I have the latest version of dropbox, and I have a dropbox folder on my Windows 10 PC. It is syncing normally. However, I want to access the actual dropbox app in order to change the sync folder location. The problem is I cannot find a way to actually launch the app. There is a dropbox icon on my taskbar, but when I click it, it simply opens my dropbox sync folder on my PC (in Windows Explorer). Same thing when I try launching dropbox from the start menu. It just opens the folder. Dropbox is syncing the files just fine, but I want to actually access the app interface not the folder in explorer. I know the general instructions say to click on the icon then click on your avatar and select preferences, but no such thing happens when I click on the icon in my taskbar (or in the start menu) - it simply opens Windows file explorer with my dropbox directory selected.

Minaz Yes, it should open the Dropbox app window on single click. What happens when you hold the control-key and click the icon?

How can I start the actual dropbox app in Windows 10 / not launching

19 Replies

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Elixir
Star | Level 19
5 years ago
You can change the Dropbox sync location from the settings: click the Dropbox icon in the taskbar → click the profile icon → select Preferences.

Go to the sync tab and Move your Dropbox folder to new location.
Minaz
Helpful | Level 6
5 years ago
As I have mentioned, the whole problem is that my dropbox app is not launching so there is no profile icon. When I click the taskbar icon, it launches Windows Explorer.
Mark
Super User II
5 years ago
You need to change the preferences within the Dropbox app to tell it to open the app and not Explorer.

It gives you the option to change it on the 'General' tab
Minaz
Helpful | Level 6
5 years ago
Hi Mark,

Since I am unable to launch my dropbox app in the first place, is there a way to change the preferences to set it to launch the app without being able to launch the app? I mean if I were able to launch the app in the first place I wouldn't need to set it in the preferences. The whole issue is that I can't get it to launch the app, so I cannot set anything within the app. When I launch dropbox, I only get the explorer. I need to get from there to the app in order to set preferences, so I am hoping someone can help me with finding a way to open the app.

Thanks!
Elixir
Star | Level 19
5 years ago
Minaz Did you single (right or left) click the taskbar icon? In my case, only double click opens explorer window.
Minaz
Helpful | Level 6
5 years ago
Elixir So actually, when I double click, it also launches Windows Explorer. When I single click, whether it is a left or right click, it does nothing at all. Could this be the problem?
Elixir
Star | Level 19
5 years ago
Minaz Yes, it should open the Dropbox app window on single click. What happens when you hold the control-key and click the icon?
Minaz
Helpful | Level 6
5 years ago
That solved the problem. Holding CTRL allowed me to pull up the preferences menu, which I was then able to change to setup the Dropbox App. Thank you so much Elixir
kingletit
Helpful | Level 5
5 years ago
I have the same problem but this solution doesn't work for me. I have done an advanced reinstall (How to run an advanced reinstall of Dropbox | Dropbox Help), although some of the registry items did not appear. Installation also did not create a taskbar icon. When I add the icon and click, or CTRL-Click it, it still opens the folder. Right clicking only shows "Dropbox" and "Uninstall" but clicking or CTRL-Clicking that also opens the folder.

(The reason I tried the reinstall was that I don't have a Masters degree in computing and so could not make any sense at all of the response I got to ticket #14152215. That ticket is closed now, however I've been in hospital following a very serious accident and so could not reply to it.)
kingletit
Helpful | Level 5
5 years ago
Hold that last thought!. I've just restarted again and now the icon has appeared.