Trying to update Dropbox app - "Let your files finish syncing" error message

[EricSummerer]

Hi, currently running Dropbox app version 167.4.4719 on Mac OS Ventura 13.2.

Trying to update the dropbox app via the "Update to the latest version" banner in the menu bar. The process always interrupts, with the message "Couldn't Update Dropbox: Let your files finish syncing, then try again." I've interrupted syncing for the day in the dropdown, but still get the error message, with no other options beyond backing out of the installer.

I'm afraid to uninstall and reinstall, as the update alludes to moving folders around, and I don't know how that will be handled with a fresh install. Is there anything else I can try?

[Walter]

Hi there @EricSummerer, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Have you ensured that the desktop app is 'up to date' and not still syncing your files in your menu bar before clicking on the banner to update?

If you did and this still persists, please send us a screenshot so that we can have a visual too.

Thanks!

[EricSummerer]

Thanks for the reply. How can I tell if the app is up to date? The pull down in the lower left says "Syncing...", but there's no progress bar or indication that it's working on a particular file. My Sync History only has results from 9 days ago. This hasn't changed in the three days since I've been trying to update.

Need to figure out how to get a screen shot from the machine that's having a problem (not the one where I'm typing this).

[Nancy]

Hi @EricSummerer! I hope you’re doing well. 

Have you perhaps tried to restart your device in the meantime? Do you see any difference to the app’s syncing status after that? 

It may sound trivial, but that’ll help us isolate the issue more. 

Let me know when you’ve got more updates!

[EricSummerer]

Hello again, folks.

Yes, I have restarted several times with no change to the syncing status or ability to upgrade to the new version.

My app window looks like this:

 And the error I get when trying to upgrade looks like this:

 As you can see from the transfer history, I was able to upload several files to dropbox earlier today, so transferring doesn't seem to be an issue. There's also nothing listed under Sync Issues when looking at my profile.

I do suspect something Dropbox-related is causing my system to hang at inopportune moments (like while I'm using Adobe Audition to record and edit audio), so I've taken to pausing syncing while working, which has so far solved the hanging (pinwheel of death) issue. I was hoping the update to the new version would solve these issues, but alas, it's simply causing more problems.

[Jay]

Hi @EricSummerer, could you try quitting all open apps from the menu bar and dock to see if this helps with the Dropbox update, in case it affects the migration?

[EricSummerer]

Closing everything didn't help, I'm afraid. Update installer still tells me I need to wait for syncing, though the app doesn't say what still needs to sync.

[Jay]

If you open the local Dropbox folder, do you see any files or folders with the blue syncing icon, or the grey circle?

[EricSummerer]

Not that I can see. Folders either have no icon, or a "cloud" icon. Files have either a green checkmark or a cloud icon as well. I can't find one that is still in the process of transferring.

[Hannah]

Hey @EricSummerer, sorry to jump in here!

There's just one more thing I'd like you to check.

Can you simply hover over the Dropbox icon with your mouse, without clicking it, to see if there are any sync errors there?