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Dropbox App won't open, the only thing that opens is my Dropbox Folder.

Dropbox app will not open. When I open the app it just opens the file explorer. I have already checked the Taskbar and it's not showing up there. I have also checked the taskbar setting and there is no option to show Dropbox application.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Preston

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Rich

@Preston J. wrote:
Dropbox app will not open. When I open the app it just opens the file explorer.

The app is already running. When it's running, trying to launch it again just opens your Dropbox folder. Open Task Manager and end task on the Dropbox processes you see, then relaunch it.

Preston J.

I closed all the dropbox tasks and then opened up the App and it did the same thing. Just took a minute and opened up the file explorer.

HXF

you can try run again!

Preston J.

Re-running to application just opens up the file explorer. I can't get to the main Dropbox App.

Hannah

Hey @Preston J., thanks for reaching out to our Community.

Are you perhaps looking to launch the Dropbox application interface that used to be available, that looked kind of like the website?

Because that was deprecated a while ago. Now, you can only access your Dropbox files through the Dropbox folder in your file explorer.

However, if the Dropbox icon in your system tray does not appear at all, perhaps the app is not really running.

Have you tried reinstalling it, to see if that helps?

Rich

@Hannah wrote:
However, if the Dropbox icon in your system tray does not appear at all, perhaps the app is not really running.

Lately the system tray icon has been disappearing while Dropbox is still running. The only way I've found to bring the icon back is to end task on all the Dropbox processes and then launch the application again. As @Preston J. noted above, trying to launch it while the icon is gone and the processes still running simply opens the Dropbox folder, and doesn't restore the icon to the system tray.

Preston J.

I can access the web interface (not what I'm looking for). Again, as Rich said, I cannot see the icon on the tray. If I delete and reinstall will all my files be deleted/redownloaded?

Walter

No, reinstalling the app wouldn't be affecting the files you've stored in Dropbox @Preston J.

While we're at it though, can you clarify your device's exact OS and if you had ever installed and ran the app normally on this computer?

Uitlander

I am also experiencing this problem.

I am also on Windows 10 (build 19045.3448). Whenever I launch the dropbox client it takes me to File Manager.

I have tried:

Uninstalling the dropbox client, rebooting and reinstalling the dropbox client. The dropbox client takes me through the account login process and then exits. It does not appear in the system tray.
Using task manager to end the Dropbox client process. Then opening the Dropbox client from the windows menu. The client does not appear in the system tray.
Using task manager to end the Dropbox Service. Then opening the Dropbox client from the windows menu. The client does not appear in the system tray.

I need to access the client so that I can adjust my sync settings as my HDD is running out of space.

Hannah

Sorry to see that you're having this issue, @Uitlander.

Have you tried these steps for a more advanced reinstall of the app, to see if they help?

Uitlander

Thank you for your efforts @hannah. I followed the steps you linked to, however they have made no difference. I still have no access to the Dropbox app from the system tray and when I attempt to launch the Dropbox app from the start menu it launches File Explorer.

Jay

Hi @Uitlander, do you have any antivirus or security software running on your machine? Is this a company-managed device?

Uitlander

I have McAfee running, which my employer provides and asks is used on any machine that I might use to handle work files. This is my personal device.

Hannah

Is it possible to temporarily disable it or whitelist Dropbox on it, to see if that helps?

Uitlander

@Hannah I have tried disabling it, deleting and then reinstalling Dropbox, and then whitelisting Dropbox. The behaviour remains the same - there is no Dropbox icon in the system tray and when I launch Dropbox from the start menu it opens File Explorer.

Walter

Hey @Uitlander, sorry to jump in here, but could you send us a screenshot of your system tray so that we can have a visual too?

Do you happen to be running any 3rd party apps that could be causing issues perhaps? Other than the antivirus I mean.

Rich

@Uitlander wrote:
... there is no Dropbox icon in the system tray and when I launch Dropbox from the start menu it opens File Explorer.

Have you clicked the up arrow ^ in your system tray to check the hidden icons?

celio3c

i have the same problem, everything was fine until yesterday, today(12/07/2023) only opens if i go to the windows explorer and click on the dropbox folder and it can't be pinned to the taskbar.

running windows 10 to the last update.

Megan

Hi @celio3c, thanks for posting here!

Thanks for reporting this. As a clarification, would you mind letting me know if you're facing issues with the shortcut icon alone, or with the system tray and start menu too?

Let me know more!

Uitlander

This is my system tray

Uitlander

Yes. There is no dropbox icon in the system tray.

Walter

Hey @Uitlander - sorry to jump in here, but I can see the Dropbox desktop app's icon in your system tray. It's the one with the red "3" showing.

Have you tried clicking on that?

swright4

I am also having the same problem. Started about 8 months ago. Very frustrating. First the icon disappeared after a short time and now after reinstalling and trying everything you have listed above, I never get the icon so can't update sync options.

Walter

Hey @swright4 - sorry to hear you're still having issues with this.

Could you clarify your device's OS version and let us know if you've tried the offline installer from this page directly?

Pookeyblow

I have the same issue in macOS.

Can't open the app. It only opens the folder. Can't right click on files to copy url. No Dropbox options when right clicking Dropbox files.

Nancy

Hey @Pookeyblow. From what I understand, you’re not seeing the Dropbox icon in your menu bar and the desktop app isn’t running/syncing, correct?

If you open your Finder > Applications folder and double click on the Dropbox app from there, do you see the Dropbox icon again after a few seconds, along with the Dropbox options in your context menu?

Pwheilldiipng

wrong, something must really be one about all the problems on these online support forums, and the wrong advice given.

there is no drop box desktop app, it only opens the file explorer

Swagata B

Thanks for the tip, @Rich. It was driving me crazy. I know it's an old thread, but putting a note here if it helps anyone, if closing and relaunching doesn't work, kill all instances of Dropbox from Task Manager and then try to reopen. That's what finally worked for me.