You might see that the Dropbox Community team have been busy working on some major updates to the Community itself! So, here is some info on what’s changed, what’s staying the same and what you can expect from the Dropbox Community overall.
Forum Discussion
bocceman
8 years agoNew member | Level 2
blank login screen with dropbox app on windows 7 pc
Hi. I'v having issues with logging into an existing dropbox account on a windows 7 pc. If i roll back to version 15.4.22 I can see the login and I am able to enter my userid and password but th...
- 8 years ago
Hi dhfernz, bocceman, bluerandy
Let's go through some troubleshooting steps together about this issue.
1) Please disable your antivirus software.
Please ensure steps were followed for the configuration of your firewall and double check that the domains listed here have been allowed.
2) Please install the newest version of Dropbox with your antivirus turned off.
3) If you are using a remote connection or a virtual machine:
- Ensure the host attempting to view Dropbox is configured for 32 bit colour
- Try logging in on the actual machine rather than through a remote session
4) If none of the above won't fix this and the issue persists, please reach out to our support team so they can investigate and help.Thank you!
- 7 years ago
That’s correct, this is because the login screen for the Dropbox desktop application emulates a browser to render the page.
If the page is blank, then as has been mentioned, a proxy, VPN, firewall, security software, or even ISP/router settings are blocking or restricting connections to Dropbox servers.
Despite that, in some cases the block isn’t complete, so the ‘invisible fields’ for email and password can be clicked there.
Even after you login and get past the tour page, you’re still going to experience sporadic behavior and syncing, since the underlying problem remains and hasn’t been resolved.
Aside from the above troubleshooting for the VPN etc, I’d personally check out your router, since most modern ones have firewalls built into there and could be logging these requests and blocking them.
Try rebooting your router, updating its firmware, or resetting it to factory defaults, after making a note of your broadband username and password.
Other matters to consider are ISP issues, which you would need to check with them since if the connection is affected before your router receives it, there’s little you can do from your end…[This thread is now closed. If you have a similar or new question, you can ask here.]
- 7 years agoWe still support Windows 7 and above, only Windows Vista recently became unsupported for the desktop app.In general, a blank login screen, or any issues during that specific setup phase of the Dropbox desktop application is connection-based issues.This is why I suggested checking out anything that can affect the connection, that being proxies, VPN, firewall, antivirus, or other security software.We have received similar reports in the past, from entire regions, where the setup phase isn’t being completed. Turns out the ISP was blocking these Dropbox domains from connecting.If you’re still experiencing these issues, even after contacting your ISP, we’d recommend writing to us directly, so that our team can assist further on this matter.
[This thread is now closed. If you have a similar or new question, you can ask here.]
Nielson
Explorer | Level 4
[Added 28 Sep 2017] If you are not using Gmail for Dropbox but actually have one, I guess (not personally tried though) you can change your email to Gmail (https://help.dropbox.com/account/change-email), log in, and change the email back?
--------------------------
Here may be a solution for someone using Gmail as their login email (https://help.dropbox.com/desktop-web/google-sign-in).
I reinstalled Dropbox in my laptop about a month ago when Dropbox cannot start normally after updated to some new version. After the reinstallation I cannot login because of the blank set up window. I've tried different solutions but none of them worked. Disabling firewall and antivirus didn't work; I've tried all historical stable versions and some beta versions; the Tab-username-Tab-pwd or mouseover trick didn't work; occasionally the normal set up window showed up but I cannot type in anything. Today I suddenly realized that the "Sign in with Google" option may work.
The normal set up window should look like this: http://bit.ly/2wXPMGn. Now referring to this normal set up window, click the corresponding area of "Sign in with Google" in your blank set up window. A web page will pop up allowing you to sign into Dropbox with your Google account. Follow the instructions and you will be taken back to the blank set up window again which will in fact look like this (captured from http://bit.ly/2f3pYo7, 3'17").
There is an "Advanced settings" in the bottom of this window where you can customize the location of your Dropbox folder; unfortunately, you may not be able to do this if you still have a blank window. Now if you are installing Dropbox on a new computer, close this blank window and Dropbox will sync to the default location. If you already have a Dropbox folder in another location, and you don't want to repeat downloading all these files, you can refer to this post http://bit.ly/2w6grDM but I will suggest you doing it VERY VERY carefully, otherwise you may end up having numerous conflicting files like I did.
Hope this helps.
1457n4
7 years agoNew member | Level 2
So I just was able to sign in not using my gmail, but having the same problem.
The thing to remember here is the that the fields to input the information are there dispite not being visible. To test to see if you are having this problem, you can try to click where the "Sign in with Google" button should be. You should be linked to a web page or have a dialog box open. Alternatively if you have another Dropbox account with Google and don't want to sign into that one, you can see if the cursor changes when you hover over where the input boxes for the username and password.
Now that you know you are having this problem, it's simple just input your username and password without knowing what your typing :D easier said than done, but I have done it. I recommend making sure that you know your password and testing signing-in online as well as before typing hitting the backspace a few times. Your not going to be able to see if you password it wrong.
Once you have done that you are prompted with another blank box. This is just the Dropbox intro slides. To get passed this you just need to make sure you and the box selected and then mash the 'tab' key followed by the 'spacebar' a few times. Then you should be in.
- Jay7 years agoDropbox Staff
That’s correct, this is because the login screen for the Dropbox desktop application emulates a browser to render the page.
If the page is blank, then as has been mentioned, a proxy, VPN, firewall, security software, or even ISP/router settings are blocking or restricting connections to Dropbox servers.
Despite that, in some cases the block isn’t complete, so the ‘invisible fields’ for email and password can be clicked there.
Even after you login and get past the tour page, you’re still going to experience sporadic behavior and syncing, since the underlying problem remains and hasn’t been resolved.
Aside from the above troubleshooting for the VPN etc, I’d personally check out your router, since most modern ones have firewalls built into there and could be logging these requests and blocking them.
Try rebooting your router, updating its firmware, or resetting it to factory defaults, after making a note of your broadband username and password.
Other matters to consider are ISP issues, which you would need to check with them since if the connection is affected before your router receives it, there’s little you can do from your end…[This thread is now closed. If you have a similar or new question, you can ask here.]
About Apps and Installations
Have a question about a Dropbox app or installation? Reach out to the Dropbox Community and get solutions, help, and advice from members.
Need more support
If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X or Facebook.
For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.
If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!