Impossible to access my files (documents, downloads and desktop) on Mac because of Dropbox sync

Hi taoctiger, thanks for this! 

I was able to locate your ticket number, and an agent will be with you shortly. Thank you for your patience!

Could you please share the solution to this problem, I am having the exact same issue.

Dropbox syncing is NOT enabled. When I try to enable it, it says that Dropbox does not have permission. I cannot access my Desktop, Downloads, and Documents folders.

Hey immo, sorry to hear about this.

Can you please send us a screenshot of the error you're getting? 

If you're running the desktop app, could you send us its status and version as shown in your menu bar as well? 

Hi Walter,

thanks for your response. 

I am running the desktop app on Mac. The sync status says "All files are up to date".

I have attached some screenshots of the error:

1. Home folder --> I cannot access the DDD folders.

2. Dropbox currently has no active "backup tab"

3. Dropbox / preferences / manage backups asks me to set up backups.

4. But then the following error message occurs.

5. Dropbox has full disk access.

Hi immo, I appreciate all the information that you have provided my way. 

When you access your Backup page online, do you see the feature being disabled? 

If so, can you also try out these steps? 

Thanks a lot, following the indicated steps worked. I can now access the DDD folders again.

However, the actual desktop still does not link to the "desktop" folder in my home directory. I still don't have access to the desktop. But I can open user/desktop.

Hi immo, were you able to drag and drop any folders to the desired path?

What do you see on your end, could you send me a couple of screenshots? 

Hello,

here are some screenshots:

1. The home folder: I can go inside each of those folders. The "documents" and "downloads" folders work as expected. 

2. The "desktop" folder seems to be unconnected to my actual "desktop" that I see in the background. I can enter the "desktop" folder in my home directory but when I try to e.g. create a new folder on the actual desktop this is the error message that I get.

Hi immo, could you confirm if you enabled the Dropbox Backup for those two folders, or are they still in their default locations?

Dropbox backup is NOT enabled for those two folders. Only the content of the Dropbox folder is synced.

After restarting my computer, also the Desktop folder works as expected now. Thanks again for your help.

Sounds like everything is back on track now, right immo ? 

Yes, thanks.

You talks about problems and act like you are providing solutions but don't and instead  ask for screenshots. If you truly wanted to help you would have the different types of computers to see what we are dealing with rather than claims that the problems are resolved. In my case it says to disable the back up and it should replace the files - but doesn't. The back up has been disabled. It says reinstall dropbox and I did and still nothing. I have lost my desktop, documents and download files on my Mac. It is unbelievable you can't fix this problem. 

Hey Scott B.35, let's jump right into this! 

Just to make sure we're on the same page, I understand that what you want, is to move your Documents, Desktop and Downloads back to where they originally were, right? If not, feel free to correct me. 

If you access your account online, are you able to see your content there? What about the message to reinstall Dropbox? Where do you see that? 

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there! 

Correct. As it stands now I do not have access to the desktop, documents or download files. I found them on dropbox labeled My Mac (Scott-Macbook-Pro.local). It says it is unlinked. I cannot find that folder - My Mac - on my laptop.

The back up is off and has been off so there is nothing to disable on that end. When I try to download the documents file it says I tried too many zip files. I used that as current activity file but now can't and can't. On the reinstall I saw that on a community thread but I can;t tell which one now because I have gone through so many threads trying to get this problem resolved. 

H Scott B.35, could you try downloading the backup in smaller batches, for instance, doing a subfolder of the Documents folder first to see if this helps?

I recently bought a new macbook air and migrated all my documents from the old one . Everything seemd OK but now I do not have access to the desktop, documents or download files. Apple support told me this is caused by dropbox. I dont understand why the dropbox should deny me access to my own computer. How can this be fixed?

Hey Silene1, sorry to hear about this. 

Did you enable the Dropbox Backup feature for your computer's OS folders at some point in the past perhaps? 

When you say you don't have access to those folders, can you clarify if you're getting any particular error of if you just can't see them on your new computer?

Do you see them on your backups page by the way? 

Any additional information and screenshots are more than welcome!