Opt out of File Provider doesn't work, and it keeps trying to update

Hi @MsDClark, prior to doing any deletion, please check that the Dropbox desktop application is linked to a normal Dropbox folder elsewhere on your machine in the preferences.

Once you're certain that it isn't linked to the CloudStorage folders, and you're certain that the files in CloudStorage are old and don't need to check them, you should be able to manually select the folder itself, (or the files within) and delete them from your machine.

All comments

I am having the same issue. After following the opt-out directions, it looks good for a few minutes. The File Provider Dropbox folder shows that it is not syncing and the new Dropbox folder is showing up in Finder.

A few minutes later, I see the notice that File Provider has been set up once again. Worse, after following the opt-out directions again, and logging out of my account on my Mac (Sequoia 15), I get an error message and can no longer log in.

Hi @MsDClark, @Techmom236, thanks for contacting us!

In order to understand what you're seeing, could you attach screenshots showing the error messages or pop-ups that you're getting?

This will help me to assist further!

Thanks for the prompt help! Here are the two screen shots. I shut down my computer last night and when I turned it on this morning, this is what I saw. I checked the "not now" box and then clicked on Open Sign in.

As soon as I did, it went to Firefox and opened the API request page with the error message in the next screenshot.

Hey @Techmom236 - thanks for the screenshot!

Just to clarify, have you granted Dropbox full disk access as outlined here?

Yes, everything is now turned on. However, unless I use a private window, I can't log into Dropbox.com now using Firefox (my default browser). On it, when I click on log in, I get the same error message as above.

This is tricky. I logged into dropbox.com using Chrome. Since that worked, I changed my default browser to Chrome and then logged into the app and told it not to use File Provider. That worked for a few minutes, however, it then created the cloud location folder. I now have two locations on my computer showing my Dropbox folder and both of them seem to syncing! I am not seeing the "not syncing" message on either of them. Here are screen shots.

<sigh> I did a test (took a camera photo) and it updated in both locations.

I see, thanks for the additional screenshots and info there @Techmom236 - much appreciated.

Can you also send me a screenshot of the Dropbox desktop app's status as shown in your menu bar and another 2 screenshots showing the files in your Dropbox folders and their syncing icons?

I think File Provider is finally off! When I went to get the screenshot for the File Provider location, I got the error message below. Here are the other screen shots that you asked for. I also included the Dropbox Preferences screen as it now says that I am not eligible for File Provider. Whew! That fixes everything except not being able to log to the website with Firefox. That is still happening but this is enough for today! Thank you for your help.

Glad to see we're getting there @Techmom236 - as for the issue with your Firefox, I'd suggest clearing the browser's cache and/or try a private browsing window as well to see if the issue is somehow caused by a web extension or the likes.

Let us know how you get on!

Yes, I think that may be the problem with Firefox. It's a new problem, so an update may have caused it. I cleared the cache for the past day but that didn't help. I can log in with a private window and using Chrome (always have at least one extra web browser available) works for today. I will experiment when I have more time. Again, thank you and the rest of the team.

No worries @Techmom236 - we're always happy to help. Let us know if anything else comes up!

Since I don't get any error messages I believe my issues may be different. Please advise.

I am not marking this as solved as none of these steps apply nor correct my situation.

Hannah

Thanks for the update and screenshots, @MsDClark.

Can you try these steps for an advanced reinstall of the Dropbox app to see if they help?

I took all of those steps. Upon reinstalling I chose Opt Out of File Provider.

Thirty minutes later the same window pops up automatically updating me to File Provider.

Neal

Hi @MsDClark & @Techmom236,

Thanks for providing all of that information.

I've reported this internally to our engineers and they've let me know that there was a bug that they have now fixed.

Feel free to try again and let me know how you get on (they said it could take a few hours to come into effect).

As of today, February 5, it looks like it is fixed. However, I did find that it left behind copies of my Dropbox in the CloudStorage folder. I verified that the local Dropbox folder under my user name is complete and updating correctly.

Mac users who have opted out of File Provider may want to check their Cloud Storage folder and have verified that the folder under their user name is complete and being updated.

I found these and am deleting them. That is a lot of space for a small SSD drive.

Who marked this as solution? This is MY POST!

Since it is supposedly fixed, can I just change preferences to Opt Out and the cloudstorage will clean itself up or do I have to go through the steps to do an Advanced Reinstall again? If it is the latter then this will have to wait as I have too many work projects to complete before I can invest the time to do this again.

Nancy

@MsDClark, I suggest just opting out of File Provider once more for now, without the advanced reinstall.

If you’re still having issues after that, or you see copies of Dropbox in CloudStorage like the other user reported, we can further look into it then.

Thank you Nancy. I signed out of Dropbox, signed back in so i could choose Advanced Settings then OptOut. It has been a couple of hours with no pop up.

Now, how do I delete the old File Provider files that are located in CloudStorage? I do have a regular Dropbox folder and also one dated back to 2-3-26 under CloudStorage. I don't want to risk losing the files I need stored in a cloud.

Hi @MsDClark, prior to doing any deletion, please check that the Dropbox desktop application is linked to a normal Dropbox folder elsewhere on your machine in the preferences.

Opting out of File Provider on Mac OS doesn't work | The Dropbox Community

Thank you for patiently helping me. Yes, the the Dropbox folder location is under the User folder on the hard drive. I will delete the cloudstorage files

mikemorgenstern

If you're trying to stay on legacy mode and the Finder extension won't work, check for a ghost FileProvider domain in ~/Library/Application Support/FileProvider/com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/. This directory is managed by macOS, not Dropbox, and persists across reinstalls and opt-outs.

Even if you opt out of FileProvider, the domain registration can stay behind and causes Dropbox to disable the garcon Finder extension on every startup. Removing it (rm -rf after quitting Dropbox, then sudo killall fileproviderd) fixed the Finder extension for me.

Full writeup is here.

gtaMath

I have an exact same situation as @MsDClark . But I am less fortunate as it comes back with new storage location (cloudstorage) despite Opt-out and reinstalled in my original location. It just keep silently moving into the new cloudstorage location. This is just a repeat problem that I just posted today.

Hi all moderators, do you recommend to kill /library/application support/fileprovider files as the above user suggested?

Highly appreciated any advice.