Need to see if your shared folder is taking up space on your dropbox 👨💻? Find out how to check here.
Forum Discussion
prc87
5 years agoHelpful | Level 6
Help! "Couldn't start Dropbox" error (Mac & Big Sur)
Dropbox won't start on my MacBook Air (13" 2018), with Big Sur 11.3.1.
Have uninstalled dropbox and reinstalled. Same error
Uninstalled again, advanced re-install. Same error
AFAIK, vanilla ins...
- 5 years ago
Ran these changes, but no different.
Tried once more, after double-checking firewall off.
uninstall DB
reboot
delete DB folders from local storage, and empty bin
reboot
search and delete every 'dropbox' named file in ~/library
reboot
advanced reinstall
reboot
logoff DB on webclient
reboot
start DB
login
accept all vanilla (recommended) options
and it started and seems to be sync-ing correctly.
Not sure what changed this time around, but DB seems to be working again.
Thanks for your help.
tim_kelley
5 years agoExplorer | Level 4
I am having the same problem. The error message is
bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 124.4.4912
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 48
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: 4902f188-79dc-51ef-ab44-66e5c3af45e7
pid: 512
ppid: 1
uid: 504
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='ctk', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=504, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='C. T. Kelley', pw_dir='/Users/ctk', pw_shell='/bin/tcsh')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='ctk', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=504, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='C. T. Kelley', pw_dir='/Users/ctk', pw_shell='/bin/tcsh')
euid: 504
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'tim', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd', 'ctk', 'bubba', '_sophos', '_xcsbuildagent'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'tim', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd', 'ctk', 'bubba', '_sophos', '_xcsbuildagent'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/ctk'
appdata: '/Users/ctk/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/ctk/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=504 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=504 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/ctk/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/ctk/Dropbox'
mode=0o40700 uid=504 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=504 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=504 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=504 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/9q/sddj5fcj2m729sjf5_hbnxb40000gr/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/9q/sddj5fcj2m729sjf5_hbnxb40000gr/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=504 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=504 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 821, in wrapper
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6488, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 307, in _wrapped
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6017, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5944, in create_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 225, in make_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 275, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 219, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 149, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 223, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 597, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 182, in __init__
File "extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__
nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to register icons |>> Opening dst |>> open syscall |>> Permission denied"
tim_kelley
5 years agoExplorer | Level 4
I tried everything in this thread short of deleting my Drobbox folder.
- Walter5 years ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey tim_kelley, thanks for the nudge and sorry to hear you're having issues with this.
Could you try disabling any antivirus you may have running and try an advanced re-install? - tim_kelley5 years agoExplorer | Level 4
I gave up and reinstalled my Dropbox files from the cloud. So that was
mv Dropbox XDropbox
and then reinstall Dropbox and let it move all my files bact to $home/Dropbox.
This was several GB of stuff and it took over a day. It seems to be cleaning up now and the files are back where they were supposed to be.
- victoriabaum5 years agoExplorer | Level 4Need help !! New MacBook with Big Sur. Only get error messages. Not on phone or older computer. Any assistance greatly appreciated. Have 2T pro
- Megan5 years ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey victoriabaum, happy Monday!
In order for us to further investigate, we'll need to get and analyze the full error log that corresponds to the error message pop-up you're getting.
Can you send it my way, please?
Thanks a lot! - victoriabaum5 years agoExplorer | Level 4
Yes, Thank you!
bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 125.4.3474
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 48
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: 2c3c648f-c737-5a9a-abee-fc58ad5e4850
pid: 765
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='victoriabaum', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Victoria Baum', pw_dir='/Users/victoriabaum', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='victoriabaum', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Victoria Baum', pw_dir='/Users/victoriabaum', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
euid: 501
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/victoriabaum'
appdata: '/Users/victoriabaum/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/victoriabaum/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/victoriabaum/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/victoriabaum/Dropbox'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/hf/cvc87mbj0pb6sz93j3x81ksc0000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/hf/cvc87mbj0pb6sz93j3x81ksc0000gn/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 819, in wrapper
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6472, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 307, in _wrapped
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6005, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5932, in create_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 225, in make_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 275, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 219, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 149, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 223, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 597, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 182, in __init__
File "extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__
nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to register icons |>> Opening dst |>> open syscall |>> Permission denied" - Megan5 years ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
Thank you so much victoriabaum.
To resolve this issue, can you try out these steps?
I'd love to know the outcome of this. - GBZarri5 years agoNew member | Level 2
Same problem here. New iMac, BigSur 11.6, transfer all old data through TimeMachine backup and now Dropbox can't start with this error .
No way. I tried everything I found here and other sites
This is the log:
bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropboxbn.VERSION: 131.4.3968bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 48bn.is_frozen: Truemachine_id: b20ea8c7-c383-55eb-8cf3-c7d6579cd340pid: 926ppid: 1uid: 502user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='gabriella', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Gabriella Zarri', pw_dir='/Users/gabriella', pw_shell='/bin/bash')effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='gabriella', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Gabriella Zarri', pw_dir='/Users/gabriella', pw_shell='/bin/bash')euid: 502gid: 20egid: 20group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'apple', 'gabriella', '_nsurlstoraged'])effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'apple', 'gabriella', '_nsurlstoraged'])DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: Nonecwd: '/'real_path='/'mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0HOME: '/Users/gabriella'appdata: '/Users/gabriella/.dropbox/instance2'real_path='/Users/gabriella/.dropbox/instance2'mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20dropbox_path: '/Users/gabriella/Dropbox'real_path='/Users/gabriella/Dropbox'mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'mode=0o100755 uid=502 gid=20parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'not foundparent not foundtempdir: '/var/folders/t_/r2wqz10j2wg8y65w976xcg2r0000gp/T'real_path='/private/var/folders/t_/r2wqz10j2wg8y65w976xcg2r0000gp/T'mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20Traceback (most recent call last):File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 808, in wrapperFile "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6525, in finish_dropbox_bootFile "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 307, in _wrappedFile "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6052, in _init_components_for_accountFile "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5976, in create_sync_engineFile "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 226, in make_sync_engineFile "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 280, in __init__File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 219, in __init__File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 152, in __init__File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 217, in __init__File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 587, in _init_new_engine_lockedFile "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 182, in __init__File "desktop/extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to register icons |>> Opening dst |>> open syscall |>> Permission denied"Out there, Dropbox genius, do you have solutions ? - Walter5 years ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey GBZarri, thanks for joining the discussion here.
Could you clarify if you've tried an advanced reinstall yet?
About Apps and Installations
Have a question about a Dropbox app or installation? Reach out to the Dropbox Community and get solutions, help, and advice from members.
The Dropbox Community team is active from Monday to Friday. We try to respond to you as soon as we can, usually within 2 hours.
If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X, Facebook or Instagram.
For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.
If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!