macOS File Provider: Dropbox cannot relink to existing CloudStorage folder

Application Affected
Dropbox on Windows PC and iMac Sequoia 
Device
Windows PC and iMac Sequoia 
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
Latest Windows, iOS 15.7.4

 

After a routine restart, the Dropbox desktop app lost its login state and now cannot relink to the existing File Provider folder at ~/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox; instead the installer tries to create a new Dropbox folder.

I have been successfully using Dropbox with the macOS File Provider configuration (CloudStorage location) for several months. My Dropbox folder has consistently been located at: /Users/xyz/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox

I did not reinstall the Dropbox application and I did not intentionally sign out or attempt to relink my account. The issue appears to have started after a routine computer restart, at which point the Dropbox desktop client seemed to lose its login state.

When I start the app now, the first thing I see is a “Welcome to Dropbox” message and the menu bar icon indicates that the application is “Waiting to be linked to a Dropbox account.”

My existing Dropbox folder remains intact. The folder at /Users/xyz/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox still contains all my files. The .dropbox marker file is present in that folder. All files are also visible and intact on dropbox.com.

When I attempt to sign in through the desktop app, the following occurs. The app asks me to sign in with Dropbox. After signing in, the setup process shows the message “There’s already a folder named Dropbox.” If I select “Choose Another Location” and point to the existing folder, the dialog says “A folder named ‘Dropbox’ will be created inside the folder you select.”

This suggests the installer is trying to create a new Dropbox folder rather than adopt the existing File Provider folder.

Because of that message I have not proceeded, since it appears it would create a nested structure such as: /Users/xyz/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox/Dropbox

Currently the Dropbox icon appears in the menu bar but is greyed out and the client shows the state “Waiting to be linked to a Dropbox account.”

To summarize:

I was already using the CloudStorage/File Provider location successfully for months.

I did not reinstall Dropbox.

I did not intentionally unlink the account.

The existing Dropbox folder and files are still present and intact.

The client appears unable to relink to the existing File Provider folder and instead tries to create a new one.

During the setup flow the client also displayed the message that the desktop app cannot sync over 500,000 files. I am not sure if this is related. However, only about 150–200k files are synced locally on my iMac.

I also discovered the identical situation on my Windows PC starting at about the same time, which suggests this may be related to my Dropbox account rather than the individual devices or operating systems.

Could someone advise how to safely relink the Dropbox client to the existing File Provider folder at: /Users/xyz/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox without creating a second Dropbox folder?

I rely heavily on Dropbox for daily work, so I would greatly appreciate guidance.

Thank you.