MacOS preview freezes when looking at a Dropbox file

Carbon14

Application Affected
Initially DropBox but the freeze extends to any app wanting internet
Device
MacBook Pro M4MAX 36GB
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
macOS 26.1 (Tahoe)
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)
236.4.5918

Question or Issue
All of my files are in DropBox in the cloud/online.

Previously (yesterday) when I clicked on them, they would download and then open in the associated app. If I chose Preview instead (spacebar on a Mac), the Preview window would open, the file would download, and it would be shown. In both instances, the file remained dowloaded until I made it Online-only later.

Today, when I choose Preview, the preview window opens and a circular icon rotates. And rotates. Up to 2 minutes. Sometimes I see the file after 2 mins, sometimes I don't. The file icon switches from 'cloud with down arrow' to just 'cloud' but the file doesn't preview. The file also won't open, or be downloaded, or be uploaded. It's just frozen. 

Moreover, if I decide to try another file or folder after the first is hung, everything in Dropbox is none-responsive for a minute or two. Then they ALL open at once. Or not. If I try to use an app (say Activity Monitor) to see if something is holding DropBox up), the app freezes, as do all subsequent apps: "App cannot open." And then it will open 10 mins later. Happens with Word files, PDFs, Excel, etc. etc. I have a 2.5GB network but it happens on small files (32kb) and large.

None of this happens on local files in non-DropBox folders or downloaded DropBox files. 

It is 'as if' something is putting a hold on things and then releasing or timing out when I ask for a file. I have reinstalled DB at least 3 times today and waited a helluva long time to sync, but it makes no difference.

To be clear, for YEARS everything has been problem-free so this is both unusual and frustrating. 

Any help, guidance, commiseration would be welcome. 







 

Carbon14

Jay! Thanks ... I think I found the culprit!!

Norton 360 Premium seems to have had an update recently and when I removed Norton from the OS, my MacBook instantly returned to normal!

I wanted to take my original post down because I feel dumb for not checking the A/V first, before posting. But after you'd posted your thoughts I figured my experience might help someone else.  

Now, I've not done a deep dive into "cause" but I can tell you, Tahoe 26.1 w/out Norton is not hiccuping/freezing for me right now. I'll wait a week and watch for news/updates on the Norton front.

Thanks for the help.