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Dropbox on macOS is using too much RAM while just sitting idle

Screenshot 2023-12-16 alle 19.55.28.png

I checked how much RAM I was using at the moment. The only open apps I have are Safari, HandBrake, Bbedit and Word. Neither of those is using any file hosted on dropbox nor is any app uploading or downloading anything. The only dropbox open process is the one sitting idle in the menu bar.

This is completely unacceptable as any other cloud service app uses at most 55MBs (as of now Google Drive process is using 55.2 MBs and OneDrive, managing two different accounts, is currently using 45MBs).

I'm using an updated macOS version (14.2) on a 2020 M1 MacBook Air. Dropbox app version is 188.4.6302.

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Megan

Hey there, @giobertelli, let's jump right into this!

Do you use the new File Provider version for Dropbox where your Dropbox folder is located in ~/Library/CloudStorage?

If you locate your Dropbox folder, and then select Get Info, how many files do you see in said folder?

I'd also suggest you take a look at this Help Center article.

Let me know more, and we'll take it from there!

giobertelli

Thanks for the help page, but I had already checked it.

I'm nowhere near that 300000 file amount, also because I'm on a free account.

About the Dropbox folder in ~/Library/CloudStorage:

298.409.100 bytes (298,7 MB on disk), 136 items

Current Dropbox RAM usage: 363,6 MBs... It's currently the highest RAM user on my PC at the moment.

Walter

Hey @giobertelli - sorry to jump in here, but did you reboot your computer since you first noticed this?

giobertelli

Hello, I’ve rebooted the Mac and it still using more than 300MBs of RAM

Nancy

Hi from me as well, @giobertelli! Out of curiosity, did you see an increased CPU usage by Dropbox, after your desktop app was updated to Dropbox for macOS on File Provider (when your local Dropbox folder was moved under ~/Library/CloudStorage basically)?

Can you also clarify what’s the current syncing status of your Dropbox app?

giobertelli

Hello, no I've not noticed any CPU usage problem. In Activity Monitor it's currently using 0,2% of CPU, with a CPU time of 14,83 (I rebooted around an hour ago). RAM usage is still more than 300 MBs as it was in the last days. Don't know about the files being moved Library/CloudStorage as I've restarted using macOS after a few years on Windows only a month ago, so when I installed Dropbox files were already in Library/CloudStorage AFAIK.

Since I logged in a month ago and I only have a Basic account the files are currently saved on my hard disk space and have been synced a month ago. So the app is supposedly using that much RAM by just sitting idle.

Btw, please reconsider the Basic plan as being a local only service on desktop instead of giving access to files on demand! What's the purpose of having a cloud space if I have to keep files on my hard drive? 😅

Walter

Hey @giobertelli - sorry to jump in here, but could you try the latest version of the app from this page and let us know if the issue persists after rebooting your device and quitting and relaunching the desktop app?

giobertelli

Hello. I've updated the app. Unfortunately it's still using around 300 MBs of RAM even on version 189.4.8395

Hannah

What's the current sync status of the app, when you hover over the Dropbox icon, @giobertelli?

Do you see any difference when all your other apps are closed?

giobertelli

It is simply a Dropbox icon. It is not syncing (or at least it doesn’t say so in the panel), also because the only synced data is around 200MB that I synced last month

Hannah

Can you make sure to hover over or click on the Dropbox icon in your menu bar by the WiFi icon, to let us know the exact sync status, though, please?

Is it up to date?

giobertelli

Screenshot 2023-12-21 alle 17.55.03.png

Aggiornato in Italian means up to date.

Megan

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

giobertelli

Of course. Can you access my email address or do you need me to write it here?

Jay

Hi @giobertelli, I've sent you an email, please could you reply to it when you get a chance.

dandid

Mines currently using 8.42Gb! or ram. I dream, of 300mb only. WTH is going on with this app? I'm on a Macbook Pro M3Pro

dandid

I'm now dreaming of 8.42gb 😂, mines at 29.47Gb currently WTH is it doing? don't tell me to upgrade as you know us mac users are all going to leave dropbox as soon as we cant use external drives anymore...

Hannah

Hey @dandid, sorry to hear that.

Have you checked this article with some possible reasons why this might be happening?

giobertelli

None of the listed conditions apply to my specific case. It's still using 5 to 10 times more RAM than any other cloud service syncing app. This is honestly quite annoying.

Megan

I'd be more than happy to reach out via email, in order for us to have a closer look into this @giobertelli.

Let me know if you'd be okay with that.