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Dropbox app won't start after removing File Provider

I broke Dropbox.

The file provider on my Macbook (12.7.4 Monterey) was consuming all the CPU and the laptop was extremely hot. So I followed Internet instructions to remove Dropbox and iCloud from file provider, uninstalled and reinstalled Dropbox. But the new install won't start because of the missing file provider link.

Is there a way to disable file provider and go back to the old way before starting Dropbox?

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 200.4.7134
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 72
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: e1929782-8e89-5cb2-b225-cbe010de6fce
pid: 7219
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='wjquigs', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='WJQ', pw_dir='/Users/wjquigs', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='wjquigs', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='WJQ', pw_dir='/Users/wjquigs', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
euid: 501
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/wjquigs'
appdata: '/Users/wjquigs/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/wjquigs/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/wjquigs/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/wjquigs/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
not found
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/l6/dglvbpmj3g94m7rj204mp4sm0000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/l6/dglvbpmj3g94m7rj204mp4sm0000gn/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 5643, in _setup_root_for_account
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_root/helpers.py", line 565, in get_root_for_account
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 874, in result
File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/threading.py", line 890, in _bootstrap
File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/threading.py", line 932, in _bootstrap_inner
File "desktop/dropbox/db_thread.py", line 96, in run
File "<string>", line 1, in _x__db_thread__sleep_thread
File "desktop/dropbox/db_thread.py", line 36, in set_name_and_run
File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/threading.py", line 870, in run
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/runtime/__init__.py", line 676, in decorated
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/sleep/__init__.py", line 163, in _run
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 704, in set_result
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 667, in _on_post
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 1050, in _stage1
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 421, in _then_callback
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/helpers.py", line 436, in <lambda>
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_root/handlers/macos/file_provider.py", line 1004, in _get_mount_path
dropbox.mac.internal.MacError: [Errno -2001] Error Domain=NSFileProviderErrorDomain Code=-2001 "No valid file provider found with identifier com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/cc0c1cb4-d6e6-45c9-a725-953e428f28c3." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=No valid file provider found with identifier com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/cc0c1cb4-d6e6-45c9-a725-953e428f28c3.}

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wjquigs

I did have another copy in ~/Library/Application Support/Dropbox

I deleted it but that didn't fix the problem. Then I did "rm -rf ~/.dropbox" and reinstalled and now I have my Dropbox back!

Thank you for your help!

William

All comments

Nancy

Welcome to our Community, @wjquigs.

Have you restarted the Dropbox app after the error appeared? If not, please quit the app with these steps and then relaunch it from your Finder > Applications folder.

Let me know if that helps at all.

wjquigs

I can't actually restart it because it won't start. When I start it from Finder->Applications, I get the Starting... window, then the error message, then Dropbox exits.

Screen Shot 2024-06-05 at 5.57.16 PM.png Screen Shot 2024-06-05 at 5.56.40 PM.png

wjquigs

I also uninstalled, rebooted, and reinstalled the app, but apparently that didn't reconnect to the file provider.

Walter

Hey @wjquigs - could you click on the hyperlink shown in your error message and forward us the whole error log?

wjquigs

That's in my first message but I can forward it again if you need it.

wjquigs

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 200.4.7134
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 72
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: e1929782-8e89-5cb2-b225-cbe010de6fce
pid: 40454
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='wjquigs', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='WJQ', pw_dir='/Users/wjquigs', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='wjquigs', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='WJQ', pw_dir='/Users/wjquigs', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
euid: 501
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/wjquigs'
appdata: '/Users/wjquigs/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/wjquigs/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/wjquigs/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/wjquigs/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
not found
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/l6/dglvbpmj3g94m7rj204mp4sm0000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/l6/dglvbpmj3g94m7rj204mp4sm0000gn/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 5643, in _setup_root_for_account
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_root/helpers.py", line 565, in get_root_for_account
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 874, in result
File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/threading.py", line 890, in _bootstrap
File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/threading.py", line 932, in _bootstrap_inner
File "desktop/dropbox/db_thread.py", line 96, in run
File "<string>", line 1, in _x__db_thread__sleep_thread
File "desktop/dropbox/db_thread.py", line 36, in set_name_and_run
File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/threading.py", line 870, in run
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/runtime/__init__.py", line 676, in decorated
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/sleep/__init__.py", line 163, in _run
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 704, in set_result
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 667, in _on_post
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 1050, in _stage1
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 421, in _then_callback
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/helpers.py", line 436, in <lambda>
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_root/handlers/macos/file_provider.py", line 1004, in _get_mount_path
dropbox.mac.internal.MacError: [Errno -2001] Error Domain=NSFileProviderErrorDomain Code=-2001 "No valid file provider found with identifier com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/cc0c1cb4-d6e6-45c9-a725-953e428f28c3." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=No valid file provider found with identifier com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/cc0c1cb4-d6e6-45c9-a725-953e428f28c3.}

Nancy

In this case, please check if you have a copy of the Dropbox.app file on your computer in these locations:

/Applications
~/Library/Application Support/Dropbox

If you see this file in both locations, delete the file in the second location(~/Library/Application Support/Dropbox).
If you see the file in the second location but not in the first, move the file to the first location(/Applications).

Restart the Dropbox desktop app. If the issue isn’t resolved from there, try these steps:

Open the Terminal application on your computer.
Type fileproviderctl domain list.
Press return on your keyboard.
- Please provide us with a screenshot of the output.
Navigate to your user profile folder ~/Users/[YourUsername].
Press command-shift-. (period).
- This will show your hidden files.
Locate and delete the .dropbox folder in ~/Users/[YourUsername].

Your Dropbox application should re-sync your files, and the application should return to normal.

Let me know if that seems to help instead!

wjquigs

I did have another copy in ~/Library/Application Support/Dropbox

I deleted it but that didn't fix the problem. Then I did "rm -rf ~/.dropbox" and reinstalled and now I have my Dropbox back!

Thank you for your help!

William

Walter

We're glad to hear it's sorted now and thanks for keeping us in the loop on this @wjquigs

See you around the Community and have a lovely weekend!

t0r0x

@Nancy wrote:

[...]
Restart the Dropbox desktop app. If the issue isn’t resolved from there, try these steps:
Open the Terminal application on your computer.
Type fileproviderctl domain list.
Press return on your keyboard.
Please provide us with a screenshot of the output.
[...]

macOS 14.5

Please note that `fileproviderctl` does not have the commands `domain list`.

user@computer ~ % fileproviderctl domain list
File Provider control utility.
fileproviderctl <command> <options>

Commands:
  dump [<domain|provider>]                                       - dump state of fileprovider's daemon
      --limit-dump-size                                                 limit the number of items dumped
  evaluate <item>                                                - evaluate finder actions and decorations on item
  evaluate <action> [<item>] <target item>                       - evaluate finder interactions
  check | repair                                                 - run FPCK
      -f                                                                perform a full dump (all items)
      -a <path>                                                         perform check under path
      -b <path>                                                         operate on an already created DB backup. If this is set you need to set -a to point to the domain root
      -o <path>                                                         write output into file at path
      -P                                                                no-pager output
      -d                                                                dimisss low-importance invariants
      -v                                                                print out files with broken invariants
      -m [<providerDomainID>]                                           perform check on the d2d migration backup
      -x xpc|daemon                                                     launch in XPC Service vs daemon (default)
  obfuscate [<filename>/<path>...]                               - return the obfuscated form of the filename

t0r0x

@Nancy wrote:
[...]
Restart the Dropbox desktop app. If the issue isn’t resolved from there, try these steps:
Open the Terminal application on your computer.
[...]
[...]
[...]
[...]
Locate and delete the .dropbox folder in ~/Users/[YourUsername].
Your Dropbox application should re-sync your files, and the application should return to normal.
[...]

I had the same issue, and Step 6, deleting the `~/.dropbox` folder, did force the Dropbox app to re-login, re-configure, and re-sync my files. It complained that a `~/Dropbox` directory already exists (my Dropbox files location), and I chose to rename the old directory. That solved the issue for me.

Thanks!