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Green checkmarks are missing on my Mac's Dropbox folders.
Device Apple MacBook Pro, 16 inch, 2021, M1 Max Operating System/Browser (if using the web) MacOS Tahoe 26.2 (25C56) Dropbox App Version (if using the app) 241.4.4853 Syncing Status Up to date Question or Issue I've noticed that the dropbox folders on my local drive are no longer displaying the green checkmarks to indicate which of them are synced locally. Both my operating system and app are up-to-date and I've tried all the obvious troubleshooting techniques; closing/restarting/reinstalling the app, restarting my laptop, relaunching finder, etc. This will really affect my work if I can't resolve it ASAP, so could someone please suggest how I may be able to get the sync icons back please? Many thanks, Ben
Updating to File Provider API has made my Mac unusable
Hi all, I'm joining the "File Provider API broke my computer" dance and sure wish I had read more in this forum before attempting to update. Dropbox had consistently been using 600-800MB RAM even when idle, so I was hoping the update would fix the issue (it did not). The update initially ran smoothly, and I left the computer to index and the files to repopulate overnight. The next morning, after indexing, I restarted my computer, upon which Dropbox would hang on the “Connecting components” message during startup. All files in the newly-constructed Dropbox folder in the user CloudStorage library appeared correctly (all there and showing the correct amount of storage used), but none of the files could be opened (double-clicking or right click+open yielded no result). Even worse, when attempting to relaunch finder to resolve the issue, my computer would freeze until a forced reboot. This rendered my computer totally unusable, so I booted in safe mode, disabled Dropbox on startup, and followed these instructions to revert to the pre-updated dropbox library structure, including a clean reinstall: https://help.dropbox.com/installs/dropbox-for-macos-support . The folders repopulated correctly and I can open and save files in the original [User]-dropbox library, but now I am facing several other peculiar and crippling issues: 1) saving files works, but attempting to save-as or export-as any file located anywhere on the computer crashes whatever program is trying to execute the task (tested in preview, textedit, excel, and word so far) 2) Dropbox fails to launch about 50% of the time, hanging on “Starting…”. I can navigate through the desktop dropbox interface, but I am not logged in nor able to log in. The issue persists until the program is relaunched. 3) when I select the option to delete the now-unconnected dropbox folder under [User]->Library->CloudStorage->Dropbox and confirm my selection, nothing happens. 4) The finder interface no longer shows any Dropbox options when right clicking on a file that’s stored in dropbox. I tried to follow the these instructions to resolve the issue: https://www.dropboxforum.com/discussions/101001012/sync-icons-missing-in-the-dropbox-folder-in-finder/596014/replies/599554 . However, finder crashes whenever I attempt to relaunch in. After restarting the computer with Finder Extension privileges rechecked, the buttons do not appear. I am running my laptop on OS Ventura 13.7.8 (22H730) on a 2017 Intel MacBook Air and using dropbox version 241.4.4853 on a plus account. Dropbox is using 350-400MB of RAM whenever it is open, regardless of login or sync status. fileproviderd is operating at 50-100% CPU usage regardless of whether Dropbox is open. Files appear to sync correctly when Dropbox launches successfully, and files that I remember are saved online-only (because I can’t see this when right-clicking on them) redownload correctly when opened. Any other troubleshooting to try? I've obviously spent far too long on this already, and I'm not hopeful that the issue can be fixed. I'll leave the computer on to think overnight and hopefully rebuild whatever libraries are causing this issues, but otherwise I'm mostly hopeful that I will be able to uninstall Dropbox far enough that my laptop works again. I understand the API quagmire is partially Apple's fault, but dropbox has had multiple years to address these issues and appear to be having the same issues as at the initial launch.My macOS desktop app has been stuck syncing 10MB for 3 days.
Application Affected Dropbox Device MacBook Air Operating System/Browser (if using the web) OS 15.7.3 Dropbox App Version (if using the app) 238.4.6305 Question or Issue Three days ago I noticed an error message at the top of the finder window which was open to my Dropbox folder (stored in "locations"). The message said something to the effect that my Dropbox app couldn't be found. I thought that was strange, because Dropbox was open. So I quit the app and then reopened it, and that's when things really started getting strange. Now, day three, Dropbox is constantly in sync mode. The icon up in the task bar shows the circle of arrows, and when I click on it says syncing down at the bottom. But for most of the last two days there was no progress bar and no information about what was syncing. Now I'm getting "syncing [x number of files]." When I first looked this morning it was at 500+ 10 MB. Now it's down to 444 files, 9 MB. Progress! The thing is, I only use Dropbox for syncing one particular application, Scrivener. My entire storage on Dropbox is only 275 MB. It usually takes seconds to sync the updated files. The other strange thing is that on the activity monitor Dropbox never rises above 4% CPU. It's been going for more than 48 hours at a snail's pace to sync relatively tiny files. Possibly relevant, or just coincidental: about two weeks ago I cleared the data from the MacBook and reinstalled everything. After that, everything appeared to be in place and working just fine. This problem appeared after I returned from about 10 days travel over the holidays in which I was rarely on the computer. I've quit and reopened Dropbox multiples times. I've restarted the computer. None of it has helped.
Screenshot functionality no longer working in macOS Sonoma
Application Affected Dropbox, finder Device MacBook Pro 2019 Operating System/Browser (if using the web) Sonoma 14.8.3 Dropbox App Version (if using the app) 240.4.8609 Question or Issue The popup for Dropbox managing screenshots no longer appears on my Mac, for reasons unknown. I didn't change any of the settings regarding screenshots, and screenshots are enabled in Dropbox preferences. I've tried quitting and restarting Dropbox, I've tried restarting my Mac, and it doesn't seem to make a difference. macOS' built-in screenshot preview also stopped working at the same time.
Syncing icons are missing on Mac OS
Application Affected Dropbox desktop app / newest update as of 2/3/2026 Device M3 iMac Operating System/Browser (if using the web) Sequoia Dropbox App Version (if using the app) 241.4.4795 Question or Issue DB auto updated the other day. I am running the desktop app on 2 machines, an M3 and M4. Both the same OS. After the update, the M3 lost the BLUE Sync icon when syncing and then the GREEN icon when synced. Nothing has changed on the machine other than DB update. Now the M4 machine is running fine. No issues with the BLUE or GREEN icons. I did some research and it was suggested to remove any apps like ONE-DRIVE so I did remove it on the M3 but that didn't help. I also have ONE-DRIVE on the M4. So I need this fixed as I work off of DB all the time and need to know what it synced, what is being synced. So if anyone has a fix - that would be awesome. If there is a way to install the previous DB app that did work and turn off auto-update, that would be great. It is a little concerning that DB automatically updates its app without my permission and if there is a glitch that can corrupt or erase all my files, that could be a major issue. Glad this glitch is only the icons but it could be worse so I don't think DB should do auto-update. THANK YOU!
How to sync to an external Thunderbolt 3 SSD Drive on Mac?
Device Mac Studio M1 Max Operating System/Browser (if using the web) macOS Tahoe 26.2 Dropbox App Version (if using the app) (240.4.8609) Dropbox Plan (Plus) Question or Issue I have purchased a 2TB Thunderbolt 3 SSD to use as an external drive for Dropbox as I am running out of space on my 1TB drive in the Mac Studio. For the life of me, I cannot figure out a way in Preferences to point it to the external TB3 SSD drive. It says I am using Dropbox on File Provider and I cannot see the option that will allow me to point it to the external drive. I had previously done so in the past with no problems, till the update to macOS Tahoe when suddenly the link to the external USB-C drive was severed. It worked for a while as I have sufficient space on my 1TB and I did selective sync. Now, I am running out of storage space, I appreciate guidance.
QuickLook is flickering on Mac OS
Integration Affected Finder Device MacBook Air, M3, 16GB RAM Operating System/Browser (if using the web) macOS Tahoe 26.2 Dropbox App Version (if using the app) 242.3.5699 Question or Issue I have been having the same issue as described in this thread for at least 1 month. It makes Quick Look (and therefore Finder) really awful to use. If you try to QuickLook or preview a pdf, image, etc. the quicklook state resets and refreshes. For example, I navigate in Finder to a pdf in my dropbox. I press SPACE to quicklook the item. I scroll down the PDF. The QuickLook resets/refreshes and I lose my place in the document. There is a huge impact on everyday tasks. Troubleshooting efforts: I viewed this topic and followed the suggestions there. It did not help. If I quit the Dropbox app, the issue persists. I found something really interesting. If I look at the Path Bar at the bottom of Finder, the folder icons keep changing several times per second (matching the flickering in QuickLook). Sometimes the icons in the Path Bar show as blank gray squares with dashed outlines or Green folders with check marks. It appears that these mini icons are constantly changing. If I disable the Path Bar, then the flickering stops in the quicklook. Again this happens in the Dropbox section of Finder, and not elsewhere. I've shown an example of the two options I see flicker on the Path Bar. Again the file previews and quicklooks flicker also, which is more problematic. I point out the Path Bar as a potentially useful piece of information to determine the problem. Thank you!
