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Ted G.'s avatar
Ted G.
Collaborator | Level 8
6 years ago

Can't Drag Files to Dropbox Folder in Catalina

Hello,

In catalina I am no longer able to drag files in finder into the dropbox folder.  The selected object just sort of springs back into place and will not enter the Dropbox folder.

 

  • Jane's avatar
    Jane
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    Hey Ted G., that’s interesting, let’s have a closer look! 
     
    As a quick-fire answer, I’d suspect that this is permissions-related, however I’m interested in seeing whether this triggers any error/diagnostic messages along the way that would help us paint a clearer picture; please let me know in your next message if possible. 
     
    Additionally, does that happen regardless of the original directory? Maybe it’s a specific one that’s causing that? 
     
    Please let me know of your findings & we'll take it from there. Thanks! 
    • Dragon1234's avatar
      Dragon1234
      New member | Level 2

      Since Drop box uploaded this new interface it is impossible for drag and drop. Moderator you did not answer the previous persons problem.

      I cannot drag and drop my files into folders also. There is no set up screen to change this. 

      please let me know the answer to this issue. 

    • Ted G.'s avatar
      Ted G.
      Collaborator | Level 8

      Thank you for the reply.

      I do not see any error (or otherwise) messages when I attempt to move the file.

      It does not matter what my origin directory is the file will not move into Dropbox.

      Currently the only way that I can get the file into Dropbox is to open iTerm2 and issue a 'mv' command for the file into the Dropbox folder.

      I have gone into accessability and given Dropbox full permissions in many places related to File and Folders but that does not fix the problem.

      • Rich's avatar
        Rich
        Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II

        Ted G. wrote:

        I have gone into accessability and given Dropbox full permissions in many places related to File and Folders but that does not fix the problem.


        It wouldn't be permissions for Dropbox as it's not Dropbox moving the files; it's you. If it is a permissions problem, it would be with your own computer user account. Remember, the Dropbox folder is just a folder like any other on your computer. When you move or copy files in and out of the folder, it's your operating system performing that function; not Dropbox.

        Are you able to create a new file directly in the Dropbox folder?

    • dragdropper's avatar
      dragdropper
      Helpful | Level 5

      Hey Jane, Is Dropbox planning to come up with a solution? It's clearly not unique to any one person and Dropbox is going to lose a lot of Mac customers if you don't solve this problem very quickly. It's been two weeks of no constructive response or solution while the file mess on our computers builds up.

      • BrantInPaloAlto's avatar
        BrantInPaloAlto
        Helpful | Level 6

        Agree we need a real fix to the issue but did you see my post that if you right click the file and do "add to dropbox" that works at least as a temporary solution?

    • Jane's avatar
      Jane
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
      Hey djobe & Tomleejr, thanks for flagging this with us! 
       
      I’ve now forwarded some of the requests posted here to our team specialists, & I could also reach out to you directly on my end if you’ve got a bit of spare time to work on that with our team. 
       
      Please let me know if you’d be okay with this option! 
      • anonymous's avatar
        anonymous

        no progress on this issue apparently.  just wanted to reiterate that I have reproduced this bahavior on four differnet mac models, all running 10.15.1 now (though the problem started with 10.15), all signed into differnet Dropbox accounts. The issue does not occur on 10.14.x macs. The ONLY scenario where it occurs is when attemptng to drag a file or folder onto the Dropbox favorite icon in the Finder siebar. any other folder placed in the side bar functions normally in this scenario.

        in every other situation, dragging files into or out of the dropbox folder works like any other folder. it's only when it's in the Finder sidebar that dragging fails. NOTE: placing the Dropbox folder in a Finder window's toolbar and dragging into that also works as expected. 

         

        lastly: dragging an item onto Dropbox favorite and holding it for 2 sec until the folder opens allows you to then drop it in the folder normally.

        truly bizarre.

         

         

         

    • BrantInPaloAlto's avatar
      BrantInPaloAlto
      Helpful | Level 6

      Tried that and it did not fix it for me (either - as others have indicated).

    • anonymous's avatar
      anonymous

      nope. tried relaucnhing the Finder in initial troubleshooting.

      but thx.

    • Jane's avatar
      Jane
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
      Hey bionic_beats, thanks for the nudge! 
       
      Would it be okay if I reached out to you on the email address connected to your Community profile? If you confirm, I’ll create a ticket on our system & continue this discussion from where we left off here. 
       
      Keep me posted on how you'd wish to proceed in your next message.
       
      Thanks again! 
      • Purejava's avatar
        Purejava
        Explorer | Level 3

        Hi everyone,

        for me, the following solved the issue:

        - open mac system preferences > users > login items > uncheck "Dropbox" to not load it on startup

        - logout from your mac

        - login again to your mac

        - open activity monitor on your mac > end the Dropbox process

        - uninstall Dropbox App using eg AppCleaner

        - open the Terminal

        - navigate to the folder that contains the Dropbox folder

        - delete the Dropbox folder with "rm -rf Dropbox"

        - Download the Dropbox offline installer

        - install Dropbox (you'll be asked to re-connect your Dropbox)

        - open mac system preferences > users > login items > check "Dropbox" to load it on startup

        Kind regards

  • Jking7's avatar
    Jking7
    New member | Level 2
    First be gentle do just force the files in there study what and how to drag any file places and once you have the files in order then you put it the proper place.
  • stevnan1's avatar
    stevnan1
    New member | Level 2

    Its not just drop box.  I can't drag and drop multiple pictures out of an email to my desktop (I can do it one at a time); I can't drag and drop pictures into web apps like auction sites.  When I try the latter, the photo just opens up as soon as I let go of the mouse, and when you close it, it is not in the upload box.  I have to open the file in finder and select, copy and paste in order to upload photos.  It really sucks.

  • Martha R.9's avatar
    Martha R.9
    Explorer | Level 3

    I can´t drag folders from downloads on my laptop to dropbox, but I was able to do it by copying and pasting. Go figure.

    • Fotmasta's avatar
      Fotmasta
      Helpful | Level 6

      I was hoping the 10.15.3 update would fix it but I'm still not able to drag n drop onto Dropbbox in the sidebar.  Is this an Apple problem or a Dropbox problem? 

      • ChiDeb20's avatar
        ChiDeb20
        Explorer | Level 4

        Same here. The only way that I can add files is to open a new finder window, switch to Dropbox, and then drag n drop that way. Nothing else works. Apple told me it was a Dropbox problem.

  • Blytheathome's avatar
    Blytheathome
    New member | Level 2

    Same for me.  Can't drop files into Dropbox as I used to on my Mac Book Pro. This is a problem.

     

    Another problem.  It seems that many of my PDF's have been corrputed.  When I try to open a PDF that's been stored in Dropbox, it opens to a blank white page.  Even if I move the document to my desktop it still doesn't open correctly.  Strange.

    • Daphne's avatar
      Daphne
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

      Hey Blytheathome, I hope you're well today!

       

      You may have missed my post above where I mentioned that this issue is something that our team is working on at the moment.

       

      However, the other issue you mentioned regarding not being able to open your files is something unexpected that we can investigate further.

       

      Can you just clarify for me, are these files synced to your computer as "online only" or "local"?

       

      If they are not local :white_check_mark:, can you try right clicking the file and choosing "Smart Sync - Local" and try opening the file again after it has synced?

       

      Let me know what you find!

  • ctskelly's avatar
    ctskelly
    New member | Level 2

    Hi all,

     

    I found this problem with dropbox folder aliases, but regular folder aliases sometimes too.  I found if I open ther folder, I could drag and drop into the window.  I also found that making a new alias of teh original folder was the key. 

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