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"The operation can’t be completed" error when trying to delete a folder on macOS

I am on Mac OS Monterey running dropbox basic. When I try to delete a folder I get the error message 'The operation can’t be completed because “Folder name” needs to be downloaded.' Also my sync icons are not showing at all. If I add or delete files they the changes sync. If I create a folder it also syncs - but I cannot delete it from Finder. I can delete it online and the change sync to Finder.
I have re-installed and also follow the advanced re-install https://help.dropbox.com/installs/advanced-reinstall
I have followed the dropbox not syncing https://help.dropbox.com/sync/files-not-syncing

and missing icons https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/View-download-and-export/Sync-icons-missing-in-the-Dropbox-folder-in-Finder/td-p/596014/page/2

I've been going round in circles with all the above - re-starting lots too. Any ideas what is going on? Thanks

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Lui Hepworth

Problem solved. I tried everything advised by dropbox support - unticking login items, making sure other back-up programs weren't affecting etc. These didn't work, so I unistalled dropbox (quit from menu bar avatar, dragged Dropbox to the recycle bin and did a clean up of residual items using CClean (free version), I also deleted the Dropbox folder located in the Cloudstorage folder (probably best to back-up before you do this) - to find where your dropbox flder is - right click it and choose show enclosing folder. I downloaded the latest Dropbox again and installed - during installation it said that it could not find the dropbox folder - I choose re-link. Now all the icons appear correctly (blue as syncing, green once synced) and I can delete folders within Finder - all my files are downloading/sycing from the online version, which will take a while, but everything seems to be working fine now.

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Walter

Hi there @Lui Hepworth, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Can you please clarify your device's exact OS version and the status and version of the desktop app as shown in your menu bar at the moment too?

Also, could you have a look at your app's preferences under the sync tab and let me know where your Dropbox folder is stored?

Thanks!

Lui Hepworth

Hi @walter

Info is
Monterey 12.6.8
Dropbox 179.4.4985

Your files are up to date

Macintosh HD > Users > username > Library > Cloudstorage > Dropbox

Thanks

Dmitri772

My problem may be related. I spent a bunch of time today with support and my ticket got bumped to a specialist support group. Powermac 16" 2019 running 12.6.8.

Moving a large batch of data files within my Documents folder (which is backed up to Dropbox and set to sync) causes a Finder malfunction that prevents the move from completing and prevents any further actions with the source folder, the destination folder, and the files being moved. If a few files do show up in the destination folder, they have a cloud next to them but are not accessible. Dropbox app activity window will eventually show that the files have been updated/synced, but as far as the Finder is concerned the move or copy hasn't occurred. Reboots don't fix it, eventually I have to delete both source and destination folders.

Move and copy from my Documents folder to any non-Dropbox syncing folder is unaffected, works perfectly.

Pausing Dropbox sync before making large file moves, as I was advised to try by Support this afternoon, block any file moves or copies within a folder that is being backed up by Dropbox.

File type is irrelevant (.txt files, music files, etc.). All that matter is the size of the move.

I can't say for sure when this behavior started, but it feels like last few weeks or during July.

Anyone else having a similar experience?

Calvin2DBX

Hi @Lui Hepworth and @Dmitri772,

Let's drill down on the source of the problems here.

@Lui Hepworth, did the icons change at all to the kind shown here:

https://help.dropbox.com/sync/macos-sync-icons ?

If they're completely missing, a screenshot of how the files appear, for any clues, would still be great to have.

Also, try the actions again when the Dropbox app is not running, like @Dmitri772 was advised, and let me know if that helps in your case.

@Dmitri772, if moving from the Documents folder to non-Dropbox locations works just fine, they should also move to Dropbox locations when the app isn't running, if it's anything to do with the app, so there must be something more to it.

Are either of you using Computer Backup at all, to sync folders outside Dropbox, such as Desktop, Documents, and Downloads?

Do the file actions complete if you start them on the website, instead, and let the changes sync down to the computer? Also, if you can send me the ticket number for the specialized support case, that would be great!

Thanks in advance!

Lui Hepworth

In Finder I created this new folder called TEST. I added a txt file and a png - the icon at the top of the screen showed it was syncing. No icons seen in Finder at all:

(Edited by moderator to remove personally identifiable information per Dropbox Community Guidelines)

In Finder I delted the two files without any problem. But I could not delete the folder.

I quit dropbox from the menu at the top of the screen and tried to delete the folder, but still couldn't. Error message shown again:

(Edited by moderator to remove personally identifiable information per Dropbox Community Guidelines)

I went to Dropbox online and deleted the folder without problem. I restarted Dropbox - it immediately synced and the folder dissapeared from Finder.

In Finder I tried moving files from one folder to another - no problem with that either.

I use iDrive to backup my laptop . I looked through the list of folders that iDrive backs up - I found Mac HD > Users > username > .dropbox is ticked -

Also Library > Cloudstorage > Dropbox -
I have unticked them.

There is also a folder Library > Cloudstorage > .DS_Store - should I untick that? I will post this now - then re-start and post again after...

Lui Hepworth

After the above I re-started my laptop. Dropbox re-started automatically. Still the same problem - no icons, cannot delete the folder.
I quit dropbox and re-started my laptop -Dropbox started automatically. Still the same.

I excluded all Library and Username > Library from the iDrive backup - re-stared laptop - still the same problems.

Jay

Hi @Lui Hepworth, are you able to mark files as available offline, so that they get a sync icon on them?

Lui Hepworth

No - when I right click the folder or files the option doesn't appear. When I first upgraded to the new dropbox - it said it was moving the dropbox folder to CloudStorage. At that point everythign worked, but I had to right click each top level folder and make them avail offline. But since intalling the latest Montery update I've had these problems.

Lui Hepworth

As an extra test - I just deleted a folder from the Dropbox app on my Android phone. It deleted fine and the change immediately synced to Finder on my Mac and online.

Emmet

Hi @Lui Hepworth,

We’d like to check what’s going on here, would you mind if we reached out to the email associated with your community profile to look into this further?

Thank you!

Dropbox Community Team

Lui Hepworth

Hi @Emmet yes that's fine - thanks

Megan

Hi @Lui Hepworth, I just sent you an email, I'll see you there!

Lui Hepworth

Megan

Amazing news, that's what I like to hear -or read in our case- @Lui Hepworth.

Keep an eye on it, and let me know if you need anything else, we're always around! 😎

Lui Hepworth

Just to add - my Dropbox folder is now located in Users > username > Dropbox (not in cloudstorage anymore)