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New Dropbox is killing me

Hello,

Is there any support available from Dropbox here or anywhere? Strange to have such a massive app and no support provided..

In any case I'd appreciate any help from anyone. My Dropbox has stopped working as of yesterday. I can't access updated files from one computer to another and trying to read files online is only working randomly. I am using version v169.4.5684, on Macs running Monterey 12.6.

Another question would be, is there anyway to downgrade to the old Dropbox version that I had no problems with before this new buggy version messed everything up?

Thanks in advance for any help.

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Klint

Couldn't agree more. Although I've always found Dropbox problematic, it's now reached the point where I have to find an alternative. There are so many things wrong I don't know where to start!
1) Dropbox BackUp seems to be entirely separate from the rest of dropbox which is confusing and pointless.

2) As a secure store of data, dropbox is no longer reliable, since I never know if it's actually working or not.
3) I copy data in Mac Finder to the dropbox folder, and the files appear there, but check in dropbox online and they're not there.

4) I copied a 2 Tbs of photos to the backup application 2 weeks ago, which then appeared to delete them from my original external drive!! I have other backups fortunately, but then they've miraculously re-appeared. So did dropbox lock the drive somehow making them appear deleted?

Basically it's unreliable, extremely confusing, and now tries to be too sophisticated while not allowing the basics to work.

Time to leave.

acej

I found a kind of solution. From another thread the recommendation was to sign out (not just Quit) from Dropbox and sign back in - to stop the syncing of 300+ files that wouldn't stop. Another problem I was having. So I did that on both of my computers, and they reinstalled the OLD Dropbox which is so much better that the awful NEW version they are so heavily pushing. The only/major problem that I lost some files and had to resort from an old folder because the reinstall reverted back to the version of the files/folders that were in use back when I "updated" to the latest version. The new version is really awful, buggy and ridiculously terrible. So happy I'm back on the old version so I can see my folders/locations easily. Knowing that, Dropbox will probably eventually force us all to "upgrade". Does anyone know any alternatives besides Google docs?

ReRe D.

I've been using iDrive. Of course Google Docs has it's own doc format so that might be a problem, but I can't speak to that. Google Drive quit working with my Mojave Mac so I'm searching, too.

Dropbox used to be good, but now - nope.

Where can i download the old version?

acej

I just signed out, and signed back in. It may help to delete Dropbox before reinstalling.

DrAJP

I've also been wishing there was a way to undo the recent DropBox upgrade that moves files to "location." I *need* the finder and spotlight to work as they did/as they are designed to work. I also don't like the really weird way that TimeMachine/my external backup drive works now. The DropBox files are there still but are in a hidden holder that's hard to find. Hopefully DropBox listens to us, the customers!

JRankine

Look into Microsoft OneDrive. I use both Dropbox and OneDrive.

acej

You can undo it, I did. You have to sign-out, not just 'quit' the app then reinstall.

JRankine

Hi there,

Here's a link to an article that may explain Dropbox's location move as well as other changes to the new Dropbox.

https://help.dropbox.com/installs/macos-support-for-expected-changes

Basically it's Apple's requirement - for the lack of a better term - but the article gives a better explanation.

If all else fails, "google" the crap outta everything :P. There's a good chance other people are experiencing the same issue and I usually find an explanation or work around/resolution to the issues.

Good luck :0)

acej

Do you work for dropbox? Such terrible / non-existent customer support.

JRankine

@acej

OH SWEET MARY NO!!! LOL.😂

I've just had so many issues with Dropbox that I've come so close to dropping them and just when I'm about to, they update or upgrade the app.

I'm a freelancer so I have to be my own IT 😄, elevating my cussin' skills to a whole 'nother level 😬

Hannah

Hey @acej, are you still having issues with your Dropbox application?

If you still need assistance, please let us know.

acej

Thanks for replying. It is 4 weeks since I posted the original issues. The Dropbox 'upgrade' is clumsy and not desired by many. There are tons of posts on this forum for you to read.

Megan

Hi @acej, you initially mentioned that your app had stopped working, could you let me know more about this?

Do you get any errors when trying to access or open the app? Did you try updating the app to its latest version, by any chance?

Feel free to also let me know the app's current syncing status, and we'll take it from there.

Thank you!

acej

Hello, I updated to the new version and that is what caused all the major problems. So I signed out and reinstalled Dropbox and luckily it allowed me to install the old version which works much better. Seeing as it's been over 4 weeks since I reported the problems I didn't keep the screenshots as I discovered there was no adequate customer support from Dropbox to contact, only some recommendations from the great community forum that tries to support each other. This must save Dropbox a whole lot of money.

Some of the problems that occurred when I first 'upgraded' to the faulty new version (v169.4.5684) were":

-Documents were not being able to open

-When trying to open docs it defaults to GoogleDocs app and could not open them there.

-Sync stopped working online and offline

-Files didn't update online

Can you please tell me how to get rid of the red dot update reminder on the menu icon? It is very annoying.

And how do I delete all these 'ghost' files that appear in Mac Spotlight searches but can not be found anywhere to be able to delete, see photo attached, this another problem with you update/upgrade. These are the files with the blue Dropbox icon, one is highlighted in blue, the first one. They do not open and they clutter up the search windows for no reason.

Thank you

. Screen Shot 2023-04-14 at 11.05.34 AM.jpg