My computer "couldn't start Dropbox" due to a permissions error

[ecm0415]

I'm operating on Mac OS Monterey v. 12.1 and keep getting a message saying my computer "couldn't start Dropbox.  This is usually because of a permissions error.  Storing your home folder on a network share can also cause an error."  I've run an advanced reinstall per this advice on this page (https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/desktop/advanced-reinstall) but the error message keeps showing up and I can't get Dropbox to install or start.  Here's the error 77 message that shows up in TextEdit:

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 140.4.1951
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 52
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: a5a4f246-3332-5f6b-9e09-dce4cba06514
pid: 440
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='ecn0415', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Erin Martin', pw_dir='/Users/ecn0415', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='ecn0415', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Erin Martin', pw_dir='/Users/ecn0415', 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', 'ecn0415', '_carddav', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'ecn0415', '_carddav', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/ecn0415'
appdata: '/Users/ecn0415/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/ecn0415/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/ecn0415/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/ecn0415/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/9f/brpqpbwn7czb3zsn8h84l2300000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/9f/brpqpbwn7czb3zsn8h84l2300000gn/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 838, in wrapper
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6617, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 313, in _wrapped
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6165, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6089, in create_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 218, in make_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 268, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 250, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 198, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 217, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 529, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 133, in __init__
File "desktop/extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__
nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to register icons |>> Reading existing xattr |>> fgetxattr syscall: determined size |>> Permission denied"

[Megan · Accepted solution]

Hi @ecm0415, welcome to our Community! 

Let's see what we can do about it. 

Have you also tried the steps shown in this thread? If not, can you give them a go? 

I'll be waiting for an update.

[ecm0415]

That finally fixed it, thank you!

[jral]

Hi Megan! I followed the instructions you gave, but I'm still not getting the problem fixed. I still keep getting the "Couldn't start Dropbox because of a permissions error" message when I try to use the desktop app. The only way I can use Dropbox is to access it online. I'm running OS Monterey. 

[Walter]

Hey @jral, sorry to jump in here, but could you try an advanced reinstall and let us know how it goes?

[Papawasabi]

I have a similar problem. I tried the recommended steps - nothing helped. Finally moved my DB app to the trash and downloaded a new one. The installer will not open though. I am quite stuck now. My error code:

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 140.4.1951
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 52
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: 243c2bd1-753d-5548-99fe-f246d6e09dd5
pid: 542
ppid: 1
uid: 503
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='fishwilliam', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=503, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Fish William', pw_dir='/Users/fishwilliam', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='fishwilliam', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=503, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Fish William', pw_dir='/Users/fishwilliam', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
euid: 503
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'fishwilliam', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'fishwilliam', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/fishwilliam'
appdata: '/Users/fishwilliam/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/fishwilliam/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=503 gid=20
parent mode=0o40700 uid=503 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/fishwilliam/Desktop/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/fishwilliam/Desktop/Dropbox'
mode=0o40700 uid=503 gid=20
parent mode=0o40700 uid=503 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=503 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=503 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/t4/xgtkx5894_n84w2hz_47d6wr0000gq/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/t4/xgtkx5894_n84w2hz_47d6wr0000gq/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=503 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=503 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 838, in wrapper
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6617, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 313, in _wrapped
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6165, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6089, in create_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 218, in make_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 268, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 250, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 198, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 217, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 529, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 133, in __init__
File "desktop/extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__
nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Marking Nucleus cache directory as ignored |>> Writing to xattr |>> fsetxattr syscall: write_xattr |>> Permission denied"

[Walter]

Hey @Papawasabi, sorry to hear about this.

Could you please perform a clean, advanced reinstall and let us know how it goes?

[jral]

Walter, thanks for your suggestion, but I don't know enough about terminal to be comfortable with using it. I think I need someone at Dropbox to help me, but it seems the only direct support they offer is to large business accounts.

[Papawasabi]

I restarted again, and tried the install again. It seems to be working now, many thanks.

[mrsamiam]

I have tried all of the suggestions, reinstalled and still have permissions issues.  Here is the error log.

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 141.4.3299
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 52
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: 119dcd2e-ea3d-49b5-ae67-b24de5798723
pid: 14352
cwd: 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Dropbox\\Client'
real_path='C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Dropbox\\Client'
mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: None
appdata: 'C:\\Users\\jstic\\AppData\\Local\\Dropbox\\instance1'
real_path='C:\\Users\\jstic\\AppData\\Local\\Dropbox\\instance1'
mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
dropbox_path: 'C:\\Users\\jstic\\Dropbox (J Tice CPA)'
real_path='C:\\Users\\jstic\\Dropbox (J Tice CPA)'
mode=0o40555 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
sys_executable: 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Dropbox\\Client\\Dropbox.exe'
real_path='C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Dropbox\\Client\\Dropbox.exe'
mode=0o100777 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
trace.__file__: 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Dropbox\\Client\\141.4.3299\\python-packages.zip\\dropbox\\client\\ui\\common\\boot_error.pyc'
real_path='C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Dropbox\\Client\\141.4.3299\\python-packages.zip\\dropbox\\client\\ui\\common\\boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
TMP: C:\Users\jstic\AppData\Local\Temp
TEMP: C:\Users\jstic\AppData\Local\Temp
tempdir: 'C:\\Users\\jstic\\AppData\\Local\\Temp'
real_path='C:\\Users\\jstic\\AppData\\Local\\Temp'
mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40777 uid=0 gid=0
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox\client\main.pyc", line 838, in wrapper
File "dropbox\client\main.pyc", line 6619, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox\client\message_queue.pyc", line 313, in _wrapped
File "dropbox\client\main.pyc", line 6167, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox\client\main.pyc", line 6091, in create_sync_engine
File "dropbox\sync_engine_boundary\factory.pyc", line 218, in make_sync_engine
File "dropbox\sync_engine\nucleus\classic_client\sync_engine.pyc", line 268, in __init__
File "dropbox\sync_engine\nucleus\classic_client\modern_client\modern_client.pyc", line 250, in __init__
File "dropbox\sync_engine\nucleus\classic_client\modern_client\base.pyc", line 202, in __init__
File "dropbox\sync_engine\nucleus\classic_client\thin_adapter\in_proc.pyc", line 217, in __init__
File "dropbox\sync_engine\nucleus\classic_client\thin_adapter\in_proc.pyc", line 529, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox\sync_engine\nucleus\thin_client\client.pyc", line 133, in __init__
File "desktop\extensions\nucleus\nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__
nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to initialize dbx cache directory |>> NtSetBasicInformation syscall: new handle |>> ACCESS_DENIED |>> Permission denied"