Forum Discussion

Jon C.10's avatar
Jon C.10
Collaborator | Level 8
3 years ago
Solved

Dropbox removing external disk support for Mac users

In case anyone's unaware... if you're a Mac user storing your Dropbox on an external drive, you'll shortly lose that ability.   https://talk.tidbits.com/t/dropbox-drops-support-for-storing-files-...
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  • BenDBX's avatar
    BenDBX
    2 years ago
    Hi Everybody,
     
    We’re excited to share that external drive support for Dropbox for macOS on File Provider is now available for testing as a beta feature. This is available to some users today and will be available to additional users on a rolling basis. In order to be eligible to test this feature, please follow the instructions in this Help Center article. 
     
    Keep in mind that participation in beta programs is subject to the certain terms and conditions. There are certain additional participation requirements:
    • This beta is only available to US-based users
    • You must be on macOS 15 beta
    • You must have an external drive that is APFS formatted and encrypted
     
    Please let me know if you have any further questions!
melking's avatar
melking
New member | Level 2
3 years ago

So is this problem fixed yet?... I miss using Dropbox

UKD's avatar
UKD
Experienced | Level 12
3 years ago

melking not fixed and won't be fixed for months. If you want to store files on an external drive, you won't be able to with Dropbox with the new update. Dropbox are not going to support external drives. All Apple's fault of course!!

  • fjazzfjazz's avatar
    fjazzfjazz
    Collaborator | Level 9
    3 years ago

    Can you please spell out for us with "next update" means? Next OS update, or next Dropbox update? Also, can we potentially avoid these updates until it gets fixed, if we can hold it longer? 

  • melking's avatar
    melking
    New member | Level 2
    3 years ago

    So no work arounds?

    • ArthurPix's avatar
      ArthurPix
      Collaborator | Level 10
      3 years ago

      melking If by “work-arounds” you mean “ways to get Dropbox to work with external drives”— strictly speaking, I don’t think anyone knows yet, because the “no external drives” rule hasn’t yet been enforced. The stroke of doom will (apparently) occur in May.

       

      Dropbox has, however, informally told us in this forum that it is seeking ways to keep supporting use of external drives. I think this means that our discussions here have caught someone’s attention.

       

      But, if and when the new rule is enforced I don’t expect there will be anything you can do short of switching to a different provider.

       

      At least a few of us have either switched or are preparing to do so. Count me among the cautious latter, looking twice before I leap.

       

      Among alternative cloud storage providers, at least one — namely Sync.com — is on the record supporting use of external drives, according to a recent post by UKD . I’ve been investigating user experiences with Sync.com and so far, the reports I’ve seen are great.

       

      Before going through the tsores of switching, however, I’m procrastinating until[ mid-April, hoping against hope that Dropbox will announce it has found a way to keep supporting external drives AND Apple’s new API.


      Windows users are, I expect, SOL.

      • fjazzfjazz's avatar
        fjazzfjazz
        Collaborator | Level 9
        3 years ago

        Amazing summary ArthurPix.

        I'm going to get onboard with your deadline.

         

        If dbox_ doesn't announce a fix for this by mid-April, I'm going to have to go elsewhere.

         

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