Dropbox Apple Silicon (M1) install

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ChrisBoxDrop wrote:

Apple barricaded kernel extensions on M1 chips. For an app that uses kernel extensions to work natively with M1, you have to boot into recovery mode and change a security setting. Dropbox obviously doesn't want to play ball because it's not a long-term solution.  A new API to access files and folders remotely was recently introduced and dropbox might be using that instead: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/fileprovider

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Apple is indeed pushing its File Provider framework. Recent updates from Microsoft (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-onedrive-blog/microsoft-works-to-ensure-a-great-onedrive-experience-on-apple/ba-p/2400803) showed that the future OneDrive implementation will use the File Provider framework.

I'm not sure if this is also the reason why Dropbox does not provide a native Apple Silicon version because Sync.com for example does have a native Apple Silicon app. My guess: Dropbox has dependencies and or custom frameworks that need to be ported to Apple Silicon. I also checked on my computer if Dropbox uses System Extensions, but I do not think they use them anymore, because my system does not report any System Extensions for Dropbox.

When using the File Provider framework there could be limits on functionality for third-party sync services like Dropbox. The added benefits for services like Dropbox and OneDrive will be limited to what Apple allows, which could be why it is taking so long for these companies to release a native Apple Silicon version. 

I do not care too much for an Apple Silicon version of Dropbox because decided to stop using Dropbox. iCloud works fine for my personal use, and for work we have Office 365 with included cloud storage. iCloud and OneDrive are also less resource intensive, and OneDrive announced a native Apple Silicon version.