My Dropbox icon is missing from my Windows task bar, but the app still syncs.

Question

My Dropbox icon on the Windows task bar has recently disappeared.  I have tried all the obvious solutions without success.  One option suggested was to uninstall Dropbox and then reinstall from my account on-line.  However, I cannot uninstall - the error message reports "uninstall failed."

Dropbox is working OK and syncing with  the folder containing an OpenOffce database on my and other computers and also syncing with other folders

Can anyone suggest a solution, as although all seems to be working OK it is handy to have the icon to immediately access synced files and folders.

Nocton · Answer

TY, Nancy.

"What if you click on this link next, without uninstalling the Dropbox app first? Can you see the

Dropbox icon in your system tray (where your clock settings are), after the latest app version has been downloaded to your device?"

The link is not 'clickable'.  I cannot install the latest version that is why I was trying to uninstall the current version, before trying again.

I can't see any sync icons, but everything is syncing OK.  The main database OpenOffice app has a Windows script file that copies the required files from the user's Dropbox folder to the working folder on their PC; after editing, another Windows script copies the files back to the Dropbox folder.  This avoids the possibility of conflicted files, but has nothing to do with the missing icon problem.

I should also say that I am running on Windows 10 with 0Patch support.  But again, I can't see that this has anything to do with the problem as everything was OK until about a week ago and everything else is working fine.

Dropbox Help does mention an advanced re-install, but it starts with clicking on the Dropbox icon and then quitting before uninstalling, so not something I can do.  I have also tried a Windows System restore to an earlier time, but with no change re the missing icon.

All very frustrating.

Nancy · Answer

Hey @Nocton, hope you don’t mind if I jump in, too.

What if you click on this link next, without uninstalling the Dropbox app first? Can you see the Dropbox icon in your system tray (where your clock settings are), after the latest app version has been downloaded to your device?

Besides the Dropbox icon that you’re missing, are you also missing the sync icons next to your files in the Dropbox folder, or the context menu options for Dropbox when right-clicking on them?

Nocton · Answer

TY, Megan.

"Just to confirm, are you missing the small Dropbox icon at  the bottom right of your screen, by the clock? " YES, this one.

I did what you said and ended "Dropbox Services" from Task Manager, but it made no difference and I noticed after the failed uninstall that "Dropbox Services" had come back.