I have gotten a popup window several times recently on my MacBook Pro that says: “Dropbox.app” would like to access data from other apps.
Why am I getting this popup and should I say yes?
Hi again,
We've applied another fix here (many thanks to @WileECoyote!), which went out in v199 stable (and also v200 beta).
Again, if you update and you're still seeing this issue - please reply here!
Thanks!
Hi @TomF, thanks for messaging the Community!
Have you enabled the Dropbox Backup feature, or any other features in the desktop app?
This will help me to assist further!
Thank you for your inquiry. I have Dropbox Backup running for the folders such as the Desktop and Music folders that are not automatically synced in Dropbox.
While I was checking in order to answer your question, I discovered that the Pictures folder is not being backed up and could be, so I tried to turn it in. I had to give Dropbox "Full Disk Access" in order to add the Pictures folder to the list of folders that are backed up. Is it possible that granting Full Disk Access will (a) stop the requests that I posted about, and (b) have the effect I would have gotten if I had clicked Yes to allow Dropbox to access data from other apps? I will watch to see.
Thank you.
I keep getting these messages on my macbook. I dont want to allow access and I dont want to see these messages again. But specifically when I save a document in Office I get this popup like once a day. So annoying! I dont see a setting to control this. Please provide a solution, thanks
Even when I allow access I continue to get the popup.
Mac OS Sonoma 14.1.2
Hey @MarioC, thanks for posting here!
When did this start happening?
Would you be able to send me a screenshot of the pop-up you get, and also clarify the version of our app that you use on your end, please?
Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!
I've been getting the same pop-up, I believe. This is what I keep seeing...
I've also been getting this same popup on my Macbook for the last week or so, at least once a day sometimes multiple times. Regardless of how I answer it always comes back.
MacOS: Sonoma 14.0
Dropbox version: v191.4.4995
Hey there @brownleepress & @repotxtx - did you grant Dropbox full disk access when you first installed the desktop app on your computers?
According to the link you provide:
"On Mac: give Dropbox full disk access
If you’re on macOS 12 or earlier, follow these steps to set your permissions to allow Dropbox."
I'm on OS14.1.2 and I doubt many people are using OS12 or earlier so this seems to be not relevant. I've looked though all the menus in Dropbox and there is no mention of full disk access as far as I can see.
Started maybe a couple of weeks ago. I haven't kept a screenshot but same as brownleepress below. I am using Dropbox Plus.
Hi @MarioC, thanks for letting me know more about this!
Since you use macOS, can you please try the steps in the following Help Center article, in order to edit or turn off your accessibility settings, to see if you still get the same results?
No that article does not help at all because it refers to a dialog box which is only accessible during initial instal. Having waded all through I find this:"If you want to edit accessibility settings after you’ve already installed Dropbox, follow the instructions for your operating system in this article." Sigh. Is now I have to go there and start again. I'll put it on the list to do.
Getting the same thing, but only started after I just upgraded to Sonoma (nothing to do with Install process or settings during install). Full Disk access was off, turned that on and said "Allow" to dialog, but don't know what I just authorized (is "access to other apps data" = allow full disk access?)
Hey @joritian - could you let us know the version and status of the Dropbox desktop app as shown in your menu bar?
Also, can you have a look at the app's preferences under the sync tab and clarify the location of your Dropbox folder?
If you could send us a screenshot of the pop-up as well, I'd appreciate it.
Current version is: v191.4.4995
The status is fine (checkbox, sync up to date), although have some sync errors on a few files.
In the app preferences dropbox folder location is the main user folder.
The screenshot of the pop-up is exactly the same as the one(s) already posted in this thread.
This issue for me now seems to be corrected after giving full disk access in security as well as responding to "Allow" on the dialog. As I mentioned in original post, wondering what "access to other apps data" presented on the dialog is the same as asking for full disk access or does this allow some additional / different access then that. In other words is the dialog message just poorly worded or really reflects a different behavior. Again I am no longer getting dialog as of yet, will edit, re-post if it comes back. - Thank you
Glad to hear it's sorted now @joritian
Let us know if anything else comes up!
This worked for me, so far. Seems like a Mac issue, as you have to allow Dropbox 'to control your computer' which sounds ominous.
The fix:
Mac Settings > Privacy and Security > Accessibility > 'Allow these apps to control your computer' and toggle ON.
None of these things work. This is becoming so annoying. The dialogue box pops up like every 5-10 minutes and sometimes it pops up several times in a row.
I take back my earlier suggestion, as it has come back for me, too. I keep clicking 'Don't Allow'. Have no idea how to get rid of it! Apologies for the earlier suggestion. The Privacy and Security > Accessibility action had no effect.
You should be clicking "Allow" instead of "Don't Allow". This is in addition to the changes you made to the privacy and security settings. (I was a little uncomfortable too, not because I had a security concern so much as wanting an explanation as to what I giving it permissions to do, but no answer as to yet)
So did you change the Security and Privacy setting as @SuperUser2 described AND click the "Allow"? The combination worked for me originally.
I have been experiencing this infuriating dialog multiple times a day. In my use case, I absolutely do not want and cannot allow dropbox access to the documents I am working on or any of their metadata. It has gotten to the point that I am considering moving to another cloud service provider that will not do this to me.
To clarify, dropbox does not need this data to function properly for my use as cloud storage. That is all I want or need - secure cloud storage. It would be client-friendly to allow us to adjust dropbox.app functions to our own usage needs.
Same exact issue here. Every day or two I get this message. I don't allow, it comes back. I do allow, it comes back. Dropbox created this prompt, so surely someone can explain why it appears, and the consequences of both choices. Or not? What's the status of these inquiries? Thanks
Hi Everybody,
Thanks for reporting this. Our Engineering team has been notified and currently investigating. We'll provide an update here when we have more information to share.
Thanks,
Ben
I've been running into this ever since upgrading from Ventura to Sonoma 14.4.1 a few weeks ago. I finally found this discussion thread, and hoped it would contain an answer. But the thread is four months old and still no resolution?
Possible fix. Under System Settings, Privacy, remove Dropbox from Files and folders, Note: don’t just disable Dropbox, remove it. Then reboot.
Full details: I went into System Settings, Privacy, and removed Dropbox from three places: Files and Folders, Full Disk Access, and Accessibility. I removed Dropbox, I didn’t simply disable it. I rebooted. After the reboot, dropbox opened a dialog that told me, to get the most out of Dropbox I should allow access under Accessibility. I checked the checkbox to not ask again, then clicked Not Now. Next, I looked under System Settings, Privacy, and found Dropbox in only two places: Full Disk Access and Accessibility, and it was disabled in both places. (This is the correct setting. I would need to enable Dropbox in both places only if I were using Dropbox to run automatic backups, which I’m not.)
Finally, I rebooted a second time, and Dropbox is no longer prompting me to access other application data.
I hope this helps others who are encountering this issue.
Update: After the above fix and reboot, I used my system for several hours without seeing the access other application data dialog. This morning after a reboot, I saw the dialog alomost immediately, clicked don't allow, and immediately rebooted. I've been using my Mac for several hours now without seeing the dialog.I can't say for certain that it's gone, but I used to see it after every reboot, so my fingers are crossed. It's also worth noting that dropbox has not reappeared in Privacy, Files and Folders since I removed it.
Sorry, I'm still seeing this annoying popup. Looks like we're stuck waiting on Dropbox to provide a fix.
