Dropbox folder automatically opens on startup

[anonymous]

Dear Dropbox Community,

Over the last weeks, I have noted a strange pattern with Dropbox (Version 82.4.155; Windows 10): On every Windows startup, my Dropbox folder opens automatically in the Windows Explorer. This usually does not happen after standby. My question: I do want Dropbox to start automatically as service upon startup, but I do not want the Dropbox folder to open automatically. Does anyone have an idea how to do this?

Many thanks in advance, kind regards

H

[Lusil]

Hello @anonymous, 

Welcome to the Dropbox Community - I' be more than happy to help. 

You should be able to select an option in your desktop app's settings so that Dropbox doesn't start upon startup:

• Click on the Dropbox icon on your menu bar. 
• Go to your avatar. 
• Selecting Preferences.. from the drop-down menu. 
• In the General tab, there should be an option to Start Dropbox on system startup. Ensure that the option is not checked. 

Let me know if this helps!

[anonymous]

Dear @Lusil ,

thank you very much for your quick reply!

Allow me to clarify: I do want Dropbox to start upon system startup. However, I do not want Dropbox to automatically open the Dropbox folder in the Windows explorer upon startup.  Therefore, unfortunately, unchecking "Start Dropbox on system startup " does not solve the issue at hand. From my understanding Dropbox usually should not launch the Explorer upon startup - or am I missing something here?

Best wishes, again many thanks for your reply,

H

[Lusil]

Thanks for getting back to me, @anonymous!

If you find that the desktop app is popping up every time you start your computer, could you please have a look if you have both the Start Dropbox on system startup and Open the desktop app when you start Dropbox options checked?

Let me know what you find!

[anonymous]

Dear @Lusil,

thank you for your quick reply - and apologies for my delayed response.

I do have the option "Start Dropbox on system startup" activated (because I want Dropbox to sync my files in the background once I sign on).

I usually do not have the option "Open the desktop app when you start Dropbox" activated (because I want Dropbox to sync my files in the background once I sign on). Following up on your comment, I have switched this option on. It results in my system first opening the Windows Explorer with the Dropbox Folder and then the Dropbox App opening as well.

Finally, I also have tried both options (Open Folder in [1] Dropbox App  and [2] Explorer). They both result in the Windows Explorer opening up automatically when I start the computer (i.e., they both produce the problem I described initially, irrespective for whether I have "Open the desktop app when you start Dropbox" activated or not-activated).

Best wishes
Hendrik

[Mahikhan]

Nice

[Lusil · Accepted solution]

Thanks for checking all that for me, @anonymous!

Hmm. Could you also try unchecking both of the boxes and see what happens then?

If the behavior doesn't get resolved, try reinstalling the latest version of the desktop app (83.4.152) - maybe that will do the trick. 

To do this:

1. Make sure you've saved and quit all apps that access files in the Dropbox folder.
2. Stop the desktop app (if needed) by selecting "Quit Dropbox".
3. Uninstall the desktop app.
4. When that finishes, reboot your computer to make sure the uninstall is complete.
5. Download and install the newest version from this link. 

If that comes to a dead end, don't hesitate to let me know the result and I'll make sure to get back to you as soon as possible. 

@Mahikhan, I just wanted to check if you're also experiencing the same behavior too? 

Let me know!

[anonymous]

Dear @Lusil,

thank you very much for your helpful suggestion: It worked!

In more detail: Unchecking "Start Dropbox on system startup" and "Open the desktop app when you start Dropbox" causes Dopbox to continue to start on system startup but prevents it from opening the Dropbox folder in the Windows Explorer upon startup.

Again, many thanks for your swift replies!

Best wishes

[Lusil]

Glad to have helped, @Mahikhan! 

Don't hesitate to give me a shout if you have any other questions.

In the meantime, have a wonderful day ahead! 

[anonymous]

Dear @Lusil,

unfortunately, the fix worked only temporarily.

After two days, Dropbox again automatically opens the Dropbox folder in the Windows Explorer upon startup. This also happens when unchecking both "Start Dropbox on system startup" and "Open the desktop app when you start Dropbox". In other words: Dropbox automatically opens the Dropbox folder in the Windows Explorer even when  Dropbox is not started (i.e., the Dropbox icon does not appear in the system tray).

Reinstalling Dropbox did not change this pattern.

Thank you very much in advance for any ideas on how to solve this issue.

Best wishes!

H