Hello, I have seen numerous/old threads on this "Unable to connect to internet" issue when launching the DropBox client but still no luck after multiple attempts. I use Windows 10 and everything connecting fine to internet.Of course I tried disabling VPN/Firewall and multiple uninstall/reboot/reinstall and nothing helps. I use latest version 211.4.6008 and even tried installing old ones (210.5.4894 and 197.4.7629) and this didn't help either Long time ago, I had this issue and I was told to run DropBox in compatibility mode.This was fine until recently when DropBox said that I couldn't do that anymore and as soon as compatibility mode is turned off, then I can't connect anymore. If I turn on compatibility mode, it connects fine, sync all files and then suddenly tells me that I can no longer run in compatibility mode and I have no other solution than to turn off compatibility mode and then it is no longer able to connect (stuck on "Connecting..."). Maybe this has something to do with SSL/TLS, I tried sniffing the traffic, enable disable IP v6/v4, tried on wifi vs. ethernet, and so on. Still nothing. So how can I use Dropbox on my Windows 10 machine?Is there any setting/registry entry/troubleshooting tool you can suggest?Please help. Thanks.Eric

Hello Nancy,Thanks for the follow-up. The alert when launching Dropbox is this one (pardon my French)I have reinstalled it fresh right before taking the screenshot.The version is this one:It is obviously not syncing right now (stuck on "Starting...")If I switch it to compatibility mode, then it works well and syncs files but then I get the following pop-up:Which says that it runs in compatibility mode and the two choices are to continue or disable compatibility mode.If I select "Disable" I go back to the beginning (no longer syncing). And if I click "Continue", I then get:And the only option is to quit Dropbox.So this seems like an endless loop.Over the past couple of days, I have upgrade to Windows 11, hoping this would resolve it, but as you can see the issue remains exactly like it was on Windows 10.Here is a screenshot of the OS I'm running:Please let me know if I can provide more to allow resolution.Thanks for your helpEric

I wouldn't mind being contacted as well, or provided with the fix/solution, hoping that it is the same cause. I have other users around me sharing the same problem since compatibility mode is no longer an option.Thanks.

Hey EricTabet! Thanks for posting on our forum about this. Can you send me a few screenshots of what you see on your end, while not in compatibility mode, so that I can have a look? More specifically, I’d like a screenshot of your Dropbox app version and current syncing status, as well as a screenshot of the OS version you’re currently running. You can also send me a screenshot of the error you keep receiving stating that compatibility mode is no longer supported. Give me a nudge, when you’re ready.

NancyPlease let me know if I can provide additional details or screenshots. Tried again multiple times to uninstall/reinstall and I can confirm that no Antivirus or Firewall is blocking the connection. But still no luck.Note also that because the connection is clearly not blocked when in compatibility mode, this means we can rule out the antivirus/firewall part.Thanks.Eric

Hello Nancy and all,Would you kindly have any tips on this please?Is there any way to re-enable compatibility mode or to understand why it cannot connect when not in compatibility mode?Thanks.Eric

My Dropbox app is stuck at "Connecting" and I can't use compatibility mode either.

24 Replies

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mitgeek
New member | Level 2
2 years ago
Ticket#: 24550189
Nancy
Dropbox Community Moderator
12 months ago
Thanks for sending us your ticket number, mitgeek! I checked it on my end and could locate your convo with our support team.

I’ve left them an internal note on your behalf too, so that they may reach back to you soon.
EricTabet
New member | Level 1
12 months ago
I wouldn't mind being contacted as well, or provided with the fix/solution, hoping that it is the same cause. I have other users around me sharing the same problem since compatibility mode is no longer an option.
Thanks.
log1t3
New member | Level 1
12 months ago
EricTabet mitgeekDid you get the solution or fix to this problem?
EricTabet
New member | Level 1
12 months ago
Absolutely not.
And nobody contacted me despite providing all the screenshots I was asked for.
This is getting very frustrating.
Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
12 months ago
Hi EricTabet, I just created a ticket on my end for you, I
mitgeek
New member | Level 2
12 months ago
No my Windows 11 machine is still stuck. Dropbox support staff is still trying to help me. We have tried Advanced Reinstall but same issue - stuck in "Starting" with greyed out icon in System tray. I did notice that when I downloaded the installer it downloaded v213.4.4597. Last week, I was downloading v215.something.
I've also tried running it in compatibility mode for Win7 or Win8 and same issue.
mitgeek
New member | Level 2
12 months ago
So I have verified that if I uninstll v213 and install v210.5.4894 and run it under compatibility mode for Win7, the dropbox app appears to work nominally (time stamp 12:43pm) - but then the darn thing updates itself to v213.4.4597 and the system tray icon disappears and if I relaunch Dropbox it is stuck in the startup phase again. I hope this helps Dropbox support staff.
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
12 months ago
Hey mitgeek - thanks for the additional information and the screenshots too.

At this point, I'd recommend waiting for an update from our expert on your existing ticket since they're better equipped to help you on this with account and device specific information.

If you'd like to troubleshoot this further and it's not too much trouble for you, you could try creating a new OS profile on the affected computer and install the desktop app there.

In any case, keep us posted with any updates!
EricTabet
New member | Level 1
12 months ago
Facing the exact same issue, I have already tried from a brand new OS profile, as mentioned earlier in this thread. This did not help.
Also as mentioned, the attempts included "Advanced Reinstall" and safe mode with Network. This also occurs on just upgraded Windows 11 with no firewall and no antivirus installed.
Exact same behavior: old version in compatibility mode works fine, then updates itself and no longer works.
This is not a new issue, it is the same "unable to connect to internet" that we see in many posts for the past few years. Root cause was just hidden under the rug because many of us enabled the compatibility mode, and now that it is no longer supported, then it fails for many of us.
It should be clear by now that, for the very reason that it works fine with earlier versions but just not on the new one that forbids compatibility mode, the cause of the issue cannot be antivirus, firewall or OS profile. If these were the cause, then the old version would also be impacted and would not sync.
I really don't want to have to uninstall and reinstall the old version, just to get it to sync just once... :-)