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Solved
Opt out of File Provider doesn't work, and it keeps trying to update
Application Affected - Dropbox Desktop for Mac
Device - Macbook Air
Operating System/Browser (if using the web) - Mac OSx Tahoe 26.2
Dropbox App Version (if using the app) - whatever the latest version is on the website as this is a new install
Question or Issue
I'm very new with this, can anybody explain to me how I can beta build?
I can see that I have already posted this in my Follows section of My Settings of Dropbox Forum but when I click on the post I get an error message telling me that the post does not exist. I apologize for any duplicate posts.
I have a new Macbook Air so I started this Dropbox installation from scratch.
I made sure I still had an available device on my plan. I do.
I install Dropbox desktop for Mac from the Dropbox website.
I click the box ‘Save files as online only’
Underneath the Dropbox on File Provider header, I click the Opt Out box.
Click Done.
Within 30 minutes I get a pop up that shows 'Dropbox Update in Progress'.
I click the Learn More or Got It buttons – neither option stops the update
Within seconds the pop-up changes to Update Complete – here’s what changed
It forces me back into File Provider even though I have clearly opted out
I have followed the steps outlined on Dropbox website but I cannot stop my Mac from updating to File Provider - https://help.dropbox.com/installs/dropbox-for-macos-support
How do I get my Opt Out of File Provider to stick?
Hi MsDClark, prior to doing any deletion, please check that the Dropbox desktop application is linked to a normal Dropbox folder elsewhere on your machine in the preferences.
Once you're certain that it isn't linked to the CloudStorage folders, and you're certain that the files in CloudStorage are old and don't need to check them, you should be able to manually select the folder itself, (or the files within) and delete them from your machine.
26 Replies
I have an exact same situation as MsDClark . But I am less fortunate as it comes back with new storage location (cloudstorage) despite Opt-out and reinstalled in my original location. It just keep silently moving into the new cloudstorage location. This is just a repeat problem that I just posted today.
Hi all moderators, do you recommend to kill /library/application support/fileprovider files as the above user suggested?
Highly appreciated any advice.
Opting out of File Provider on Mac OS doesn't work | The Dropbox Community
If you're trying to stay on legacy mode and the Finder extension won't work, check for a ghost FileProvider domain in ~/Library/Application Support/FileProvider/com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/. This directory is managed by macOS, not Dropbox, and persists across reinstalls and opt-outs.
Even if you opt out of FileProvider, the domain registration can stay behind and causes Dropbox to disable the garcon Finder extension on every startup. Removing it (rm -rf after quitting Dropbox, then sudo killall fileproviderd) fixed the Finder extension for me.
Thank you for patiently helping me. Yes, the the Dropbox folder location is under the User folder on the hard drive. I will delete the cloudstorage files
- Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi MsDClark, prior to doing any deletion, please check that the Dropbox desktop application is linked to a normal Dropbox folder elsewhere on your machine in the preferences.
Once you're certain that it isn't linked to the CloudStorage folders, and you're certain that the files in CloudStorage are old and don't need to check them, you should be able to manually select the folder itself, (or the files within) and delete them from your machine.
Thank you Nancy. I signed out of Dropbox, signed back in so i could choose Advanced Settings then OptOut. It has been a couple of hours with no pop up.
Now, how do I delete the old File Provider files that are located in CloudStorage? I do have a regular Dropbox folder and also one dated back to 2-3-26 under CloudStorage. I don't want to risk losing the files I need stored in a cloud.
Who marked this as solution? This is MY POST!
Since it is supposedly fixed, can I just change preferences to Opt Out and the cloudstorage will clean itself up or do I have to go through the steps to do an Advanced Reinstall again? If it is the latter then this will have to wait as I have too many work projects to complete before I can invest the time to do this again.
As of today, February 5, it looks like it is fixed. However, I did find that it left behind copies of my Dropbox in the CloudStorage folder. I verified that the local Dropbox folder under my user name is complete and updating correctly.
Mac users who have opted out of File Provider may want to check their Cloud Storage folder and have verified that the folder under their user name is complete and being updated.
I found these and am deleting them. That is a lot of space for a small SSD drive.
- Neal
Community Manager
Hi MsDClark & Techmom236,
Thanks for providing all of that information.
I've reported this internally to our engineers and they've let me know that there was a bug that they have now fixed.
Feel free to try again and let me know how you get on (they said it could take a few hours to come into effect).
