Dropbox Folder randomly disappears from the MacOS Finder

[Steven-in-OC]

I am using the latest version of MacOS, Ventura 13.0.

I am using the latest version of the Dropbox desktop app, V160.4.4703.

The Dropbox folder appears in the new place in the Finder under Locations.

The problem is that this folder randomly disappears.

The only way to get the Dropbox folder to come back is to do a Force Quit Finder.

It is inconvenient to have to keep doing the Force Quit Finder multiple times a day to get the Dropbox folder to reappear.

This is a bug in the Dropbox Mac integration, and I would like it to be reported.

[Megan]

Hey @Steven-in-OC, thanks for posting here today!

It might sound trivial, but have you rebooted your device after the update? Also, do you happen to have any screenshots of the folder disappearing, or not showing up?

Thanks a bunch!

[Steven-in-OC]

I rebooted my computer (MacBook Air 2020) as part of the upgrade to Ventura. When I posted my original comment, the Ventura upgrade had been the last time I rebooted.

I noticed that the Dropbox folder had moved from under Favorites to under Locations, which is what was supposed to happen after the Dropbox upgrade. I saved files to Dropbox in the new location for several days, before I noticed that it was suddenly gone yesterday. I tried quitting and restarting the Dropbox app, but that didn't fix it. I got the Dropbox folder back only after a did a Force Quit Finder. Once it was back, I saved files to Dropbox again successfully. But then several hours later, I wanted to save a file to Dropbox, and I noticed it was missing from the Finder again. This time I knew the workaround, so I Force Quit Finder again, and it came back.

I don't have a screen shot of the Dropbox folder disappearing. I only noticed it was missing when I wanted to save a file.

I just rebooted my computer again, since you asked about when I rebooted. After the reboot, Dropbox does appear under Locations. If the Dropbox folder disappears again, I will take a screenshot and follow up this post. I'm not sure how useful that will be though, since it will just show a list of Locations that does not include Dropbox. I am attaching here a screenshot of my Finder with Dropbox in its correct place under Locations.

[Hannah]

Thanks for the screenshot and the update, @Steven-in-OC.

Hopefully restarting the machine will do the trick and you won't have this issue again, but if you do, make sure to let us know.

Thanks!

[Steven-in-OC]

The Dropbox folder disappeared from my Finder again today. I am attaching a screenshot of the Finder with Dropbox missing.

I noticed, when I compared with the earlier screenshot, that not only is Dropbox missing, but so is Google Drive, which also recently moved its folder to Locations. Could be a defect with MacOS, or could be that both Dropbox and Google Drive are not integrating properly with MacOS. Both folders are restored when I force kill Finder.

[Jay]

Hi @Steven-in-OC, since it's affecting both cloud services, which are now required to use the CloudStorage folder, it's possible there may be a specific issue with Finder on your device, since we haven't experienced this issue, and rebooting it seems to work.

[david r]

The same thing has just happened to me. Suddenly Dropbox is gone from finder.  Dropbox top menu icon is still there and working.  I am using MacOS 10.15.7 on a mid 2015 iMac

[david r]

Follow-Up - think it is Finder. The Favourites had all gone and reselecting that heading brought them back

[marktb1961]

DropBox starting disappearing for me too me a few months ago. In my case, it is not associated with any other issues like Favourites. I have a link-folder that I copy back into the Locations area when it happens. I will just add that to Favourites, now I think about it.

[Nancy]

Hey @marktb1961! Hope you're doing well. 

Did this start happening following an update of the Dropbox app or your OS? 

Are you receiving any type of error messages, before the app crashes, or is this a silent crash instead?