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"Do not sync" option on desktop not appearing? (Mac)

I have large folders I do not want to sync — from my computer to Dropbox — but when I right click, there is no option for "Do not sync". It appears sometimes when I re-install Dropbox or if I log out and login again, but it's temperamental and doesn't always appear....

Screenshot of my "right click" menu below.

This is so frustrating and I hope someone can help!!

What should I do? Thank you.

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Hannah

Hi there, @JK, thanks for reaching out to the Dropbox Community.

I completely understand your frustration, so let's see what we can do.

Can you please let us know which macOS version and which Dropbox app version you're using?

You can see the Dropbox app version by hovering over the Dropbox icon in your menu bar.

Also, if you follow the steps in this article, are you able to ignore the folders in question?

Keep me posted.

Hi.

Am using MacOS Ventura 13.6.3 (22G436). Dropbox version 227.4.4774.

I tried the Terminal prompts, but maybe I didn't do it correctly (I copied the instruction and replaced it with a file I had on my main dropbox folder) but it says "no such file". I tried a bunch of other file names/renamed them and tried again, but still the same, so I gave up.

Hope you could help...

Thanks!

Hannah

Thanks for the update, @JK!

It might be worth checking whether you're using the File Provider version of the Dropbox app before trying the steps.

If you're using the File Provider version, your Dropbox folder would be in ~/Library/CloudStorage.

If you're not running the File Provider version, you'll need to use these steps.

Let me know if that helps at all.

Hi @Hannah , seems like I am not on the File Provider version, I can't see CloudStorage in my library (both at the "User > Library" and at the "Macintosh HD > Library").

I am trying to find the version of dropbox with File Provider, but I can't seem to find a specific download link. Could you help? I'd like to try to install that.

I tried the steps you mentioned, but it doesn't work somehow (it says "no such file" still). Weird...

Nancy

Hi from me too, @JK! Can you perhaps send us a screenshot of the code you type in your Terminal, so that we can take a look?

Other than that, you can check whether you’re eligible to install the Dropbox on File Provider update this way.

Hi @Nancy ,

Thanks for the reply.

I managed to upgrade to the File Provider version of Dropbox, however the right click is still the same, with an additional "Version history" selection.

The screenshot of my Terminal prompt is below:

Nothing happened to the x.pdf ...

Here's the right click options available (notice only "Version history" is added to the menu options, still no "Do not sync"...!)

Ack... really don't know what the problem is!

Nancy

Glad to hear you managed to update your Dropbox app in the end!

Can you restart your computer, if you haven’t already, and let me know if the “Do Not Sync” option is still not there?

Hi there,

Yes I restarted my computer twice and there's still no "Do Not Sync" option...

However, I realised now there is a new option — "Manage folder access".

Hannah

Hey @JK, thanks for the update here.

Can you try these steps and let me know if they help?

Hi @Hannah, worked on those steps but.... unfortunately still the same

Really puzzling... not sure what else I could do!? Really is very helpful to be able to not sync certain folders that are huge in size...

Hannah

I completely understand where you're coming from, @JK, and we're going to get to the bottom of this one way or another.

Can you also try these steps and let me know what happens?

Click System Settings > Privacy & Security
Click Extensions.
Click Finder extensions.
Only check Dropbox finder integration.
Close the window.
Click the Apple logo.
Click Force quit.
Click Finder.
Click Relaunch.

Hi @Hannah — thanks for these steps. I have just tried. The "Dropbox finder integration" was the only available selection in "Finder extensions". I unchecked, relaunched Finder, and then went to redo the steps to check it, and relaunched finder. Still the same. Then I tried to restart the computer. Still the same...

I will try to update my MacOS now (there's a Ventura update). Maybe I could try to update to Sequoia if it still doesn't work... but I think this issue was happening even before I upgraded to Ventura... very strange indeed...

Edit: I've tried updating Ventura, but still the same...

@Hannah I just upgraded to Sequoia... still the same...

Nancy

Hey @JK! I’ve gone ahead and logged a new ticket for you.

Please reply back to me directly from your email address and we’ll look into this further.

Hi @Nancy , thanks. I tried to reply directly from my gmail, but I got an error message from Gmail about how they can't send the email to the Dropbox email address....

Just letting you know, in hopes you could still follow up with the missing "Do not sync" issue!

Grateful for your help.

Megan

Hey @JK, happy Monday!

I was able to locate the ticket number my colleague opened for you.

It seems you've successfully replied back to @Nancy. She'll start working on the case as soon as possible.

In the meantime, if you need something else, please let me know and I will be more than happy to help every step of the way.

Hi there,

For a while the issue was solved as it seems like the "Do Not Sync" option moved up to above "Move to Bin".

However I still sometimes don't see "Do Not Sync" at this menu area... as shown in the screenshots below (one with, and one without).

Wondering why this is...

Megan

Hey @JK, I checked and it seems that you tried creating a new email, but it ended up on our unmonitored inbox.

I just sent you a new email. Can you reply back to me, and we'll take it from there.