"Dropbox cannot start / Dropbox ran into a connection issue" error (macOS Monterey)

[Davide_Saraceno]

Hi,

Dropbox app used to load at startup and work smoothly on my Mac but since a few weeks Dropbox can’t load at startup, giving the following error dialog: 

"Dropbox cannot start / Dropbox ran into a connection issue"

I click OK and get another error dialog: "Couldn't start Dropbox. This may be a temporary error. Please restart Dropbox. For more information, click the help button.” so I get the error log (see below) and click OK.

After these steps I’m always able to open Dropbox app from the Applications folder and everything works fine.

So, my issue is only at startup time, when some sort of "connection issue” happens.

Please be aware that I’ve already done an advanced re-install (twice!) and all the necessary Accessibility/Full Disk Access/Files and Folders settings are ok.

Could you help me?

Thanks,

Davide

ERROR LOG:

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox

bn.VERSION: 164.4.7914

bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 58

bn.is_frozen: True

machine_id: 66e79de1-ab71-531b-992f-a38302c1a335

pid: 522

ppid: 1

uid: 501

user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='davide', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Davide Saraceno', pw_dir='/Users/davide', pw_shell='/bin/bash')

effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='davide', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Davide Saraceno', pw_dir='/Users/davide', pw_shell='/bin/bash')

euid: 501

gid: 20

egid: 20

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

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

DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None

cwd: '/'

     real_path='/'

           mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

     parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

HOME: '/Users/davide'

appdata: '/Users/davide/.dropbox/instance2'

         real_path='/Users/davide/.dropbox/instance2'

               mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20

         parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20

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

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

                    mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20

              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/mn/ph2x348500l0qcmb5jl0bx2r0000gn/T'

         real_path='/private/var/folders/mn/ph2x348500l0qcmb5jl0bx2r0000gn/T'

               mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20

         parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 807, in wrapper

  File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6259, in finish_dropbox_boot

  File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 306, in _wrapped

  File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5801, in _init_components_for_account

  File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5725, in create_sync_engine

  File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 225, in make_sync_engine

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 245, in __init__

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 322, in __init__

  File "dropbox/client/gandalf/legacy.pyc", line 296, in add_on_changed_callback

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 473, in _update_feature_configs

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_thin_client.pyc", line 286, in UpdateFeatureConfigForFswRules

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/fp_client.pyc", line 236, in __getattr__

dropbox.sync_engine.nucleus.thin_client.exceptions.NucleusConnectionTimeoutError: Nucleus clients are not running. Connection error: None

[Walter]

Thanks for the coopearation @superudi 

I've just sent you an email to the email address that's associated with your profile here, on our Community. 

Whenever you get the chance, please have a look at your inbox and we'll take it from there. 

[markus_4x4]

I've got the same Dropbox connection issues, but I don't even use Apple Mail, nor I start it at boot up. So maybe it's helping some people, but in my case that is not the issue. My work around for the moment is to go back to the traditional installation with a dropbox folder location outside the "cloud storage" section. Then everything works as usual.

[SS71]

I am having the same issue after installing Ventura version13.5.

Dropbox doesn't start at all. 

below is the log file:

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 174.4.5852
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 61
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: f9c79adb-9d2a-51c1-a2f9-62de58c5c601
pid: 8536
ppid: 1
uid: 502
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='Suhail', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Suhail Shaker', pw_dir='/Users/Suhail', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='Suhail', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Suhail Shaker', pw_dir='/Users/Suhail', 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'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/Suhail'
appdata: '/Users/Suhail/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/Suhail/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20
parent mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/Suhail/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/Suhail/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20
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/_8/gtwqgsp575j75gcsx5ql0fg80000gp/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/_8/gtwqgsp575j75gcsx5ql0fg80000gp/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 828, in wrapper
File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 6444, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "desktop/dropbox/client/message_queue.py", line 306, in _wrapped
File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 5986, in _init_components_for_account
File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 5910, in create_sync_engine
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.py", line 225, in make_sync_engine
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.py", line 243, in __init__
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.py", line 324, in __init__
File "desktop/dropbox/client/gandalf/legacy.py", line 296, in add_on_changed_callback
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.py", line 487, in _update_feature_configs
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_thin_client.py", line 286, in UpdateFeatureConfigForFswRules
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/fp_client.py", line 236, in __getattr__
dropbox.sync_engine.nucleus.thin_client.exceptions.NucleusConnectionTimeoutError: Nucleus clients are not running. Connection error: Error Domain=com.dropbox.fileprovider.error Code=5 "(null)" UserInfo={NSUnderlyingError=0x600003d3b8a0 {Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4099 "Error while sending fetchServicesForItemID:allowRestrictedSources:completionHandler:" UserInfo={NSDebugDescription=Error while sending fetchServicesForItemID:allowRestrictedSources:completionHandler:, NSUnderlyingError=0x600003d3a1f0 {Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4099 "The connection from pid 8654 on anonymousListener or serviceListener was invalidated from this process." UserInfo={NSDebugDescription=The connection from pid 8654 on anonymousListener or serviceListener was invalidated from this process.}}}}}

[Walter]

Hey @SS71, sorry to hear about this.

Can you please let us know if you rebooted your computer since you first got this error?

If you did, have you tried reinstalling it?

Let us know of any updates!

[SS71]

Hello,

Yes, I did reboot the macbook pro and deleted and reinstalled Dropbox without much luck.

[markus_4x4]

I had the same issue and neither rebooting nor reinstalling solved it. The only solution in my case is to run the older version of Dropbox and NOT update it to the version, where the storage location is changed to the new "cloud storage" section on the filesystem. There really is something going wrong with the new Dropbox version for macOS.

[SS71]

Thank you for the advice.

How can get the older version of Dropbox?

[markus_4x4]

I followed these instructions: https://help.dropbox.com/en-en/installs/advanced-reinstall

This worked for me as I'm on macOS Monterey. I'm not sure about macOS Ventura though...

[Bud S.1]

Reinstalling Dropbox using the link also worked for me.

[Marie Starr]

Hi guys, trying to login and can't. Using an old Mac that a colleague was logged into and dropbox won't launch and let me log in. Here' the error message:

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox

bn.VERSION: 185.4.6054

bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 67

bn.is_frozen: True

machine_id: b2a83de0-3708-522a-8ee9-6fdaf2e4b433

pid: 654

ppid: 1

uid: 502

user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='***', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='*** ***', pw_dir='/Users/***', pw_shell='/bin/bash')

effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='***', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='*** ***', pw_dir='/Users/***', 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', 'sinead', '_nsurlstoraged'])

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

DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None

cwd: '/'

     real_path='/'

            mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

     parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

HOME: '/Users/***'

appdata: '/Users/***/.dropbox/instance2'

         real_path='/Users/***/.dropbox/instance2'

                not found

         parent not found

dropbox_path: None

                    not found

              parent not found

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/5r/xc6ktg6557733zb6wsfz4qrm0000gp/T'

         real_path='/private/var/folders/5r/xc6ktg6557733zb6wsfz4qrm0000gp/T'

                mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20

         parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 1282, in safe_makedirs

  File "desktop/dropbox/fsutil.py", line 706, in safe_makedirs

  File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/os.py", line 213, in makedirs

  File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/os.py", line 213, in makedirs

  File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/os.py", line 223, in makedirs

PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/Users/***'

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 8106, in main_startup

  File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 2738, in initialize

  File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 1683, in startup_low

  File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 1291, in safe_makedirs

  File "desktop/dropbox/fsutil.py", line 706, in safe_makedirs

  File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/os.py", line 213, in makedirs

  File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/os.py", line 213, in makedirs

  File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/os.py", line 223, in makedirs

PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/Users/sinead'