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How do I remove Dropbox from my Mac if I get an error message when attempting to uninstall?

I am trying to delete the Dropbox app from my Mac, but it gives me an error message saying 'The item “Dropbox” can’t be moved to the Trash because some of its plugins are in use', even after closing all other open applications. What could these plugins be and how can I stop them from being in use?

Thanks

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Piet Hein C.

I had the same problem:
Open Activity Monitor (search for it with spotlight) and force quit the Dropbox process (I used the searchbox on the right to find it)
After that I could delete the application

All comments

Rich

It's not an application that someone will have. It's a utility on Mac computers, found in the Utilities folder under Applications.

This is an old thread and likely no longer relevant. Please start a new thread and describe the problem that you're having. This thread is being closed.

[This thread is now closed by moderators due to inactivity. If you're experiencing a similar behavior, feel free to start a new discussion in the Ask a Question section here.]

gingingina

I did a search for "activity monitor" and there were not results. does everyone have activity monitor?

ChrisL

Actually, I had to go to Activity Monitor and select the disk tab. There, I had to force stop "Dropbox Finder integration".

Stopping the process itself was not enough.

Elie1245

Thanks for this! I was able to close out the app within Activity Monitor but when I try to delete it now I get the message "The item “Dropbox” can’t be moved to the Trash because some of its extensions are in use." Can you help with how to fix this?

AdolfoKnows

I also was getting an error message saying that Dropbox could not be deleted because a plugin or extension was still running. I solved it by going to SYSTEM PREFERENCES --> EXTENSIONS --> ALL. I was able to find the dropbox extension there, unmark it to disable it, and then delete the Dropbox App without any problems.

Short answer: Go to your mac's SYSTEM PREFERENCES --> EXTENSIONS --> ALL --> Unmark the Dropbox extension & then go to your mac's Finder --> right click Dropbox App--> Move to Trash

Eric S.62

I don't even recall installing Dropbox on an old 2007 MacBook, but the way I deleted it was to change a setting in Finder Preferences. I set it to Empty Trash Securely. Emptying then warned me that everything would be permanently erased, and the app went away peacefully.

Jim K.9

Guys its simple, right click on Dropbox icon in your application folder, choose (Show Package Content) Delete all then delete the dropbox icon.

Andre Z.1

Piet Hein C.,

Thank you!

Amel D.

Thank you Piet Hein C.!

Duff W.

^ SAME problem, got support involved, but they wouldn't help me. So annoying...someone, anyone help. I have tried all of the above; Dropbox doesn't show on Activity Monitor. Unlinked,

amalia v.

@Frederique A.

@Umesh R.

Also tried the above, as soon as I tried to delete in from the trashbin I get dropbox still in use.

a)In the activity monitor I see no dropbox,

b)I have unlinked the mac from the dropbox site

c)i tried show package contents and delete the folder but still get the same error.

d)when I restore the dropbox app in the apps folder I cant open it, it says damaged or incomplete

e)my mac version is 10.7.5

Plz help its so annoying!

Umesh R.1

Well, this is how I did it. Can you tell me which version of Mac are you using? Because this could be the only hurdle. else you should be able to delete it.

Duff W.

Nope and nope...I have tried all of those and this damn icon is still not letting me delete...help!

Umesh R.1

Try to do the following

control-click on Dropbox.
select 'show package contents'. You will be able to see a folder named "Contents"
open folder
delete everything there in the folder.
open finder window
navigate to folder containing Dropbox app.
press command-delete and move to bin

This should help you.

Sarah F.31

@Andrea. P: Maybe you guys should update this article to include force quitting dropbox finder integration: https://help.dropbox.com/desktop-web/uninstall-dropbox

Joe P.33

Thanks Piet Hein and Rajat. Dropbox, you suck. I look forward to the day you app is but a distant memory.

Roberta G.

Piet Hein C. I LOVE YOU! Thank you so much for this tip. Aloha

Frederique A.

I have the same issue. I can't empty dropbox from the trash as it is in use. I went yo the activity monitor but could not find anuthing that had to do with dropbox.

Peter B.169

What happens to all of the shared stuff? Is it gone now?

Well, I wanted to keep all of my documents but uninstall from my MacBook so I moved all of the data back to dropbox before attempting to uninstall. There are a few options of what could have happened to the data.

If you saved it to an alternate spot then you still have the data.

If you moved it all back to dropbox, then all of your data is in your online dropbox account.

If you did as I suggested in my first post and delete all data from within all dropbox folders then the folders, AND you deleted all of the data from your trash, then yes, all of your data and the program dropbox are gone.

Glad this worked for you.

MaryBeth L.1

THANK YOU!!!!!! What happens to all of the shared stuff? Is it gone now?

Peter B.169

I followed all of the directions listed above but still received the error message and was unable to delete dropbox folder from my applications folder.

I was finally successful when I opened the dropbox folder within the applications folder and deleted all of the contents from within that folder.

Then I deleted the empty dropbox folder from the applications folder and removed all of the contents from the trash.

Mission complete.

Hope this is helpful to someone.

Shae F.

Piet, your a life saver; thank you so much!

elif segah o.

I try all uninstall ways on mac. They did not work.

I moved the dropbox to trash after I delete PlugIns file in dropbox.

Huang Z.

search 'Activity Monitor' in launch pad

Old Tom P.

where is the activity monitor?

Melanie Y.1

Glen Y thank you soo much.

Jolene s.

Thank you Rajat G. I spent 'way too much time trying to uninstall it and you saved me from eating a gallon of ice-cream to reduce the stress.

Sonia C.3

Thank you Piet Hein C and Rajat G!

Rosibelle L.

THANKS Piet Hein C. your solution work perfectly...

Eric B.61

Used Rajat G.'s method and was able to move dropbox to the trash but not delete. On a hunch I restarted Finder (Option + Right-click Finder in Dock) and was able to delete/uninstall it. Dropbox is synching correctly now (fingers crossed).