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How can I start the actual dropbox app in Windows 10 / not launching

I have the latest version of dropbox, and I have a dropbox folder on my Windows 10 PC. It is syncing normally. However, I want to access the actual dropbox app in order to change the sync folder location. The problem is I cannot find a way to actually launch the app. There is a dropbox icon on my taskbar, but when I click it, it simply opens my dropbox sync folder on my PC (in Windows Explorer). Same thing when I try launching dropbox from the start menu. It just opens the folder. Dropbox is syncing the files just fine, but I want to actually access the app interface not the folder in explorer.

I know the general instructions say to click on the icon then click on your avatar and select preferences, but no such thing happens when I click on the icon in my taskbar (or in the start menu) - it simply opens Windows file explorer with my dropbox directory selected.

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Accepted answers

Elixir

@Minaz Yes, it should open the Dropbox app window on single click. What happens when you hold the control-key and click the icon?

All comments

Elixir

You can change the Dropbox sync location from the settings: click the Dropbox icon in the taskbar → click the profile icon → select Preferences.

Screenshot 2021-09-26 at 4.12.52 PM.png

Go to the sync tab and Move your Dropbox folder to new location.

Minaz

As I have mentioned, the whole problem is that my dropbox app is not launching so there is no profile icon. When I click the taskbar icon, it launches Windows Explorer.

Mark

You need to change the preferences within the Dropbox app to tell it to open the app and not Explorer.

It gives you the option to change it on the 'General' tab

Minaz

Hi Mark,

Since I am unable to launch my dropbox app in the first place, is there a way to change the preferences to set it to launch the app without being able to launch the app? I mean if I were able to launch the app in the first place I wouldn't need to set it in the preferences. The whole issue is that I can't get it to launch the app, so I cannot set anything within the app. When I launch dropbox, I only get the explorer. I need to get from there to the app in order to set preferences, so I am hoping someone can help me with finding a way to open the app.

Thanks!

Elixir

@Minaz Did you single (right or left) click the taskbar icon? In my case, only double click opens explorer window.

Minaz

@Elixir So actually, when I double click, it also launches Windows Explorer. When I single click, whether it is a left or right click, it does nothing at all. Could this be the problem?

Elixir

@Minaz Yes, it should open the Dropbox app window on single click. What happens when you hold the control-key and click the icon?

Minaz

That solved the problem. Holding CTRL allowed me to pull up the preferences menu, which I was then able to change to setup the Dropbox App. Thank you so much @Elixir

kingletit

I have the same problem but this solution doesn't work for me. I have done an advanced reinstall (How to run an advanced reinstall of Dropbox | Dropbox Help), although some of the registry items did not appear. Installation also did not create a taskbar icon. When I add the icon and click, or CTRL-Click it, it still opens the folder. Right clicking only shows "Dropbox" and "Uninstall" but clicking or CTRL-Clicking that also opens the folder.

(The reason I tried the reinstall was that I don't have a Masters degree in computing and so could not make any sense at all of the response I got to ticket #14152215. That ticket is closed now, however I've been in hospital following a very serious accident and so could not reply to it.)

kingletit

Hold that last thought!. I've just restarted again and now the icon has appeared.

Christine O.5

I have just been having the exact same problem. Glad it isn't just me. But I've reinstalled, made sure it's up to date, run it as an administrator, and tried right-clicking everything! Right-clicking got me a bit further to a little selection of Open, Properties, Run as administrator, Pin to Start etc. but I still haven't managed to get into the app preferences menu. Open still gives only the explorer view.

jj007force

Ctrl + Left Click on Dropbox System Tray Icon brings up the legacy Dropbox menu. You should be able to access the preferences this way.

To see the desktop application. Click Preferences... and in the General Tab, change the Open folder in: to Dropbox Desktop app

Other related problem:

Is anyone else getting a weird red square on their dropbox system tray icon? I tried the advanced reinstall and still can't get the red square to go away. I do not see any notifications within the Dropbox desktop application. When I Ctrl + Left Click on the Dropbox system tray icon and snooze notifications and then turn the notifications back on, I get a windows system notification saying there are two new notifications, but I cannot locate them.

swimlaps

I am a new Dropbox user and have the same problem as OP on my Win 10 PC. Latest version of Dropbox app installed, but I cannot launch the actual Dropbox app -- only Windows File Explorer appears with Dropbox directory and folders. I have tried suggestions above, e.g. left and right Cntrl-click on icons in the Start Menu, Task Bar, etc. but consistently only launch the Explorer. Thus, I cannot see my avatar to view settings to address another problem (some folders show up in my online Dropbox account view, but are no longer visible on the Win Explorer view). Am only trying to copy some large folders to the Dropbox cloud for backup purposes, but not save them on my PC's User Dropbox folder.

Any guidance would be very much appreciated! Thank you.

Megan

Hi @swimlaps, how are you today?

When you check near your WiFi and date and time icon, are you able to see this icon next to them?

Is it possible that it's hidden or collapsed on your task bar?

Let me know more!

swimlaps

Thanks, Megan! I had overlooked that icon, and it opened a box from which I can: 1) search 2) open DP folder (Explorer) or 3) open an MS Edge browser and view dropbox.com. The home view on 3) now shows all the files, and lets me manage them. But the "app" is still mysteriously not opening. At least for the moment, that seems like a major improvement.

Walter

Hey @swimlaps, sorry to jump in, but could you send us a screenshot of the options you get when you click on the icon Megan mentioned?

Rich

@swimlaps wrote:
... it opened a box from which I can: 1) search 2) open DP folder (Explorer) or 3) open an MS Edge browser and view dropbox.com. ... But the "app" is still mysteriously not opening.

The window you're seeing IS the Dropbox application. It's the app that controls syncing, shows your sync history and recent activity, and allows you to access Dropbox Preferences. Is there something specific that you're looking for and not finding?

Daniel18

omfg people cannot understand that you can't launch the app, and keep givng you solutions how to fix it inside the app that will not launch.

READING IS HARD

Rich

@Daniel18 wrote:
people cannot understand that you can't launch the app, and keep givng you solutions how to fix it inside the app that will not launch.

The app they're referring to is not the app as it exists today. There was another portion of the Dropbox application that many referred to as "the app" and it was launched from the regular Dropbox desktop application. It was a separate file browser that was removed some time ago.

If you're having a problem launching the Dropbox application, I'd suggest starting a new topic with the details of your issue.