We’re Still Here to Help (Even Over the Holidays!) - find out more here.
Forum Discussion
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://help.dropbox.com/installs/macos-support-for-expected-changes
Just confirmed this with DB support (see below). Gutted - been with Dropbox for years and our entire video team flow is based around it 😕
>Hi there, I read today that you are scrapping the ability to store the Dropbox folder on external disks, on OSX. I'd like to ask more about this please.
> Hello Jon, and thank you for contacting Dropbox Support. My name is Joseph, and I will be more than happy to look into your request, right away.
That is correct Jon, as part of the Dropbox for macOS update, the Dropbox folder must be located in ~/Library/CloudStorage.
>This is a showstopper for us, and will mean we have to move to another service. We have a large distributed team using DB for video work, no way it'll fit within internal drives.
Is there a workaround?
> I totally understand and I apologize for the inconvenience. Unfortunately, there is no workaround on this as changing the location of your Dropbox folder is no longer supported by macOS.
>This change doesn't seem to have hit us yet - we're running a variety of machines inc Ventura
What will trigger its enforcement? Can we stay on an earlier OS or Dropbox version?
>The updates happening automatically every time the Dropbox app is restarting, for example if your device never restarts it should maintain the older version but we can't guarantee full functionality on older versions of the application.
>So what will happen - if we have a Dropbox folder on an 8TB drive and a tiny internal drive - will it try to clone stuff across and eat up the space? What's the mechanism?
>That's right, it will try to move the content on your internal drive until it has no space and gives you an error.
>Is Smartsync still supported? I.e. will it move stuff to being online only if it won't fit?
>It is, however it is now known as online-only.
697 Replies
Replies have been turned off for this discussion
So... I was trying to get support and clarification on this but cannot reach tech support.
I am running dropbox 172.4.7555 with automatic downloads/updates turned OFF. As of today, I am running Mac OS 13.2.1 (22D68)
Having content on my external RAID array... well, it works just fine. And I like the older version of the software SO MUCH BETTER, the upload status icons are so helpful to my workflow. I don't know why dropbox wants to change it and make things work worse, not better. There's absolutely zero logic in that.
But I guess my biggest question is... if it doesn't work, then why is it working?- Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi jw83876, let's jump into this!
When you mention: "if it doesn't work, then why is it working?" are you referring to the automatic downloads, or the version of the app that you're using? If you meant something entirely different, let me know, please.
You also mentioned that automatic downloads/updates are turned off, but it's working on your end without an issue. Can you walk me though the steps that you follow on your end?
Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!
I'm running the current version of both dropbox and Mac OS, and I can also still locate my dropbox on an external drive. I can't do this with any other cloud service (like Google Drive, or Box). What I'm worried about is this functionality suddenly disappearing with DropBox as well, which would significantly disrupt my workflow.
Feels like dropbox is trying to hide something, i've read somewhere where apple responded that dropbox won't fix their malicious API, it could be the API that tries to collect our data to sell to advertisers and Apple wanted to put a stop on it.
As dropbox stated, their engineer are trying so hard to fix it, in other words "We're trying to make a workaround to still get your data bypassing Apple's strict API".
But honestly, I do care a bit about the privacy, but I really care more of dropbox fixing this ASAP. Had to use icloud temporarily for my audio files and it sucks.Woah! I was just looking at the update and was about to ask about this, this is not good news I don't want my hard drive full of files I use extensive externals and soon a raid, the hard drive is just for Apps and some current projects.
Dropbox will lose customers if they force this on clients, I have a pro account and would look for alternative if this was to happen.
Hang on a bit pampy . Before going on about “something I read somewhere,” please share your source.
Otherwise I must say that your post is not substantiated by any facts I know about this dilemma. I know of no DropBox scene to mine your data, and I have never seen any evidence that Apple is trying to thwart any DropBox scheme. The truth is rather that:
1. Apple has introduced a new API for cloud storage providers such as DropBox.
2. DropBox hasn’t YET been able to engineer a way both to support this new API and to continue letting users place our DropBox folders on external storage devices.
3. However, DropBox reps have told us Mac users on this forum that they will let us continue using the old API and keeping our folders on external devices.
4. DropBox reps have also stated they are actively working on how to support both the new API and external storage.
And thems are the facts to date as I know them. So, unless you have real sources that you can document, please let me gently advise you not to worry about free-floating conspiracy theories. This forum exists for users to help one another solve their DropBox dilemmas, and conspiracy theories help no one. For the benefit of all users, I urge everyone to keep our discussions anchored in documented facts.
leeharris Thanks for registering your concerns. This is a loooong thread, and practically everyone feels similarly. Happily, until we hear otherwise, we’ll be able to continue using our external drives, as long as we’re happy with using the old API. If anyone has a contrary experience, we’d like to hear from you.
I was told by a Dropbox support rep that there was no workaround. He did not give me an option to use the old API. FYI.
Yes, I think I feel a little more relaxed; misery loves company!
gfawcett777 I’m so sorry your experience has been so lousy. I am hoping that a Dropboxer will want to record your experience if they haven;t already. I know that at least a number of their engineers are truly concerned that everyone be able to manage their DropBox as she or he prefers.
