Your workflow is unique 👨💻 - tell us how you use Dropbox here.
Forum Discussion
Error on startup (permissions?) Dropbox won't start without admin mode
Hello,
I receive the following error below when starting drobox. I tried to reinstall and it did not help, I also tried to add a rule for outgoing communication to windows firewall, did not he...
The error message you provided indicates that Dropbox is encountering a permissions issue when attempting to start up. Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve the problem:
Run Dropbox as Administrator: You mentioned that running Dropbox as an administrator allows it to start without any issues. While this is not an ideal long-term solution, it could indicate that there is a permission problem related to the user account you are currently using. You can right-click on the Dropbox shortcut or executable and select "Run as administrator" to see if it consistently resolves the problem.
Check Folder Permissions: Ensure that the user account you are using has the necessary permissions to access and modify the Dropbox folder and its contents. Right-click on the Dropbox folder, select "Properties," go to the "Security" tab, and check if your user account has full control or at least the required permissions.
Reset Dropbox Settings: Try resetting the Dropbox settings to their default values. To do this, exit Dropbox completely, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type "%APPDATA%" (without quotes), and press Enter. Locate the "Dropbox" folder, rename it to "Dropbox_old," and then restart Dropbox. This will create a new Dropbox folder with default settings. Note that your preferences and settings will be reset, so you may need to set them up again.
Temporarily Disable Antivirus/Firewall: Sometimes, antivirus or firewall software can interfere with Dropbox's functionality. Temporarily disable any antivirus or firewall software you have installed, then try starting Dropbox again to see if the issue persists. If Dropbox starts successfully, you can add it as an exception in your security software to prevent future conflicts.
Reinstall Dropbox: If the above steps don't resolve the issue, you can try uninstalling Dropbox completely and then reinstalling it. First, uninstall Dropbox through the Control Panel or Settings. Afterward, download the latest version of Dropbox from the official website and reinstall it. During the installation process, make sure to choose the appropriate installation options and follow any prompts.
