I posted another article about this back in 2022:
https://community.dropbox.com/en/discussion/643130/dropbox-app-doesnt-startup-well-with-windscribe-vpn-firewall
But got no traction.
I think including Windscribe VPN in the title made it of little value to the Dropbox devs.
So now the title is "Dropbox Tray Icon Pauses My Internet Connection" because THAT is the real problem.
- When my computer boots up, it auto-connects to a VPN server
- Dropbox then loads and both the "tray icon" and the "dropbox app" both seem happy
- UNLESS I change my VPN server to another location on planet earth...
- at that point the "tray icon" starts reporting "attempting to connect..." and will NEVER actually "Connect."
NOTE: Did you know that the "tray icon" has its own network connection code inside? It talks to dropbox.com SEPARATELY from the "dropbox app". How do I know this? Because the "tray icon" can be reporting "attempting to connect..." yet I can push/pull files to/from dropbox using the app. I can copy files to C:\DROPBOX and an immediate SYNC will take place.
- The "dropbox app" continues to work JUST FINE... but the "tray icon" still reports "attempting to connect..." and is grayed out
BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS TRYING TO USE A BROWSER TO SURF THE INTERNET!
If the "tray icon" says "attempting to connect..." and is grayed out... then my browsing experience becomes a mess.
Parts of a web page will load, but other parts will take 30 seconds to "time out"... turning a simple render into minutes of waiting.
SOLUTION: But, if I just right click the "tray icon" and select EXIT... then my browser experience is FINE again.
REQUEST: The Dropbox devs need to fix the "tray icon" code to allow for changes in VPN connections without going ZOMBIE.
OTHER ISSUES: There are other issues with the "tray icon". I have to tell Windows to delay the "dropbox app" from starting too soon... or the "tray icon" will "go gray" even WITHOUT the VPN running at all. The "tray icon" gets stuck in "attempting to connect..." but never connects. If I quit and restart the "tray icon" it will connect fine again.
And if I go into Airplane Mode and back... the "tray icon" once again goes ZOMBIE.
What is the setting you have currently in the Dropbox desktop application for the proxy itself?
I have tried AUTO and DISABLED for the proxy... no help.
MORE INFO: Just an FYI... none of my other applications have an issue with Airplane Mode or VPN server changes. OneDrive works fine, GoogleDrive works fine, Synology Drive works fine...
HELLO DROPBOX DEVS!!! PLEASE READ THIS!!! : )
