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AirDrop broken on MacOS Ventura

I'm using MacOS Ventura and I can't receive files via AirDrop anymore.

My Downloads folder is inside my Dropbox as I'm using Dropbox Backup, so it is all inside the Cloud Library now. The Spotlight Search is broken and now also I can't receive airdropped files anymore. They are sending but afterwards they are just nowhere to be found on the hard-drive. It's quite the mess.

@DropboxTeam: It would be highly appreciated if you can expedite looking into resolving the issues on Ventura!

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Accepted answers

Jay

You'll need to access the preferences in the desktop app, click the Backup tab, and then Manage Backup. From there you can remove the Downloads folder from the backup.

All comments

Jay

Hi @Styline, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Could you clarify exactly what's happening when you accept an AirDrop on your device?

If you quit the Dropbox desktop application, does the issue persist?

Any other info or screenshots would be helpful!

Styline

So here is what happens:

1. I'm sharing a file via AirDrop from my Phone to my MacBook.
2. My MacBook automatically accepts the file (because it's logged into the same iCloud account), otherwise I would assume the notification would pop up to accept the file. The laptop makes the AirDrop sound that it's receiving the file.
3. On the phone you can see that the file is sending and the progress. On the MacBook you can see that the file is being received.
4. The phone now says that the transfer is done. The MacBook is trying to open Finder, but no window appears. On the top left in the taskbar next to the Apple logo you can see though that Finder is becoming the active application.
5. Now when I open finder manually the file is nowhere to be found. Neither in Downloads where it usually lands, nor in Documents, Desktop or Home folder. Even searching for the file it's just nowhere.

My assumption is that because my Downloads folder is managed by Dropbox due to Dropbox Backup and is now located in the secure Cloud Library, AirDrop for some reason can't save it and therefor it just never is being saved.

I can provide information if required, and might also try to change my AirDrop location folder to a different folder outside of Dropbox to see if that works, though that seems to be pretty complicated and requires a chain of Terminal commands, so not sure if I really want to mess with it. For now my AirDrop unfortunately is unusable to receive files on the MacBook =(

Jay

What version of Ventura are you running? Has this happened since the moment you upgraded it, or activated Dropbox Backup?

Styline

I'm on the latest version 13.0.1. I had Dropbox Backup active already for the past year and AirDrop was working fine before Ventura. I'm not sure if AirDrop would have worked before the folders got migrated to the Cloud Library. Don't think I've tested that, or at least didn't notice anything. But yeah since moving over to Cloud Library AirDrop doesn't work for me unfortunately 😕

Styline

That said - I'm also having issues with Spotlight Search not opening files correctly, so there seems to be some sort of issue where Ventura can't access the Cloud Library folder the way that it should?

Walter

Hey @Styline - sorry to jump in, but could you check the information I just posted here and let me know if they help with your Spotlight search issues?

As for the AirDrop issue, you can have a look here, if you're part of our MacOS beta forum, for some possible suggestions.

Styline

Hey Walter - trying the suggestion regarding Spotlight Search right now - will keep you posted on how it goes.

Regarding the AirDrop discussion, it looks like I do not have access to this forum:

Access Denied

You do not have sufficient privileges for this resource or its parent to perform this action.

Click your browser's Back button to continue.

Return to my original page

Walter

You should be able to request access for the MacOS beta forum from this page.

Let me know of any updates @Styline

LJ123

I am having the exact same problem. It was working fine until yesterday when I installed the Dropbox update and then boom, AirDrop is broken. I AirDrop from my phone to my Macbook constantly, so it's definitely the new Dropbox client that broke it.

Walter

Hey @LJ123, thanks for the nudge here and happy Monday!

Would it be alright if I send you an email to look further into this internally?

LJ123

Yes please do. Thank you!

Walter

No worries @LJ123 - you've got :envelope:

swin1

Airdrop is also broken for me, I think this happened recently as well. Running Dropbox 162.4.5419 and Mac OS Monterey 12.4. I'm also using Dropbox backup so my downloads folder is in my dropbox and it's got an alias. Behavior is exactly as OP described - everything seems to be going fine but the file is nowhere to be found. I also tried search /private/var/folders for temp files that may be lingering prior to move, but can't find anything.

Unfortunately I just lost some files permanently because I airdropped them then deleted them from my phone assuming they landed safely on my mac.

LJ123

The problem is caused because the Dropbox update moves your main folders (Documents, Desktop, and Downloads) somewhere else on your hard drive with the latest Dropbox update if you are using the backup features on your machine. You have to go in and disable your machine backup in the Dropbox client and it will supposedly put the folders back where they're supposed to be (be sure to keep the files on your Mac and not only in Dropbox when you disable backup - otherwise all your stuff is going to get deleted off your computer).

Then, for whatever reason, the Downloads folder will not get put back properly when you disable the backups, so AirDrop still won't work. You'll have to go into Finder and there will be two Downloads folders in the Left Pane of your Finder window. One of them is the real one and one isn't - the real one will have your files in it and the bad one won't. So you'll have to remove the bad one from the Left Pane and set the real one back up in your Favorites in the left pane. Then you'll need to remove the bad Downloads folder from your Dock bar and replace it with the real one on your Dock bar.

Once I did all that, AirDrop started working again. So bottom line - yes, Dropbox broke it and so far they're not admitting it and have no idea how to fix it - but this is what got my Mac working properly again. I'll never use Dropbox's backup features again, and I'm going to downgrade my subscription as I have no use for the amount of storage space I'm paying for now since I know that if I re-enable backup it will bork my machine again.

Dropbox needs to check its ego in thinking that it's a good idea for them to re-arrange people's hard drives for the heck of it.

raphaelalexander

I had the same issues – only disabling backups of my downloads folder helped with the problem and made AirDrop work as intended.

Charlie1999

Same issue. Wasted tons of time troubleshooting and also manually transferring files. This wrecked my workflow on Intel and ARM Macs. Hopefully DROPBOX will patch this asap.

Michelle31

This happened to me too! Airdrop not working after updating dropbox. When will this be fixed?

Michelle31

Walter, when will this issue be resolved?

Michelle31

Unfortunately for me, the only way for this problem to be fixed was to completely delete, uninstall DropBox from my computer AND reinstall my Ventura software. Even just uninstalling/deleting DropBox did not fix the problem, I had to completely reinstall the software on my computer. Now, airdrop is working just fine!

ronfriedmann

I have the same problem: Airdrop does not work with Finder post install of latest Dropbox running on Mac Ventura.

Airdrop works for opening a Chrome Page (iPhone to Mac) but not Photos. As other replies state, this has to do with how the latest Dropbox version changes the Downloads folder.

I spent an hour with Apple Support. We confirmed that when I set up a separate test account, Airdrop works. So I am having exactly the same problem as @styline originally reported on this thread.

@Dropbox - any engineering fix for this planned?

DrPFS

I'm having exactly the same problem. Happened after Dropbox moved itself to a more "secure" location on the hard drive. I was on MacOs Monterey. Then updated to Ventura. Still the same problem. Tried disabling Dropbox backup, moved Downloads folder to Favorites, deleted Dropbox downloads folder. Nothing works. Seriously considering dropping Dropbox.

Walter

Hi all, I just wanted to give you an update on this and let you know that this is under our radar now and we're looking into it internally.

We'll let you know more as soon as we have more information to share.

Alan R.25

I have just come across this message and now know why Airdrop no longer works on my iMac - iPad. I have Monterey 12.5.2 and recently tried to airdrop some files to my iPad. All I got was a"waiting" sign on the iMac and nothing more.

I do have Dropbox which is used to sync my Reunion app (and contents) to the iPad so this is probably the problem.

Alan

20-1-23

mfourman

I have the same problem.

Really annoying.

Timemaster

I had the same issue with airdrop files not showing up or being searchable.

I went into the manage synced folders and unticked the 'downloads' folder and restarted everything ,

and I can now see my airdropped files.

preferences/backups/manage backups/change folders

untick 'downloads'

phew

hope that helps

slater0930

I am also having this problem - thought I was going mad, I retried the airdropped about 5 times before I realised that the problem was probably not me 😂

Airdrop is extremely convenient - would love to know when this is fixed. I'll even install a beta client if I have to! Let me know when something is available for this

eldenseta

So I guess...drop box is not going to offer any update to correct this? It's been a while now. This is soooo irritating!

eldenseta

So it's been over a month since Walter replied...still no fix? This is so crazy!

swin1

Hi guys, good news- I was able to get airdrop working again. All I did was go to Dropbox preferences, then backup, then find where you can select which folders to automatically backup. Deselect your Downloads folder. This causes Dropbox to desync everything in it and may take a long time (hours) depending on how many files you have and your bandwidth. Click the Dropbox icon in menu to find out when all activity is done. I just let mine go overnight, and the next day I turned it back on and let it sync for a few hours. Weirdly airdrop is now working again.

mfourman

When I do that, my Downloads folder disappears from my Mac completely, which doesn't help at all. How did you get around that?