Dropbox for macOS on File Provider. There is no /Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox located in my folder.

[RalphT]

I installed Dropbox for macOS on File Provider on my new iMac running the latest Sonoma OS. Your info states that the actual folder with my files is located at  /Users/***/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox. Here's what I found:

1. There is no /Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox located in my user folder.

 

2. Nor is there any /CloudStorage/Dropbox located in the users folder in my Macintosh drive.

Where are my actual files?

Are the files hidden?

[Megan]

Hi @RalphT, let's see what we can find on this together! 

As a first step, would you mind double checking for the little Dropbox icon, next to your WiFi on your menu bar? Is it there? 

If so, you should be able to click it, and access the app's preferences, in order for you to then access your Sync tab. The path of your Dropbox folder should be visible there. 

Can you check, and let me know what you find? Thank you!

[RalphT]

Hi Megan,

Yes, the Dropbox icon is there.

The path of the Dropbox folder shown in preferences is exactly where I copied the path from in my original post.

 

What I found is exactly what I posted above, as shown in the screenshots that I thought would have provided all the information necessary to show that the Dropbox folder is not where Dropbox says it should be.

[Megan]

Hey @RalphT, thanks for clarifying!

If you click the "Dropbox" path in Locations, where does it take you?

Also, can you access the folder by clicking the Dropbox icon, and then clicking the little folder icon in the pop-up? This should re-direct you in your Dropbox folder and their files.

[RalphT]

Megan,  you asked "If you click the "Dropbox" path in Locations, where does it take you?" I'm sorry, I guess I don't know what "Locations" you're referring to.

I did find this in a search:

How to find the Dropbox folder on a computer:

Open Finder and select Go to folder... from the Go menu. In the dialog box that appears, type ~/Dropbox/ and then press the return key.

When I tried this, all it did was beep after hitting return with no result as shown here.

[Jay]

Hi @RalphT, in your original post, the Dropbox folder is there on the bottom left, in the Locations section under LaCie. Are you able to open it from there?

[RalphT]

Ahhh! Okay, so you are referring to the Side Bar as Apple calls it. Yes, I am able to access my files in Dropbox there. My concern was that I could not see the actual original folder in the location that it's stated to be in, not necessarily how to access the files for daily use. Is there any explanation as to why the original file is not visible when I go to the specified location as illustrated in my original post?

[Hannah · Accepted solution]

Hey @RalphT!

You should be able to find the Dropbox folder under ~/Library/Dropbox, but Library is a hidden folder. 

Going to it via that ''Locations'' section in your screenshot’s bottom left is the way to go, but if you want to navigate to it from your "username" folder, you need to hit
Command + Shift + . (period) to see hidden folders. 

That should show Library inside ''username'' and then you can navigate through that.

[RalphT]

Thanks, Hanna. I had asked if the /Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox folder could be hidden and you were the first to confirm my suspicion. Thanks for the shortcut to see hidden folders as well.

[Hannah]

I'm glad I could clarify things, Ralph!

If you need anything else, please give us a shout.

Have a great day!