Does the Dropbox desktop app have to automatically update?

Question

Hello,

I am using dropbox with my company for a while now, we have a paid account and we are happy with it.

Now, I am away for a month and I can work remotely with my own computer so it's all good.

The other day, I realize that dropbox is not open on my computer so I try to open it, and it just tells me I can't open because I have to have MacOS 10.12, and I run 10.11. I know it's a pretty late version but my computer is pretty old and a new OS would not be a good idea + if I update, I will have to update a lot of other softwares and for most of them, I will have to pay (ProTools for example, which is my MAIN software for work).

At first I was pretty impressed that there has been an update without telling me or asking me (especially to install a version that it knows I'm not going to be able to open... wow!), but OK, I might have forgot to uncheck the box for that, whatever. I am trying to find an old version of dropbox on the internet. Can't find it on the official website, but ok whatever again, I'll find it somewhere.
Found the version from November and installed it.

YAY ! I can open dropbox, cool ! First thing : I try to find a way to stop auto-update before it does it automatically. Can't find it, go on the internet to check how to do it, and in just a few minutes, I realize that dropbox is closed... yes, in just a few minutes, Dropbox just updated to their new version, and there I can't use it anymore.

So I am away from home and I can not work because Dropbox does not want us to turn off the auto-update ??? Is that for real ?????????
Am I really going to have to spend hundreds of dollars just because Dropbox HAS TO auto-update ????

I mean, what ???????? I feel like my company is going to find another software. I mean, we pay for a service and that's what we get ? Just a smack in the face ?????????????

I am amazed.

Jay · Answer

It wouldn't be possible to keep an older version of the app running for the reasons I mentioned previously, as any security features or bug fixes would no longer be applied to those versions, leaving the app insecure.

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful on this matter.

VirageSonore · Answer

I understand all that. I am not asking that you keep on releasing new version for my OS, I am just asking why there are no ways to keep an older version ??? Literally all the other softwares I am using are doing that and I can’t think of any software which don’t offer that ?

Are you telling me that I will never be able to use the software I am paying for just because you don’t want people to be able to not use older versions ???
I hope you understand that I am not asking for Dropbox to still release versions for old OS, nor that I am asking for support (I would understand if I have a problem that you’d say “sorry it’s an old version we can’t help you with your problem”), I am just wondering why we can’t use an older version and why, overnight, I end up not being able to work for this reason ???

This is outrageous !

Jay · Answer

Hi @VirageSonore, currently it isn't possible to disable the auto-update as we regularly release new versions of the Dropbox desktop app with additional features, better performance, and security enhancements.

Some of these features are not always compatible with older systems. Additionally, Apple stopped providing security updates to OS X 10.10 and OS X 10.11 in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

Due to this, we are ending our support of the Dropbox desktop app for these operating systems to keep our product offerings in-line.

Please let me know if there's anything else I can help with.