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MacOS Sonoma 14.1 constant high CPU by process DropboxFileProvider

I'm using the latest version of Dropbox (v186.4.2607) on my MacBook Pro (2,4 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i9) that is running macOS Sonoma 14.1.
Lately I've noticed that Dropbox is having a high cpu (150 - 200%) almost all of the time. Dropbox is always syncing although nothing is synced because all is already synced.

The menubar icon always shows the sync icon and never the ready icon anymore.

This is very unpleasant and the MacBook Pro is now always very warm/hot with temperatures from 85 to 100 ºC and that is not how it should be.
Is there a solution for this issue?

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SwampYankee

Recently the Dropbox Tray Assistant app is constantly taking up about 20% of the CPU, causing my computer to run warm with the fans constantly on, and slowing other things down noticeably. Rebooting the computer doesn't help. I can quit the Tray Assistant in Task Manager, but then I think syncing stops. As soon as I start Dropbox again the CPU usage spikes again. This is not ok in the long run. Any idea why this is happening?

Another thing, the Dropbox tray icon is constantly showing the red warning flag and says that Dropbox is not syncing because I do not have enough storage space and prompts me to upgrade my plan from Basic (2GB) to Standard (5TB). But I already have the Plus (2TB) plan and I have about 350 GB of files, so plenty of room. When I look at my account info it shows that I have 2 TB of storage. And my files are being synced despite the warning. Why doesn't the Tray know what plan I have, how much storage I have, that my files are actually getting synced, and suggest that I get a much bigger plan than I need?

Why isn't there any actual support phone line, chat, e-mail option to sort out things like the above issue?

JCull

Same issue on Ventura 13.6.1, Dropbox 186.4.6207. It's gotten to the point that I can't even touch the keyboard sometimes. I have to pause syncing or quit the app entirely to get the processor to cool down.

Megan

Hey guys, I hope you're all doing well, and sorry to hear about that!

Have you taken a look at this Help Center article for possible reasons why this might be happening and how to tackle it?

Also, @SwampYankee, could you confirm the Dropbox version you're using on your end, please?

Could you let us know what processor you're using, and the total amount of RAM on your machine?

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!

PaulSon

@Megan wrote:
Could you let us know what processor you're using, and the total amount of RAM on your machine?

I have a MacBook Pro 16" 2,4 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i9 with 32 GB RAM.

@Megan wrote:
Have you taken a look at this Help Center article for possible reasons why this might be happening and how to tackle it?

What article? I think the link is missing.

Megan

Hi @PaulSon, thanks for your speedy reply!

I reinstated it, could you try again, please?

PaulSon

Dropbox is syncing a large number of files
Nope, usually less then 50 files
Other apps interfere with sync
I don't have an anti-virus app. Time machine isn't running when the CPU is still very high.
Files in your Dropbox folder have the wrong permissions
Dropbox has Full Disk Access
The Dropbox folder is installed on a NAS device
No, the Dropbox folder is on the SSD in my MacBook Pro
Your device doesn’t support extended attributes
All metadata is available in Dropbox and the Dropbox folder is on a supported file system (APFS-formatted hard drive)

According to the checks above everything seems to be ok but Dropbox is still having a very high CPU and won't stop syncing after all the files have been synced.
I have paused Dropbox and will only let I run when the lid is open and I'm logged into the Mac.
Very annoying problem!

Megan

Hi @PaulSon, in that case, can I send you an email, in order for us to have a closer look into this?

SwampYankee

My computer is a Dell Precision 7510 with Xeon 2.9 GHz, 32 GB RAM running Windows 10. Dropbox files are on the C drive, which is a 475 GB SSD with 47 GB free space. I am not sure which Dropbox version I am using; the Tray shows Dropbox 186.4.6207 if that helps. I will check the Help Center article you suggest. Thanks.

PaulSon

Hi @Megan

Yes you can send me an email. Anything that helps to solve this issue is welcome.

Today I noticed that 3 files are probably causing the problem.
These 3 files won't sync every time after all the other files are synced.
I only know that there are 3 files. Can I somehow found out the names and the location of these 3 files?

Megan

Hey guys, I just sent you both an email!

I'll see you there, thank you!

roundcolour

I have the same problem, is there a solution to this? It has started happening since upgrading from MacOS Monterey to Sonoma.

fibble

I'm also having this issue. Seems like a lot of people are. Please fix this. I need to be able to rely on my software.

Tevald

I have the exact same problem.
Help!

Walter

Hi there @roundcolour, @fibble & @Tevald - thanks for flagging this with us.

Could you all please clarify the version of the Dropbox desktop app installed on the affected devices?

Also, is the app 'up to date' or still syncing your files perhaps?

Any additional information or screenshots are more than welcome!

Tevald

Hello Walter,

Under "General" it states: v186.4.6207

It is syncing files although all files are up todate.

I am using a MacBook Pro 2019 - 2,3 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i9 - Sonoma 14.1 (23B74).

The problem started yesterday 7th november around 11:00 CET.

Thanks

Tony

roundcolour

Version is v186.4.6207

In my case seems to sync normally, but when it syncs it uses a lot of processor power, ramping up the fans on my i9 Intel iMac 5k with 32Gb Ram.

Once is synced the fans go down to quiet. This wasn't happening in Monterey, it was quiet all the time.

Hannah

Thanks for the additional info, @Tevald and @roundcolour.

Can you please confirm that Dropbox has full disk access, using the steps here?

roundcolour

Thank you for your reply Hannah, I checked and Dropbox wasn't listed in the full disk access, I added manually.

Also in Dropbox preferences I changed the Network/Bandwidth/Upload rate settings from Limit automatically to Don't limit.

The fans don't ramp up as much now, they do a bit when syncing but syncing is now much faster.

Hannah

Happy to hear that, @roundcolour!

If the issue returns or if you have other questions, let us know.

Cheers!

Tevald

Thank you - it was not - it is now but the problem persist. Still the fan runs high and it is syncing although there is nothing to sync. My setting for bandwith was already "dont limit".
Sorry... and please help

Nancy

Sorry to hear the issue persists, @Tevald. Have you taken a look at all the possible reasons that may be causing this here?

Let me know if anything seems to apply for you.

Tevald

Nope - none apply - and mind the fact that I have been running Dropbox problem free for years on this mac and with Sonoma since it came out - the problem only started yesterday.

Please help a brother out here!

Nancy

Thanks for checking, @Tevald. Can we log a ticket for you, and email you to this address?

This way, we can see details of your Dropbox account, and investigate the issue.

Tevald

Yes please do!

Nancy

Hey @Tevald, please check your email address, and reply back to my message. We’ll take it from there.

VitaliRadchankau

Same Problem Windows Ryzen 9(6 core) (15% CPU)

Hannah

Hey @VitaliRadchankau, sorry to hear that.

Which version of the Dropbox app are you using and what's the sync status of the app?

You can hover over your Dropbox icon for this info.