Desktop app requests admin password on macOS

Question

Years ago I stopped using Dropbox, because it kept insisting that I enter my admin password for my Mac into a fake looking dialog box. Now I had to re-install it, because a customer insists on using Dropbox. This issue still persists: When signing into my macOS user account, Dropbox pops up a dialog asking me to hand over admin privileges, providing me with a vague reason. I always deny that and I will continue to refuse entering my password.

How do I stop Dropbox from asking?

stairjoke · Answer

Hi,

ok, so I just uninstalled the App again, because none of the reasons you gave warrant asking for an admin password. There are APIs for that.

I’ve been having the described issue in Safari for about six months, so with many versions and multiple macOS versions. The files are sometimes tiny TXT files and sometimes huge MOV files. It simply doesn’t work at all.

Nancy · Answer

Hi @stairjoke, in general, the Dropbox desktop app requires admin privileges, so that functionalities like syncing icons and right-click context menus may appear in your local Dropbox folder (you can also check this Help Center article).

As for the issue you’re having on your Safari browser, I’d be more than happy to look into it, if you want me to.

Can you clarify what’s the browser version Safari is running, as well as the average size of files you’re usually trying to download? If you use an incognito window on your Safari browser, does the issue persist?

stairjoke · Answer

Hello,

sorry about the delay, the password prompt only seems to show every couple of reboots, today it showed again — I declined again. This dialog box just gives the reason "for Dropbox to work properly." There is no explanation what the app will do with the admin privileges, or how to take these away in the future.

It feels very sketchy and untrustworthy, and it feels like a security risk. No other app asks for what is the equivalent of a signed blank cheque. I would like to use Dropbox, but if this is what I need to give up in order to do so, I won’t use it.

Here is the dialog box that pops up:

Screenshot of a dialog box showing the Dropbox logo and asking for an administrators password.

P.S: Downloading files in your Web-App using Safari doesn’t work. Hasn’t worked in a long time. I always have to use Firefox or Chrome to download files from Dropbox.