Dropbox app freezing Windows Explorer

[OscarV]

Hi!

I'm having troubles with the Dropbox desktop app. It is syncing correctly, and I can access it just fine through my Windows Explorer, but after selecting a file it crashes my Explorer.

I have tried several fixes, including making an exception for Dropbox in my Virusscanner and checking Firewall Issues. Also tried re-installing it (several times). 

Can you suggest an alternative fix?

Kind regards,

Oscar

[plakatos]

Hi,

I have the same issue on 2 of my 3 PCs. I am using Windows 10 pro, 64 bit (version 1903). When I try to open some folders, file explorer just crashes. I tried reinstall, and advanced re-installation. 

Thank you in advance for your help!

Peter

[Daphne]

Hey there @plakatos,

Can you try disabling any firewall/antivirus you may have on your computer to see if that helps with the issue you described?

Also, do you possibly have any symlinks within your Dropbox folder? You can check this with the steps mentioned here in point 7.

Finally, are you getting any error messages at all when File Explorer crashes?

Let me know what you find - thanks!

[plakatos]

Dear Daphne,

thank you, completely diabling my firewall/antivirus software (Bitdefender) did the trick. Now I will play around to try to figure out which exact feature causes the crash, and then I will contact Dropbox to see if they have a solution.

Thank you again!

Peter

[Daphne]

I'm very happy to hear that @plakatos!

If you have any other questions about this in the meantime then please don't hesitate to give me a nudge here, I'll be more than happy to help.

Have a great day - thanks!

[Tadidesign]

Hi, i have the same problem, Explorer crashed while opening a file with Office format (.xlsx , .docx , .xls...) systematically! Even just by clicking on the file (i mean not trying to open it) makes Explorer crashed! I've tried with some .pdf or .dwg or .jpeg and it works properly. So it seems to be between Dropbox and Office for Windows... Have you find a simple solution? Because i switched off Windows Defender and it didn't solve the problem. Thx in advance. Fred.

(Surface Book 2 with Windows 10 PRO 64)

[Tadidesign]

Anybody could bring some help please??

[Walter]

I'm sorry to hear about this @Tadidesign - let's have a look now!

As you mentioned that this problem occurs with your Office files, could you try to re-install both Office and our desktop app on the affected computer and let me know if the issue persists?

Thanks in advance and welcome to our Community!

[Tadidesign]

Hi, i've re-install both Office and Dropbox after erasing them from my HD folowing microsoft process and it worked for me. I've tried somes Word files, Excel files and it seems to be OK. I think the problem was the Office installation, escpecially Word...

So it's fine for now... 😉

Thx! Fred

[Walter]

Thanks for following up and letting us know about this Fred - it's most appreciated!

I'm glad to hear this is sorted now and please let us know if any issue or Dropbox question comes up; we're merely a post away 

Have a lovely day @Tadidesign!

[Timo4]

About a month ago the same problem started on my notebook.

When I try to open any Dropbox folder using Windows 10 File Explorer, Windows File explorer freezes.

I can however open Excel and Word files stored in Dropbox from within Word and Excel (File>Open) without a problem.

Did an advance reinstall of Dropbox and re-sync of all files but the problem remains unsolved. Windows File Explorer still freezes when I try to open any Dropbox stored files.

I can open files in the Dropbox (Old) directory without File Explorer freezing.

Any suggestions appreciated...