fssbob Helpful | Level 7

Also see this more recent message: https://www.dropboxforum.com/discussions/101001016/dropbox-migration-to-a-new-mac-with-the-new-cloud-storage-setup/661112/replies/807160

A follow-up note after reading about Dropbox's layoffs and current financial difficulties. In my opinion Dropbox has made the classic mistake of putting too many resources into developing sexy new features while failing to maintain the strength of its core technology. Over time, most Mac users migrate to newer machines. At…

Hi Stephen, Yes, I followed the steps and it worked. Wasn't fun though. When you say you're still "not eligible for the new Dropbox for macOS on File Provider", where and when do you see that message? My memory is that Dropbox first installs everything in the old location, and only then tells you it's ready to move the…

Thanks for confirming and adding that additional point! Bob

I don't think @"TilmanM" is talking about either of those options. They're not asking about switching an existing Dropbox install to use the File Provider update, and they're not asking about setting up a new device with the Dropbox app. Whey I believe they ARE asking about is migrating from an old Mac with the File…

@"BG Mahesh" Yes, that's correct. I'm not sure what I said that sounded different. I gave you two ways to quickly reach the folder in Finder, but its location is fixed.

@"Jay", Thanks--that's good advice for now. But can I ask you to escalate this issue to Dropbox Development to see if they can make things easier for Mac users with large Dropbox folders. It would be great if Dropbox could adjust its setup process to once again support the way it used to work: If there's already a Dropbox…

@"BG Mahesh" There are a number of ways to get to it more easily. One is to click on the Dropbox icon in your menu bar, and then click on the folder icon in the dropdown that appears. You can also enable "Cloud Storage" in Finder Settings / Sidebar.

@"Jay" It's not possible to exclude the Dropbox folder from the Apple migration process. Prior to the CloudStorage change this wasn't a problem--Dropbox would just reindex the folder on the new Mac. Given that it's not possible to exclude the folder from the Apple migration process, what is your guidance? (And are you…

I had asked a similar question in a separate thread. If I understand the guidance you're giving @"BG Mahesh" properly, it's a bit different from the guidance I think I received. I'm not using Dropbox Backup at all--just the standard Dropbox folder functionality (using the new CloudStorage setup). Soon I'm going to want to…

Got it! Thanks--that makes sense. Can I suggest that your development people review this and see if it's possible to update the Dropbox application at some point in the future so these steps are no longer necessary. The way things worked BEFORE the current change was simpler and less time-and-bandwidth consuming: You just…

I understand that--but it doesn't answer my question. After a Dropbox user purchases or otherwise obtains a new Mac and runs the standard Apple migration program--which almost everyone will do--the existing Dropbox application and folder WILL have been copied to it. You can't "not do" this--it's part of the standard Apple…

I'm following up on this since there hasn't been a response for a while. When most Mac users purchase or otherwise switch to a new Mac, they run the standard Apple transfer program to transfer the content from their old Mac. (It can use a Time Machine backup as a source, but more commonly it just migrates content directly…

Sure, but I'm surprised you're having to reach out to me about it. I've observed it on three different, unrelated machines, one running Monterey and the other two running Ventura. It appears to be a "feature", and I can't believe you're not seeing it on any of your test setups.

I've already done that. Multiple machines. I strongly suspect it's a "feature" related to the new setup, not an install issue.

Yes, they have syncing icons. Yes, it goes both ways. And if I right-click on a file or folder, the normal Dropbox items are in the context menu.

I observed it after using the "Quit" command from the Dropbox icon in the menu bar. I also observed it after starting up a Mac where "Start Dropbox on system startup" is unchecked. (I didn't mean that I had uninstalled the Dropbox app.)

That used to be the case, but with the new version the syncing is at least partially delegated to the Mac File Provider API, which continues to run regardless of whether the Dropbox application is. I just watched as a Mac with Dropbox installed fully synced incoming changes with the Dropbox application disabled.

I've noticed that with the new Mac version, syncing takes place regardless of whether the Dropbox app is running or not. Given that, what functionality is added or taken away by running or not running the Dropbox app?

After the move, make sure that all top level folders are marked as offline. (The setting might change during the move--that happened with me.) The offline setting should then propagate all the way down. It's possible that all your files & folders will need to do a one-time re-download after the move--that happened with me.

It's still right there in Finder--now appears under "Locations" in the Sidebar. (If by chance you don't see it, you might need to check "Cloud Storage" in Finder Preferences / Sidebar.) Still syncs to other devices just like before. Doesn't do unwanted sync to iCloud. Since I didn't have my Dropbox folder on an external…

@"CarloUK": When you say "all the things in the previous version", I'm curious what you're referring to. Not being able to place the Dropbox folder on an external drive is definitely a disadvantage. But other than that, I haven't seen any loss of functionality.

Go to Finder / Settings / Sidebar, and make under Locations that "Cloud Storage" is checked.

It's [your user]/Library/CloudStorage. "Library" is normally invisible--you have to show invisible items to see it. But normally you should never need to get there that way. The Dropbox folder should appear in Finder as one of your Locations.

I'm hoping to see a response to this here since it's a universal issue that I think will be relevant to others (with the new Dropbox setup, how to migrate to a new Mac without having to give up the standard Apple update program just for the sake of Dropbox). But would it be better if I ask it as a support request instead?…

I don't think the Apple migration program lets you choose which apps and docs to migrate--I think it's all or nothing. I wouldn't want to sacrifice all my other apps and docs just to keep Dropbox from migrating. This was easily handled with the older version just by letting Dropbox reindex the Dropbox folder. Given how…

So what would be the steps? The standard Apple migration process will copy both the configured Dropbox application and ~/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox (along with its contents) onto the new Mac. Can you list the exact steps I need to follow after that. Thanks.

Re: "After the update, all new files added by other computers, will sync as online-only by default." Yes, but you can change this in a second. Initially after the update, the default for new files is online only. But you can select all your top-level folders and in one update (right click) specify that you want everything…

Update: I've completed the migration process, and now I understand why it really needs to be handled by the migration program. Overall I like the new setup. I have a couple of questions that I'll ask in different threads to avoid confusing this one. I do wish Dropbox had provided more thorough documentation about the new…

Thanks. I've had to change my Dropbox folder location several times, and am quite familiar with the process. I'd still like to have complete control over when and how the move happens so I don't have a lot of scripts and other things blowing up. So I'd prefer to do it manually. But my concern is: When the upgrade program…