Child Item

Why Dropbox asks for a computer password upon each startup? (macOS HSierra, Mohave)

Hello!

Can someont please clarify why each time Dropbox App starts it askes for my computer login and password? Why does it even NEED my computer password?

See the screeenshot in attach. It's in Russian, but it tells us to enter my computer login and password "for Dropbox app to fuction properly". While it functions properly even without it! Official support told me that "Dropbox app never asks for computer password" which made me even more suspicious.

Yes, I _AM_ aware of the former problem when Dropbox App just forgot to ask about "Accessibility Access". But I provided this access manually in Security preferences tab -> Accessibility an Dropbox App still asks for my computer password upon startup! Further more, if you DO provide this password - next time it will only ask for permission to "Accessibility" instead of asking password again. I wonder where Dropbox App stores my very main password!

Just WTF

Find more posts tagged with

Setting Up the Apps

Desktop

Security

Mac

Spam

Insightful

Disagree

Accepted answers

All comments

Jay

Hi Alexander, most likely it’s related to this article.

Basically, the app needs this permission to automatically update itself, use the Badge, and Finder extensions along with some other features.

If this isn’t enabled, then you might miss out on these items.

As this is occurring each time you reboot, try re-installing the desktop app with admin permissions as per the following article.

Let me know how it goes!

AshleyB

Hi Jay,

I am having this issue constantly. I want to use it on an account that is not an administrator and that has parental control settings on. But every time we reboot, it still needs the dropbox administrator password. Any ideas?

Jay

Hi Ashley, it sounds like the issue is similar to this article.

Are you able to make any changes from here that might help?

Keep me posted!

AshleyB

Tried this. It still didn't like it.

Same message everytime.
Ashley

Jay

Most likely then it’s the parental controls that are preventing the app from loading without requiring the administrator password.

If there’s a way to disable certain apps from being affected by the controls, you’ll need to check with Apple to see if this is possible.

cob24

Hi!

I installed the Dropbox app for Mac OS few days ago. Since then, every time I start Mac OS a prompt appears asking for the root password for Dropbox to work properly. Why is the root password required for Dropbox to work properly? And how can I avoid it from asking everytime I start my computer?

Thanks.

Daphne

Hey there @cob24,

I've merged your post here as it seems that you're having the same issue. Can you please check Jay's reply here and let me know if reinstalling with admin permissions does the trick for you.

Keep me posted - thanks!

cob24

Hello! Thanks for your fast answer.

I have tried to uninstall an reinstall the app again and then I have tried what is in Jay's answer, that is, opening the setings app, clicking on users and groups, then login items and removing dropbox from there to readd it again later. Sadly this did not work out. I keeps prompting every time I open the app.

Daphne

Thanks for trying that @cob24!

Would you mind if I reached out to the email address associated with your Community profile? We'll be able to look at more account specific info through our Support channel.

If you already have a ticket open with our team for this, then please let me know the ticket number (eg. #1234567) so I can follow up there.

Let me know - thanks!

cob24

I have no open ticket yet, so feel welcomed to write to the e-mail address associated with this account.

Regards.

Daphne

I've reached out to your email address @cob24, so please just check your inbox when you have a moment and we'll go from there.

Thanks!

vmitchell

9/10/2019

I am removing DropBox from all my Apple devices due the simple reason that this is the only app I have that insists on asking for my SYSTEM password. Giving my system password essentially grants access to everything on my Mac. Dropbox has not exhibited this behavior until recently, and it is both annoying and scary. I am therefore moving my files to icloud [security is great, but otherwise not too friendly], instead of placing my computer data at risk when it has not been necessary until now.

Alexander M.29

Heh! I distinguised this problem 1,5 years ago.

Seems, nothing changed since that - NSA still wants full acces to our machines.

I intend to move to another cloud too, but just too lazy for that. Providing main system password for Dropbox is too much of a breach in my personal privacy to my mind. God f_k NSA!

I would welcome advice of another could storage with comparable compatibility with different services.

JamesRothschild

me too ... no ansa / resolution from dropbox