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macOS Sequoia 15.5 - Getting a message that "The application couldn't be found", after an update.
I've been a Dropbox user for many years. Within the last few months, whenever Dropbox automatically updates on my Mac currently running macOS 15.5 I've noted that in Finder I will see a message above files in my Dropbox folder of "The application "Dropbox" could not be found." and nothing will sync, even though Dropbox is running.
Rebooting my Mac seems to resolve the issue as everything works properly after a reboot and the message is gone in Finder.
This seems like a recent bug as Dropbox didn't do this for many years on my Macs.
I'm not sure how to prevent the issue from happening the next time an update rolls out, or what to do to "fix" this as an end user other than a reboot. It's not the end of the world, but it's a regression and is a bit annoying.
62 Replies
I've been having this same issue for months. Files added locally won't sync and I get the "the application dropbox could not be found" message in Finder. I have to quit and restart Dropbox to get things working, but that fix doesn't persist. I'm on Sequoia 15.6.1. Dropbox version 237.4.5655.
- Nancy
Dropbox Community Moderator
Did you get the chance to try out Walter’s suggestion, SunumOfisi? If yes, let us know how it went.
- Walter
Hey SunumOfisi - sorry to hear you're having issues with this.
Can you clarify the OS version of your devices and let me know if you've tried reinstalling the app since you first noticed this?
Let us know more and we'll take it from there.
Came here to write that this issue still persists. I'm on Dropbox 235.4.5905 and every several minutes I need to go to Applications and double click on Dropbox icon to 'start' the software. Otherwise, my files remain inaccessible within the folder.
No security software running. I experience this problem both on my Mac mini and MacBook Pro so it's not device related either.
- Walter
Thanks for the update on this obsidianspider - much appreciated. If you're still in touch with our support team about this, please let us know your ticket ID so that we can look it up in our system as well, if needed.
For what it's worth, this is still a problem on v234.4.5591 with macOS 15.7.1. Sometimes it'll go a week, sometimes multiple times per day.
I was asked by Dropbox support to do an advanced reinstall https://help.dropbox.com/installs/advanced-reinstall and since it's an intermittent issue I couldn't confirm if it worked or not before the ticket closed again.
The workaround of manually quitting Dropbox and restarting it fixes the issue for a while, but yeah. Less than ideal.- Megan
Hey obsidianspider!
Did you make sure that this is not caused by security software on your computer or your network settings? Do you have any proxy, VPN, security software, or even ISP/router settings that could be restricting traffic to the following Dropbox domains?
One more important thing. Based on the app version that you're using (235.2.2487) it looks like you have the alpha version installed instead of the stable one. That could be the culprit there.
Can you try to uninstall Dropbox from your computer using these steps?
Once you do this, please access your account settings online and then toggle the Early Access setting to Off. After that reinstall the stable version using this link.
I'll be waiting for your update once you try this, to let me know if the behavior remains the same. Thanks!
Hi Hannah. I'm on Sequoia 15.7.1. Dropbox V. 235.2.2487.
This morning I find Dropbox is running but it's just stuck trying to reconnect. Often I get the 'Application cannot be found' message in the Finder window of Dropbox's folder as others have reported above.
