Child Item

Syncing icons are missing on Mac OS

Application Affected
Dropbox desktop app / newest update as of 2/3/2026
Device
M3 iMac
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
Sequoia
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)
241.4.4795

Question or Issue
DB auto updated the other day. I am running the desktop app on 2 machines, an M3 and M4. Both the same OS. After the update, the M3 lost the BLUE Sync icon when syncing and then the GREEN icon when synced.

Nothing has changed on the machine other than DB update. Now the M4 machine is running fine. No issues with the BLUE or GREEN icons.

I did some research and it was suggested to remove any apps like ONE-DRIVE so I did remove it on the M3 but that didn't help. I also have ONE-DRIVE on the M4.

So I need this fixed as I work off of DB all the time and need to know what it synced, what is being synced. So if anyone has a fix - that would be awesome.

If there is a way to install the previous DB app that did work and turn off auto-update, that would be great. It is a little concerning that DB automatically updates its app without my permission and if there is a glitch that can corrupt or erase all my files, that could be a major issue. Glad this glitch is only the icons but it could be worse so I don't think DB should do auto-update.

THANK YOU!

Find more posts tagged with

Desktop

Sync

Mac

Insightful

Closed - Partially Delivered

Comments

Walter

Hi there @J-Reacher - sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Have you tried logging out of the Dropbox desktop app through the app's preferences and then back in since you first noticed this?

If not, can you give it a go and let me know if this persists?

While we're at it, if you have any other 3rd party apps that are running on your computer, please temporarily disable them as they might be interfering.

In any case, keep us posted!

J-Reacher

I have logged out and then back in.

I have reinstalled the DB app after doing a complete delete of DB app. Then it went into sync mode and had all blue check icons but none of them turned to green even after hours of sync. So I restarted and then all the blue icons disappeared.

I have already indicated: I did some research and it was suggested to remove any apps like ONE-DRIVE so I did remove it on the M3 but that didn't help. I also have ONE-DRIVE on the M4. I HAVE A COMPLETE CLONE OF MY BOOT DRIVE ON MY M3 ANE M4 AND THE M4 IS RUNNING FINE!

So this is an issue with your app. I did not have the problem until DROPBOX chose to update the app WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. So FIX IT!

Walter

I see, thanks for the update and sharing your thoughts on this @J-Reacher.

At this point. can you perform a clean advanced reinstall and let me know how it goes?

J-Reacher

Nope - didn't work. I followed the instructions and re-connected to my DB drive so it can start re-syncing.

The blue icons came up and I have been letting it sync but then I rebooted and now no blue icons. DB icon in the menu bar says it's syncing. Just doesn't indicate it with the blue or green icons.

Really wish you guys wouldn't have auto update. Seems like this has been a problem in the past. IDK why you guys can't figure it out. I have wasted so much time on this issue -

Walter

I see, thanks for the update on this one @J-Reacher - much appreciated.

I was able to locate your ticket with our support team and pass your comments on so that the expert who's looking into your case is aware.

They'll be getting back to you soon, but please let me know if you have anything else to add in the meantime.

kellyA

I have been having this issue as well and have tried all the recommended "fixes" stated above. This appears to be a dropbox issue - would love to see speedy fix from dropbox!

Thanks!

J-Reacher

Hey Kelly,

When did you start having this problem? What machine are you having an issue with? This issue started the other day for me after the upgrade on my M3 Mac. My M4 Mac has no issue. So just curious because this has been expedited to their top techs on what to do to solve this. So I would like to know from you so that I can show them that this is a bigger issue than just me. Then I can keep you informed on what I find out.

Thanks

kellyA

Im using a MacApple M2 Pro, and it was happening for the past 2-3 days, I wasnt on the most recent OS, so I updated this morning to tahoe 26.2, and still no sync icons. Seems like dropbox has had this problem a lot, since I see a bunch of related threads over the years for this exact issue.

J-Reacher

Ya - this is pissing me off. I think it's def an issue with M2 and M3 because my M4 doesn't have the problem. OK thanks - I will let them know.

Hannah

Hey @kellyA, sorry to see that you're also having an issue with this.

Have you tried reaching out to our support team yet?

J-Reacher

Support has done NOTHING to resolve this issue but ask me to do things that didn't work. I have wasted so much time on trouble shooting this - something that SUPPORT get's paid for and should do before they release updates. I don't get why updates are automatic when you haven't made sure they work!

J-Reacher

GREAT! Now the problem is happening on my M4 machine too. Was working just fine and then I re-booted and now no blue or green icons.

THIS IS A JOKE!

Hannah

Hey @J-Reacher, I completely understand your frustration here.

Keep in mind that our support team are not the ones releasing the updates, they're just here to troubleshoot potential issues.

They are also the best way to get these issues resolved, since they have access to info that's specific to a user's account.

So, since your issue is not yet resolved, you'll need to keep working with them to come to a resolution together.

I definitely understand that it can be frustrating at times and rest assured that I've passed your comments along to our team.

However, you'll need to continue working with the person that you're already in contact with, so you can resolve the issue the soonest possible.

I hope it gets resolved really soon!

J-Reacher

Nothing has been resolved. I haven’t heard back from anyone. This is a complete joke. We pay a lot of money for a service that should work and have no problems.

kellyA

I tend to agree - if this issue is related to the code/backend of dropbox -- which it appears most certainly to be, I'm not sure what help the support team can be. Seems like we just have to wait until someone finds the error and fixes it.

I made no changes to my computer/changed no settings or did anything different, and a couple days ago, the icons were just gone.

J-Reacher

Exactly! And I thought my M4 was ok but then today it wasn’t. This is a joke and should never happen. The simple thing would be for them to stop updating our apps without our permission and to also let us revert back to a version that works.

J-Reacher

WOW and JUST LIKE THAT - The blue and green icons are appearing today on both M3 and M4 machines. Whoever fixed this on the DB side - THANK YOU!

Hopefully it stays this way.

kellyA

I have tried working with the support Ai bot - but it has not been helpful. I cannot find anywhere in my account to change my "sync" preferences. The Ai bot could not manage to help. This is what it said -

"Here’s what you can try:

Click the Dropbox icon in your menu bar.
Click your avatar (profile picture or initials).
Select Preferences, then go to the Sync tab.
Look for a message about “Cloud Files” or “Dropbox folder updates."

The problem is - when I click on my avatar/initials - there is no "preferences" to select. That is literally not an option. And I have searched EVERYWHWERE on my account - there is NO WHERE to manage my sync preferences, which i think is also why no sync icons are displaying in my finder window.

kellyA

Lucky you! Mine are still not back. And all I am left with is the Ai bot which is useless. I have noticed that there is no where on my account to find any place to set sync preferences etc - like it has completely disappeared. And the Ai bot keeps trying to make me select a button "preferences" that I cannot find. I wonder if your account shows sync preferences anywhere?

kellyA

ok I found the preference area, however, I still dont have any sync icons and there was nothing helpful under the "preference" tab.

J-Reacher

Honestly I don’t think it’s anything on our side. Got on my computer this morning and my M3 was working fine. I didn’t do anything. Went to bed last night, not working and then today working. So my M4 now wasn’t working this morning. So I quit DB app, then changed the name of the drive. Launched DB, went through the setup to re-sync. Changed the drive name back and then synced. The blue icons still didn’t show up until I rebooted. Once I logged back in I did a force quit of the Finder after DB was running and then it showed up.

J-Reacher

This is a FRIGGIN JOKE! The sync icons came back over the weekend and now this morning they are gone again on my M3. Machine was on all night - was fine last night when I stopped working @ 9:30.

Wow if DB is this unstable with something this simple then is this service trustworthy for our files?

Oh and now I just got an email from DB about AI power. MAYBE they should be working on what doesn't work before they introduce more things that WON'T WORK!

Dell_Dropbox

@J-Reacher sometimes things just need to work the way we expect them to, so I completely understand your response here. I took a look into your support case and saw that your issue has been escalated so it can be investigated thoroughly.

But beyond your individual case, you've made larger points about how changes are implemented and shown the effects of how they impact customers. You highlighted the need for more control over which version of the app you're using, and we'll take your feedback and raise it to the appropriate team.

J-Reacher

Well if something as simple as this becomes an issue which still hasn't been resolved then how can a customer rely on their files being on your server?

This has been an issue in the past - not with me but with other customers. I have used DB for many years and never had an issue until now.

But if this is going to become the norm - where things just happen and you guys don't know why then it worries me about the trust I have with my files being on your server.

J-Reacher

So after my computer has been on all day - I just rebooted and now on my M3 - the sync icons are back.

WHAT A FRIGGIN JOKE!

mikemorgenstern

Check for a ghost FileProvider domain registration at

~/Library/Application Support/FileProvider/com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/Domains.plist

If present, it causes Dropbox to disable garcon on every startup. Removing it and re-enabling garcon via sudo pluginkit fixed sync icons for me.

Full writeup is here.