windows users try this:

Good luck!

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Stefan F. May 26, 2015 17:21

A way to block updates is called "Software Restriction Policies" : see https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457006.aspx#EJAA for Windows XP/2003 or https://technet.microsoft.com/fr-fr/library/hh994597.aspx#BKMK_Path_Rules for later versions. It may not work with basic versions of Windows ("Home", "Starter"...) .

What I did on XP Professional (tried to guess the English because I'm on a French version) :

- Start > Run : secpol.msc
- Show/Hide Action Pane
- Software Restrictions Policies > Additional Rules
- Right click > New Path Rule
- Path : {YourPathToDropBox}\ .dropbox.cache\dropbox-upgrade-*.exe
- Security : Disallowed

Then when the rule is matched, an event ID 866 with the source "Software Restriction Policies" is written in Windows event log "Application".

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For Windows 7 and up users block this:

C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Dropbox\Update\DropboxUpdate.exe

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