Dropbox on Mac not starting after recent upgrade

[sejutibasu]

Hello everyone!

I am using Mac OS Monterey 12.6.2

I received a Dropbox prompted upgrade recently, which shifted the Dropbox folder to Cloud storage. It took few hours to sync files and worked okay. From this morning, Dropbox app is not opening. 

The error message says - (Screenshot attached) Couldn't start Dropbox. This may be a temporary error. Please restart Dropbox. For more information, click the help button. If the issue persists, please contact Dropbox support with the following info for help (This link opens a text file with the error code pasted below).

If anyone knows the solution, please help. I tried installing an old stable build, tried the most recent build, did not work. 

Also, the Dropbox folder although located in the "Cloud Storage" folder, does not show up on "Locations" anymore - which it did for the last 2-3 days after the upgrade.

Sincerely,

Sejuti

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 166.3.2891
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 59
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: 026d4a6e-63a6-50b5-ba54-40a552b90f30
pid: 7411
ppid: 1
uid: 502
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='raf1', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='RAF24', pw_dir='/Users/raf1', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='raf1', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='RAF24', pw_dir='/Users/raf1', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
euid: 502
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'raf1', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'raf1', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/raf1'
appdata: '/Users/raf1/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/raf1/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=80
parent mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=80
dropbox_path: '/Users/raf1/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/raf1/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=80
parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=502 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/wj/939t0nbj16b3wpfs0q779htc0000gp/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/wj/939t0nbj16b3wpfs0q779htc0000gp/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5154, in _setup_root_for_account
File "dropbox/sync_root/helpers.pyc", line 481, in get_root_for_account
File "dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.pyc", line 853, in result
File "dropbox/sync_root/handlers/macos/file_provider.pyc", line 121, in set_result_or_convert_exception
dropbox.mac.internal.MacError: [Errno -2001] Error Domain=NSFileProviderErrorDomain Code=-2001 "No valid file provider found with identifier com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/1a7b1213-4ffc-4b6b-8757-f4beb48082ee." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=No valid file provider found with identifier com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/1a7b1213-4ffc-4b6b-8757-f4beb48082ee.}

[sejutibasu]

Below is the original message from this morning.

The one posted above is what I received after trying to install other versions available under "Desktop Client build" listings.  I have gone back and forth trying to install old and new versions. But none of them solved the issue.

Sincerely,

Sejuti

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 165.4.4300
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 59
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: 026d4a6e-63a6-50b5-ba54-40a552b90f30
pid: 1959
ppid: 1
uid: 502
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='raf1', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='RAF24', pw_dir='/Users/raf1', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='raf1', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='RAF24', pw_dir='/Users/raf1', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
euid: 502
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'raf1', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'raf1', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/raf1'
appdata: '/Users/raf1/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/raf1/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=80
parent mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=80
dropbox_path: '/Users/raf1/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/raf1/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=80
parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=502 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/wj/939t0nbj16b3wpfs0q779htc0000gp/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/wj/939t0nbj16b3wpfs0q779htc0000gp/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5150, in _setup_root_for_account
File "dropbox/sync_root/helpers.pyc", line 481, in get_root_for_account
File "dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.pyc", line 853, in result
File "dropbox/sync_root/handlers/macos/file_provider.pyc", line 121, in set_result_or_convert_exception
dropbox.mac.internal.MacError: [Errno -2001] Error Domain=NSFileProviderErrorDomain Code=-2001 "No valid file provider found with identifier com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/1a7b1213-4ffc-4b6b-8757-f4beb48082ee." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=No valid file provider found with identifier com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/1a7b1213-4ffc-4b6b-8757-f4beb48082ee.}

[sejutibasu · Accepted solution]

Uninstalled Dropbox.

Deleted Dropbox folder.

De-linked the computer from online account.

Removed all temporary files following a Community post.

Installed Dropbox again, logged in, didn't use the update.

Dropbox folder back on user folder and not in Location.

Files syncing now.

Not the perfect solution, but best I could do after a long online chat, multiple emails and then no response from Dropbox team for 8 hours. I like Dropbox. But today very disappointed with support service. 

[coachjanem]

Thanks SO MUCH for your post.  I was having the same issue.  I did what you said.  Reinstall worked.  

I did have to dig around a bit to find the community post you were referencing.  I never found the exact one but I found something else online that seemed to do the trick to help me clear out cached files.  If you have the link to that community post, it might make it easier for my next computer (I have to do this on 2 of them).

Thanks again!

Jane

[sejutibasu]

@coachjanem  Thank you for your reply! Scrolling back I also could not find the exact post either. 

But I found this article online which mentions the exact steps that worked for me. 

https://www.macube.com/how-to/uninstall-dropbox-from-mac.html 

Hope this helps. 

Sejuti

[sejutibasu]

@coachjanem 

Found the posts. Linking them below.

Community post 1 - This helped find all the files. (Also mentioned on the link I shared earlier). 

Community post 2 - used the link to the Help Centre article mentioned in the reply - did not need all of it. But it was useful. 

Sejuti

[Bianchi Sound]

That's ridiculous. I have the same problem, with the added problem that since the "Upgrade" (LOL) any time I try to move files on my Mac desktop, the transfers are taking forever. Dropbox screwed something up with my file system somehow. I can't believe I'm actually paying for this. Maybe not for much longer...

'

'

[sejutibasu]

Sorry to hear about this. Hopefully going back to old settings/re-installing would work for you as well.

I saw many in the community are facing the same issue. This is still at Beta stage, to keep up with all the recent changes on Mac. Hopefully, the team will figure it out soon. I like the DropBox app. For the time being, I need to be patient and not click on the Beta upgrades. 

[altarthedeer]

When I opened the app, it prompts me this error, and immediately shuts itself down:

I use MacOS Ventura 13.3. I tried reinstalling the app, yet it did not work.

Here is the error I got:

This may be a temporary error. Please restart Dropbox.

For more information, click the help button.

Couldn't start Dropbox.

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox

bn.VERSION: 170.4.5895

bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 61

bn.is_frozen: True

machine_id: 78bfae4c-2acb-536b-881e-85fa8ccf3ffc

pid: 17217

ppid: 1

uid: 501

user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='altar', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Altar Lüser', pw_dir='/Users/altar', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')

effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='altar', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Altar Lüser', pw_dir='/Users/altar', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')

euid: 501

gid: 20

egid: 20

group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'altar'])

effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'altar'])

DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None

cwd: '/'

     real_path='/'

            mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

     parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

HOME: '/Users/altar'

appdata: '/Users/altar/.dropbox/instance1'

         real_path='/Users/altar/.dropbox/instance1'

                mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20

         parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20

dropbox_path: '/Users/altar/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'

              real_path='/Users/altar/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'

                    not found

              parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20

sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'

                real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'

                      mode=0o100755 uid=501 gid=20

                parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20

trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'

                real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'

                      not found

                parent not found

tempdir: '/var/folders/3t/6s588t1n0g7g900_9hfrw1z00000gn/T'

         real_path='/private/var/folders/3t/6s588t1n0g7g900_9hfrw1z00000gn/T'

                mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20

         parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5196, in _setup_root_for_account

  File "dropbox/sync_root/helpers.pyc", line 511, in get_root_for_account

  File "dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.pyc", line 853, in result

  File "dropbox/sync_root/handlers/macos/file_provider.pyc", line 121, in set_result_or_convert_exception

dropbox.mac.internal.MacError: [Errno -2001] Error Domain=NSFileProviderErrorDomain Code=-2001 "No valid file provider found with identifier ‘com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/b578db89-c49e-459f-adfa-1a2775acb6ae’." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=No valid file provider found with identifier ‘com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/b578db89-c49e-459f-adfa-1a2775acb6ae’.}

[Megan]

Hi @altarthedeer, thanks for posting here today! 

Did you try quitting the app and relaunching it at all?  Could you check if this persists after rebooting your computer?

If it does, you may need to perform a clean, advanced reinstall.

In any case, please keep me posted!