Re: Dropbox stopped launching from Windows 11 start menu or taskbar

Yes, this has happened to me again today. Last time, it was a bit of version that had been installed due to a switch in the settings, but not this time. Like you, I’m on the latest version so no idea what the problem is. Will try to sort tomorrow if it doesn’t right itself overnight.

amk2, can you share with me the ticket numbers from your convo with our support team? I’d like to go through all the steps you’ve already taken, and go from there.

Ian_A6, if the issue persists, please send me the OS version of your device, as well as your current Dropbox app version.

Thanks Nancy.  The ticket number is 23013167.  It seems it might be an issue with the latest update of DropBox?  I am current with DropBox 188.4.6302.  

Thanks for that! I was able to go through your convo with our support agent. 

So, to make sure I got it right, what you’d like to achieve is to pin the Dropbox folder in your taskbar, correct?

I've been having the exact same problem and have been losing my mind over it. Can't access Dropbox from Windows 11 taskbar. It just spins and doesn't open, just like other have reported. I can open it from Windows pinned in the start menu by clicking the Windows icon.

Hi Nancy. No change this morning. Windows 11 (up to date). Dropbox 188.4.6302 (says up to date)

Thanks

Can confirm this is also affecting my work PC, which is Windows 10 (same dropbox version)

HI all, may I ask if you're running any antivirus, firewall, VPN/proxy setting or other 3rd party apps that could be interfering somehow on the affected computers? 

Also, can you confirm that you've rebooted your computer since you first noticed this too?  

If you've already reached out to our support team, please share your ticket ID too. 

No VPN etc and yes, rebooted and s till not working. Thanks

Hi everyone, could you try these steps in another post to see if they help with the behavior you're experiencing?

Not working, I'm afraid. The taskbar icon doesn't have a "properties "tab when right clicked, nor does the start menu icon. It's possible to add a direct shortcut to the Dropbox .exe file onto the start menu, which does then open Dropbox, but that can't be pinned to the taskbar.

Hey Ian_A6, can you also try to run an advanced reinstall, please? 

If this doesn't work, let me know and we may need to open a new ticket. 

Thank you, this gets it working again (updating the taskbar icon with the new link - right click the icon, then right click AGAIN when the little box pops up, select "properties.") Weird that it stopped working. AND it stopped working on ALL my computers! I have 3 I'm using - 2 Win 11, 1 Win 10 - all were no longer opening Dropbox from the taskbar icon!

Hi amk2, can I send you an email, in order for us to have a closer look into this? 

Also, just to make sure, it sounds like everything is back on track chippie, right? 

Hi amk2, whenever you're ready, and after trying Chippie's fix, and if the issue persists; you can respond back to this thread, and I'll go ahead and open a ticket on my end for you. 

As to why this is happening at that specific point in time, I'm not really sure about that. 

Hi, completed the Advanced Install which made no direct difference but that has now allowed me to use the other fix (changing the path in the taskbar icons properties) which wasn't possible before and that IS now launching the dropbox folder.

So, fixed, but there's clearly something wrong under the hood with the current version or it's relationship to a Windows update that needs sorting. 

Update - just realised that although the taskbar icon is now working, the icon in the Start menu does NOT open Dropbox and there's no Properties tab to open to try and edit the path. 

Hi Megan,

There is no 'properties' option either right clicking twice on the Drop Box icon in the systray nor the Dropbox icon next to the clock on the right next to the clock... It is an issue with current Dropbox / Windows 11 interface somehow.  I won't have much time today to try anything further, but let me know what is next and hopefully I can try this afternoon.  I'm working fine by getting access to Drop Box via the icon next to the clock on the bottom right at this point, but I am paying my own tech to remote in to make sure there are no ramifications to this sudden change to my computer that I am not aware of since I use this for my business and it happened so suddenly that I don't want to find out down the road that something else is happening that I'm not aware of as a result.   I hope DropBox figures this out so that we know what and why it happened. Thank you.

I am writing about a problem that just started today. Prior to today, on both my PC desktop and my PC laptop, when I clicked on the Dropbox icon on the taskbar, File Manager would open allowing me access to my files. Starting today with both of them, when I click on the taskbar icon I get a spinning blue circle for a couple of seconds then nothing happens. The same is true when I go into the Start menu and try to open Dropbox from there.

Dropbox works just fine from my Apple Ipad - the Dropbox icon opens the File Manager just like it always has. It also works fine from my Samsung mobile device. using the icon.

If I open the Dropbox Application from Dropbox.com through my server, Google Chrome, it works just fine, but I prefer to use the taskbar icon for convenience. Can anyone suggest a reason it stopped working today and, more importantly, what I can do to fix it? The loss of functionality has a big impact on using the software.

For background, I have Dropbox Essentials. My desktop runs Windows 10Pro and my laptop runs Windows 11. I have ESET Smart Security Premium on both. I've never had any issues with firewall or other blockages. To my knowledge, no settings on either device have changed.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Hi Megan,

Has anyone at Dropbox resolved this yet?  I am able to work from the Dropbox notifications Icon next to the clock on my Windows 11 machine, but still not able to work from the Windows File Explorer or the Drop Box icon in the systray.  I see that another person (RBCheek) suddenly has the same issue as the rest of us with Windows 11...  As Ian_A6 said in his comment, Dropbox needs to look into this further as more and more people are having the issue.  Thank you.  I hope to hear from you soon that Dropbox is going to provide an update to the Dropbox software that will fix this.

Hey everyone! 

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Our engineers are aware, and actively working towards a fix. 

We'll update you soon with further news! 

Megan - Another bit of information:  The Dropbox Icon in the Systray still works on Windows 10 (on a PC), and on Windows 11 Home (on a laptop).  It does not work on Windows 11 PRO.  Perhaps there is something different with Windows 11 Pro?   Just a thought for your software engineers to consider.  Thanks!