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Dropbox desktop app on Mac forces sync preference to be online-only repeatedly
Latest macOS: Sequoia 15.6.
Dropbox: 230.4.8797
I have been noticing a sync issue warning in Dropbox menu bar for a few days so I checked settings today:
I had sele...
Hi Nancy
I had not on the same system but before the mac reinstall/reset - same Dropbox a/c. Even on previous install I had enabled it by mistake seeing a popup or prompt/message "you are eligible.." (something like that; don't remember exactly) and had successfully disabled going through some hoops and what not. On this install I didn't enable File Provider to begin with.
I’d just like to make sure that there are no remnants of File Provider folders
I don't know how to check that. Just in case it helps you - I see `DropboxSoftwareUpdate` and `DropboxMacUpdate.app` at `~/Library/Dropbox`. Also `~/Library/CloudStorage/` is just empty.
By the way I could see these as well https://help.dropbox.com/sync/macos-sync-icons#Dropbox-sync-icons-in-the-menu-bar (didn't test the notification and camera upload ones because I haven't enabled camera upload and there were no notifications for me) - as the link shows it's only menu bar app icons No sync icons on dropbox files/folders and no special (i.e the Dropbox logo one) Dropbox sidebar icon
I can't see any Dropbox related context menu options when I right click on any Dropbox files or folders in ~/Dropbox folder.
Update: I went inside Mac `System Settings > General` and then in `Extensions` sections I could see these Dropbox related extensions:
"File Providers" extension section: "Dropbox" extension was disabled there. I enabled it
and then I could see this change:
Sidebar Dropbox icon was now the Dropbox icon (not the generic finder icon) - just like Finder Dropbox icon already was (shown in a screenshot above)
And I also could see Dropbox related options in context menu when I right clicked on any file or folder inside ~/Dropbox folder
After this I looked through others and found "Sharing" extensions section: A "Dropbox Transfer" extension which was already enabled. So maybe it was always enabled or got enabled (or even got added; I don't know as I hadn't checked it before) automatically after I enabled "File Provider" Dropbox extension above. Anyway no change to report because of this because I did not change this.
Still no sync icons on local Dropbox files and folders. (Even after many Dropbox/Finder restarts. I in fact "fore quit" everything in Activity Monitor with 'dropbox' in its name)
PS. IMHO - It would be helpful if you (I assume you are from Dropbox) could tell me such possible settings beforehand as I as a user do not know what system/settings changes Dropbox does to OS or expects to be present beforehand. Will save a lot of to and fro from both sides.
Hi Jay
I did the reinstallation from the link above.
- That warning "Dropbox is experiencing…" is gone now.
- Sync is working - tried with a dummy folder creation and then deletion.
- "Default sync preference" for "Choose how new files…" is now selected as "Available offline".
- Finder sync icons are still not showing
- Tried quitting/restarting dropbox and 'killall Finder' couple of times.
- Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
Are you certain that you're viewing the Dropbox folder from the Favourites list? It should have an icon for Dropbox itself. Without the icon, it would mean that the app isn't running or syncing correctly, which would also explain the lack of sync icons in the Dropbox folder.
Could you double-check the Dropbox folder location using these steps, and that this is the same folder shown in the Favourites?
I need to understand this - "Dropbox folder from the Favourites list" → do you mean the Finder sidebar favourites list? If so then, yes. My last screen shoot "clearly" shows that. I will add one again:
As you could see the Finder sidebar Dropbox favourite shortcut has no special icon for Dropbox - neither do the folders inside Dropbox have sync icons.
However when I click on my user folder (i.e ~/ which is also where the Dropbox is) and see the folders, the Dropbox folder has a Dropbox icon on it (just like Pictures, Music have special icons). here:
Yes - it is the same folder. I followed the link and that's where my Dropbox folder is - at ~/Dropbox i.e /Users/<user>/Dropbox (as usual).
- Nancy
Hi from me too, litgit! I know you previously said that you haven’t installed the Dropbox on File Provider update on your device, but is it possible you had it at any point in the past, before switching back to the legacy version?
I’d just like to make sure that there are no remnants of File Provider folders on your computer that could be affecting your sync icons.
Finally, besides the absence of syncing icons next to your files, can you see any Dropbox-related options after right-clicking on your files/folders within the local Dropbox folder?
