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Dropbox Now Requires Authentication in macOS High Sierra (10.13.4)?

I recently clean installed High Sierra and the Dropbox app on my MacBook Air (due to replacing the SSD), and then used the Combo Updater to install the 10.3.4 update.

Now, every time I restart, the Dropbox app needs authentication to do something. (The dialog box simply says authentication is needed for Dropbox "to work".) I tried turning off Finder integration (didn't stop it), and giving Dropbox control permission in the Accessibility Control Panel (also didn't stop it).

Dropbox isn't doing this on my Mac Pro (still at 10.13.3), and wasn't on my MacBook Air (at 10.13.3) before the reinstall.

Does 10.13.4 legitimately now require Dropbox to authenticate before it can run? (And can I turn some feature off to allow Dropbox to run without authentication?) Or is this a symptom that Dropbox failed to install properly, and it keeps attempting to install a component on startup?

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Accepted answers

Jane

Great, let's look into the matter more closely @jdmcs, I’ve made sure to create a support request on our system on your behalf. At your convenience, could you check your inbox for our latest message and let me know here if you have any issues locating the reply, so that we make sure to send that again?

Thanks again for your posting on the Dropbox Forum & we’re looking forward to hearing back from you via email, so as to check your updating-related inquiry together. Happy Friday!

[This thread is now closed. If you have a similar or new question, you can ask here]

All comments

Mark

Sounds like it has not installed correctly.

I'd download and reinstall from www.dropbox.com/downloading

Scott_Marks

I am running MacOS 10.13.3, and found that the Dropbox Installer simply failed in an SSL handshake. When I ran it by hand in the Terminal, I saw:

$ /Volumes/Dropbox\ Installer/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox\ Installer 
2018-03-31 18:02:43.367 Dropbox Installer[10903:720630] NSURLSession/NSURLConnection HTTP load failed (kCFStreamErrorDomainSSL, -9802)
2018-03-31 18:02:43.395 Dropbox Installer[10903:720647] NSURLSession/NSURLConnection HTTP load failed (kCFStreamErrorDomainSSL, -9802)
<snip many repetitions .../>

Looked to me like the stub Installer app was having trouble downloaded the full installation, so I tried this:

$ strings /Volumes/Dropbox\ Installer/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox\ Installer | grep http
https://www.dropbox.com/downloading?plat=mac&full=1
https://www.dropbox.com/download?plat=mac&amp;meta=1&amp;build=%@
https://www.dropbox.com/installer_funnel?

That first URL looked promising, and when I copy-and-pasted it into the browser, it downloaded "Dropbox 46.4.65.dmg". I double-clicked on that to mount it, double-clicked on the seemingly-identical Dropbox Installer in that folder, and all was well.

Looks as if the Installer app needs a new approach to get out to do its download.

Success, in any event.

Jane

Hey @jdmcs, welcome to the Dropbox Forum & thanks for posting here on this matter!

Could you let us know how Mark’s tip worked for you? Please feel free to keep us updated on the outcome in your next message here & we’ll make sure to check back with you as closely as possible.

Thanks again & I’ll be awaiting your next post!

jdmcs

I tried reinstalling Dropbox, and that unfortunately did not resolve my issue.

Before uninstalling, Dropbox is saying that it is version v46.4.65

To uninstall, I followed the directions for Mac here: https://www.dropbox.com/help/desktop-web/uninstall-dropbox

I opted to leave the Dropbox folder behind.
I tried to uninstall the Dropbox contextual menu, but there was not a DropboxHelperTools under /Library (something tells me that this might be the root of my problem)
I left the application preferences behind.

I used the link that Mark provided to download a new installer. I followed the usual process.

On first launch, I received the "Please enter your computer password for Dropbox to work properly" system dialog. I expected this one.

After re-installation completed, I went to /Library to check for DropboxHelperTools. It was not there. And after a reboot, I received the "Please enter your computer password for Dropbox to work properly" system dialog. I confirmed that I reinstalled the same version of Dropbox (46.4.65).

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Dropbox is failing to install DropboxHelperTools under macOS 10.3.4... or my MacBook Air.

Jane

Thanks for keeping me updated on the progress @jdmcs, I’d happily further look into the matter with you & further work on that with you so as to bypass that message!

At this point (& because it’s my understanding that you may need some further hands-on troubleshooting), I’d suggest continuing this discussion via email. If it’s not too much trouble for you, could you verify that you’re allowing me to get in touch with you on the email address connected to your Dropbox account, so as to further advise? This way, I’ll be able to access you account details on my tools & send you the most specific next steps. Once you confirm, I’ll email you directly on my end.

Thanks again & I’ll be awaiting your next reply on this discussion!

jdmcs

Jane, you may directly contact me.

Jane

Thanks again for your posting on the Dropbox Forum & we’re looking forward to hearing back from you via email, so as to check your updating-related inquiry together. Happy Friday!

[This thread is now closed. If you have a similar or new question, you can ask here]