I thought I had worked this out programmatically, but the criteria seem to change over time.

com.dropbox.attrs is the relevant extended attribute. But I'm not sure
how to decode the contents.

I'm running MacOS Tahoe 26.4.1

Scott Baden

Feature request: Really miss the feature to have Dropbox default to making all files downloaded and available for offline open/save. I will always, 100% of the time, want Dropbox to keep all my selected-to-sync files to also be downloaded and available for offline use. 

I know you can right-click to request offline availability, but this creates a bit of an unclear situation as you can't see by looking at a file in Finder whether it is supposed to be offline available or not.  I want this to just be the way Dropbox works.

Since there is the option to do this on a per file / folder basis using right-click, seems likely possible for Dropbox to make this effectively on-by-default for every file, with the user doing the gesture. 

Been using Dropbox since 2010 and it has had it's ups and downs and definitely feel it has worsened user experience since Dropbox changed to Apples file-provider services in 2022-2023.

Saying this as I have very extensive experience of using Dropbox and to the larger degree, quite positive experiences.

But, since a few weeks ago when I updated my system to macOS 26.4, I've started getting "Preparing to move to"… dialogs very frequently. And dialogs that stays up for seconds, sometimes quite a few.

Just run the problem in ChatGTP which has lots of explanations including recommendation to move files in terminal…. Not tried anything yet.

Posting this here to see what others has come up with. And hopefully also some comments from Dropbox the company itself.

Question or Issue
When updating using the exe downloaded from https://www.dropbox.com/downloading (link given by desktop app) the updater gives timed out error.

After checking several things, I notice the update is failing because it is trying to access the antivirus security log folder or the security log file and it gets blocked.

Any help?
And why is it trying to access the antivirus security log folder or the security log file?

Thanks.

HW: Apple M1 Pro

OS: Ventura 13.5 (22G74)

Dropbox ver: v180.3.4837 & joined beta

Dropbox beta has an incomprehensible behavior when using the file provider feature on macOS.
As shown in the finder screenshot below, I have set "Make available offline" except for a few folders. However, the cloud with arrow icon(next to the dropbox icon) is "not downloaded" and the dropbox status in the menubar is "your files are up to date". 

Doesn't "make available offline" mean that all files are accessible offline on my macbook? But what does "not downloaded" mean?

No matter how long I waited, the "your files are up to date" status didn't change, so I finally clicked on the cloud icon in the finder to actually download the files. After that, the dropbox status didn't change even after hours of waiting in "syncing..." as shown in the screenshot below.

16GB RAM

macOS Sonoma 14.4

Dropbox v194.4.6267

For some time now I have been unable to set files or folders as "available offline" in actuality. The check mark next to the file or folder changes to a green tick when I choose to "make available offline" but the cloud icon (seems this is a macOS icon, not a Dropbox one) remains and the file does not download unless I try to open it, at which point it downloads and becomes an offline file.

I have scoured the forums and the only article I can find was from the Dropbox Beta some time ago and that didn't seem to get resolved.

Does anyone have a workaround or solution for this?

I also have Google Drive running on my Mac and thought this may be an issue so uninstalled it but no luck.

What the heck

Why is dropbox unable to back up default folders if they have been moved? Is there no way around this?

Question or Issue

I have been having the same issue as described in this thread for at least 1 month. It makes Quick Look (and therefore Finder) really awful to use. If you try to QuickLook or preview a pdf, image, etc. the quicklook state resets and refreshes. For example, I navigate in Finder to a pdf in my dropbox. I press SPACE to quicklook the item. I scroll down the PDF. The QuickLook resets/refreshes and I lose my place in the document. There is a huge impact on everyday tasks.

Troubleshooting efforts:

1. I viewed this topic and followed the suggestions there. It did not help.
2. If I quit the Dropbox app, the issue persists.
3. I found something really interesting. If I look at the Path Bar at the bottom of Finder, the folder icons keep changing several times per second (matching the flickering in QuickLook). Sometimes the icons in the Path Bar show as blank gray squares with dashed outlines or Green folders with check marks. It appears that these mini icons  are constantly changing. If I disable the Path Bar, then the flickering stops in the quicklook. Again this happens in the Dropbox section of Finder, and not elsewhere. I've shown an example of the two options I see flicker on the Path Bar. Again the file previews and quicklooks flicker also, which is more problematic. I point out the Path Bar as a potentially useful piece of information to determine the problem.

Thank you!

Hi,

My Dropbox sync is stuck forever, no idea why. See attached screens.

Please help, desktop pc with Win 11, Dropbox free version

Grahame

For years you’ve asked for a simple way to exclude files and folders from sync without using selective sync feature. We’re testing a new way to give you more control over what Dropbox syncs and what it doesn’t. If you’ve ever wanted to keep certain files or folders on your device without syncing them to dropbox.com, this feature is for you.

🤔 What is it?

Ignore Files lets you list exclusion rules in a special text file called rules.dropboxignore placed in your Dropbox root folder. Any file or folder that matches a rule will stay on your computer but will not sync to dropbox.com or count against your storage

👀 Who we’re looking for

• Desktop Dropbox users on Windows, macOS, or Linux
• People who regularly deal with temporary or bulky content, e.g.
• Software Engineers
• Video / audio / 3D creators
• Anyone who hates seeing clutter in their cloud storage

🗓️ How the closed beta works

Here’s what to expect if you join the beta for Ignore Files: 

1. Register -  Fill out the form here → [Sign-up link]
2. Confirm: Eligible participants will receive an email to confirm their participation, along with the timeline details.
3. Get Set Up - Make sure you have Dropbox app installed on your computer
4. We’ll Enable It - We’ll activate Ignore Files feature for you.
5. Try It Out - Use Dropbox as usual for 1 week, ignoring files and folders as needed. 
6. Share Your Thoughts - At the end of the week, we’ll send a quick survey. You can also opt into a 30-minute feedback chat (optional, limited spots available!)

✍️ Want in?

1. Fill out the quick screener here by date → [Sign-up link]
2. Keep an eye on your inbox - we’ll be in touch if you’re selected

Thanks so much for helping us improve Dropbox. We’re excited to hear what you think!

Got questions? Just drop them in the thread below. 💬

Question or Issue
I am have very slow upload speeds. It is taking 50 minutes to upload a 2.2 gig file.  My upload speed is 490.  I thought it was my computer, so I purchased a new one.  Went from M2 to M4.  No change at all.

Question or Issue

After a recent update I got error messages about the Finder and Dropbox started defaulting to saving my documents in the Dropbox cache, ".dropbox" (which I did not know existed).  I then deleted the cache.  This morning I was required to log in to Dropbox and go through the process of resyncing everything.  And then even though I did not ask that the files be offloaded to the cloud, every one of my folders and files has the cloud icon next to it (on my desktop).  I am a little anxious about what awaits me with my office iMac which is significantly older and slower.

Question or Issue
Have been using Dropbox for years. Recently had to get a new laptop because of work issues. I downloaded the app from dropbox.com. It installs just fine. When I start it and press the login button, it very briefly starts a hidden terminal session. The terminal closes almost instantly without displaying its window (therefore I can't see what it tries to do) and then nothing more happens. It will not even display the login window (username/password). Tried reboots and starting the application with administrator privilegies. Doesn't work. No error messages. Works just fine on my other computers, but this is the one I travel with which is a problem.

One thought is that the installer tries to access the Edge browser or its dependencies, which I don't have installed (optional in the EU).

Please help!

Question or Issue

My dropbox app has been stuck on Connecting Components. I uninstalled and re-installed it twice to no avail. I even deleted the files from Library/Application support in Finder. The other weird thing is that there was no option to sign in even after the app was reinstalled. It was stuck almost immediately on Connecting Components. I would be super grateful for any help!!

I uninstalled the dropbox app and now I can't access my download folder or other shared folders on my mac at all, or download anything new - what can I do? 

Question or Issue
I've not been able to find documents using search in my dropbox folder for a few weeks. I went to indexing options to remove dropbox from indexing and re-add it hoping it would rebuild the index. IT'S NOT THERE TO SELECT AT ALL!! I have my dropbox as a fold in Documents. When I go to C Users Myname Documents, dropbox is not there.

I've right clicked the folder and in properties, went to advanced, UNCHECKED allow this folder to have contents indexed and applied that. Then I went back and checked it so they could be indexed and applied that. 

Dropbox is still not in the indexing options list of folders.

Question or Issue
I’ve had the same “Updating 42 files” on my monitor tab icon for over a year. after syncing new addition, it reverts to this notice. There is nowhere I can find what or where these 42 files are to be found. With the disaster of the mixed main filer location since it was moved into the Library, where I now have two folders residing, Things are getting more complicated and less reliable, a situation that seems to go hand in hand everywhere I encounter ‘more complicated.’ In Preferences>Sync>Dropbox folder updates “You are using Dropbox on File Provider. To opt out ...

1st question: how to get rid of “Updating 42 files

2nd question; how to have a single Library folder? Do I have to compare the two folders, file at a time? Cuz that would be a real PIA and I could lose data as several people in this forum have already experienced. files copied with zero info.

3rd question. Does anybody try these new systems out in real world situations?

Jay [removed per the Community Guidelines], Kenwood CA

Sequoia 15.7.3
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)
244.4.6580

Question or Issue
I have set my preferences within dropbox to "Online only" for file location moving forward. Im trying to upload a folder (about 800 gb in size) and it's saying I need to clear up local storage still on my MacBook. Which means dropbox is still trying to default to Offline access for files even tho I changed the settings to Online only. 

Question or Issue
I'm using Dropbox on a paid plan for work and managing private files on top of all things. In the last two weeks Dropbox constantly causes my internet to die; just about any activity in the Dropbox Windows app and my connection goes out cold. I'm unfortunately not exactly well-versed in network related issues or how to track/trace them, but I can replicate it every single time I open my local Dropbox folder (that's hooked to the app) - my internet is dead instantly. I'm on a 150mbps plan and my down/up speed aren't bad to a point my connection would die from a traffic spike. I tried throttling the bandwidth Dropbox gets access to but my internet goes out cold regardless. Nothing else does this, it's always the moment Dropbox receives traffic that my internet gets cut. I could have countless of background processes hog my connection and have zero issues until Dropbox is opened. I have no antivirus or anything that I know of, just the basic Windows Defender. Generally I have no internet or connectivity issues, just the moment Dropbox shows activity or I open the folder it shuts off my connection.

This is very frustrating considering I'm relying on Dropbox to work at all times while also being able to stay online in Slack and so on.

Help is a misnomer because all too often it tells what you can do without telling you HOW TO

I need a dummies guide, at nearly 80 my brain does not see the obvious, I need help on HOW to do things, but mostly to keep my files updates everywhere.

Sele3ct a tag it says - but how and where, please stop assuming a level of knowledge from your users, we are not all tech savvy.