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Multiple Members with Multiple Mac Users

rbsalz

I have a Dropbox Business Advanced Plan. I am using two of the member accounts, one for business files and one for personal files. I want to separate silos for work and personal matters.

I use a Mac and have two user accounts set up, one for business and one personal.

I want to set up the business Mac user account to sync with with the DB user member account via the DB app. I want the Mac personal user to sync with the DB personal member account.

I downloaded the DB app and set up the Mac business user to sync with the DB business member. It works just fine.

I then set up the personal user to sync with the personal DB member account, and initially, it worked fine too. I could switch between user accounts and both DB member accounts synced with both Mac user accounts they way I intended.

But the next day, I logged onto the Mac as the business user and the DB app worked fine. When I logged into the personal user Mac account, the DB app wouldn't start. "Couldn't start Dropbox. This is usually because of a permissions error. Storing your home folder on a network share can also cause an error."

I can resolve by reinstalling the DB app, and setting up the personal account all over again. If I log out of one of the accounts, then log back in, I get the same error message.

I appreciate any help from anyone who has encountered this.

Thanks.

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rbsalz

All,

I believe my issue has been resolved. I heard from Isaac from Dropbox support:

"The development team has released a new beta version of the Dropbox desktop application that may resolve the issue you are experiencing.

If you would like, you can download this version of the Dropbox desktop application from the following link:

https://www.dropbox.com/downloading?build=71.3.105&plat=mac&type=full

If this resolves the issue, you should be able to continue using this version as it will update automatically to the next available build going forward."

I installed this version and set everything up again. I've been using it sparingly for the last few days and have not had any issues.

Good Luck.

All comments

Walter

Hey there @rbsalz - sorry to hear about this.

I'm not sure if this is indeed related but I've seen some similar reports recently.

Could you try re-installing one last time for both user profiles using our latest version's stable build's offline installer as found at the following page?

https://www.dropbox.com/downloading?build=70.4.93&plat=mac&type=full

Let me know how it goes please!

rbsalz

Is this version different from one that I installed 2 days ago?

Thanks.

Walter

You can check this out if you like @rbsalz!

To do this, simply take a look at the Dropbox icon in your menu bar and see what the exact message being displayed reads.

Even if you notice the same version on one of your instances, I'd still give our offline installer a go!

Let me know of any updates!

rbsalz

I’ll try. Thanks.

Chris_J

Hello rbsalz

Often, I refer Mac users to look at this article: https://help.dropbox.com/syncing-uploads/stuck-syncing

Pay extra attention to the Subheading regarding permission. I would do the steps it listed to fix permissions.

Hopes this helps

GFP

I just set up a new Mac Mini and have the same problem. I've got three users, and logged in as anyone of them I can download a new version of the dropbox App and set up sync. But when I then log out, and log in as a different user, the dropbox app won't work and I get "couldn't start dropbox" error message again. So I download a fresh version of dropbox, get that working, log out, login to the previous account, that was working, and now it's broken. Help?

Chris_J

Hello GFP

Fyi, when you are running the Desktop CLient, one links there account via tokens once authentication is done with Dropbox servers. You can't log out and log in as it doesn't really use username and password. If this is the case, you would need to unlink it.

you can view the links devices here https://www.dropbox.com/account/security

also you can unlink it by clicking on the X on the right hand side of the device name

Hopes this helps

GFP

Chris, in this case I have one machine, two different users, with two different dropbox accounts. But if one logs into their account and sets up dropbox, then the other user cannot get to their dropbox folders... Usually that works, multiple users on one machine, each able to get to their own dropbox folders. Am I missing something?

rbsalz

Seems like GFP and I are trying to accomplish the same thing, but are having the same issue. I find it ****** to believe it's not some kind of setting and/or permissioning issue. I also find it ****** to believe that there aren't thousands of other Mac users who also want to (or who have figured out how to) link DB member accounts with unique Mac user accounts residing on the same computer.

Chris_J

GFP

Desktop Client is an app that runs in the background which syncs anything put in a literal folder on your PC/Mac. But you only can have ONE account linked not two or Three. The only way is what I think you have been doing is thru the browser or what we call the Web interface, where you can log into any account that you have login info on and log out and go to the next. I think we are confused about what the Desktop Client is. Does this make sense?

also to make it clear, one account per user. If you are referring to two or more different user logins into your computer then it should work with one per user but only if you have multiple user accounts/desktop etc

rbsalz

Chris_J,

This is a Mac-specific issue. How familiar are you with Macs and User accounts?

I installed the DB app, ran it on Mac User account 1 linking it to DB business account Member account 1. That member account has it own unique email address log on and password. I then switched to Mac User account 2. I ran the DB app, and linked it to DB busines account Member 2, which also has a different email address log on and a different password. It worked fine all day...as long as I stay logged in to both Mac User accounts.

Things go sideways when I log out of then back into one of the Mac User accounts. I get the "Can't Start Dropbox" message.

Why is it that it works when initially set up, but then craps out when logging out of and back into Mac User accounts and/or when shutting down the Mac entirely then restarting?

rbsalz

Chris_J,

I appreciate the tip, but until I understand what the underlying issue is, I'm hesitant to try your fix. Thanks, though.

Chris_J

Thanks rbsalz

thanks for the details that you have given. It wasn't clear before that one has their own desktop login. Most people I deal with here at the forums, think multiple users means more than one user using the same desktop, email, etc. So I wasn't sure. I see clearly that you and others are having real problems. I do deal with Macs, I use one at work and I am using one at home.

But even then, I haven't got a clue why you are having this issue. I suggest emailing them about it by going here: https://www.dropbox.com/support/email/dropbox_app/submit

and good luck and sorry I couldn't help you

rbsalz

Chris_J,

No worries. Thanks for the thoughts.

I already had a lengthy conversation with a DB tech person who has esclated the issue. I just thought I'd try the forum while I was waiting for a response.

Thanks again.

Chris_J

it would be very helpful, if you are able to get it fixed, to list what helped on this thread so others who have the same issue can get the solution. Thanks

Walter

Hello people, sorry for the slightly delayed response.

@rbsalz: Thanks for the efforts so far and providing a detailed report. I've found your ticket on our system and passed your comments there to keep all the relevant info under the same email chain. You should be hearing from our higher level technician soon!

@GFP: I've just reached out via your Dropbox email address with some questions for you so we can have a more in-depth look into this with all of our tools at our disposal. Take a look at your inbox (ticket ID: 9151411) and we'll take it from there.

@Chris_J: Thanks for trying to assist on this one - much appreciated.

Have a lovely weekend!

razorback

hello, I have same issue. 2 user accounts and when I try to launch on the second one I have same error message :

"Couldn't start Dropbox. This is usually because of a permissions error. Storing your home folder on a network share can also cause an error."

Should I open a case too ? I already tried to uninstall, reinstall etc etc.

Thank you

Chris_J

Hello razorback

Thanks for reaching out here. Try to look at this article https://help.dropbox.com/syncing-uploads/stuck-syncing especially note where it says permissions errors, Click on the OS that you are using, then follow the suggestion. Also look under Permissions denied Section

Good luck

rbsalz

All,

I believe my issue has been resolved. I heard from Isaac from Dropbox support:

I installed this version and set everything up again. I've been using it sparingly for the last few days and have not had any issues.

Good Luck.

jeninejessica

Oh thanks heavens. We've been using two users signed into two different DB for years on our PC. Got an iMac last week and haven't been able to get it to work. Exact same issues you guys are having. DB support had no answers and just repeatedly told me to to the copy/paste four lines of code that does nothing. They clearly didn't even understand the problem I was havng with multiple computer login accounts wanting to each connect to their OWN dropbox. So frustrating trying to explain over and over knowing that they aren't getting it at all.

I'm just running out the door but so hopeful this will work!

GFP

Yahoo! That fixed it perfectly. Thank you!

jeninejessica

Yup, it's been several days and neither of us has had an error message or have to re-install and log back in. Yahoo!