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Forum Discussion
Dropbox Folder randomly disappears from the MacOS Finder
I am using the latest version of MacOS, Ventura 13.0.
I am using the latest version of the Dropbox desktop app, V160.4.4703.
The Dropbox folder appears in the new place in the Finder under Locations.
The problem is that this folder randomly disappears.
The only way to get the Dropbox folder to come back is to do a Force Quit Finder.
It is inconvenient to have to keep doing the Force Quit Finder multiple times a day to get the Dropbox folder to reappear.
This is a bug in the Dropbox Mac integration, and I would like it to be reported.
- Megan
Dropbox Staff
Hey Steven-in-OC, thanks for posting here today!
It might sound trivial, but have you rebooted your device after the update? Also, do you happen to have any screenshots of the folder disappearing, or not showing up?
Thanks a bunch!
I rebooted my computer (MacBook Air 2020) as part of the upgrade to Ventura. When I posted my original comment, the Ventura upgrade had been the last time I rebooted.
I noticed that the Dropbox folder had moved from under Favorites to under Locations, which is what was supposed to happen after the Dropbox upgrade. I saved files to Dropbox in the new location for several days, before I noticed that it was suddenly gone yesterday. I tried quitting and restarting the Dropbox app, but that didn't fix it. I got the Dropbox folder back only after a did a Force Quit Finder. Once it was back, I saved files to Dropbox again successfully. But then several hours later, I wanted to save a file to Dropbox, and I noticed it was missing from the Finder again. This time I knew the workaround, so I Force Quit Finder again, and it came back.
I don't have a screen shot of the Dropbox folder disappearing. I only noticed it was missing when I wanted to save a file.
I just rebooted my computer again, since you asked about when I rebooted. After the reboot, Dropbox does appear under Locations. If the Dropbox folder disappears again, I will take a screenshot and follow up this post. I'm not sure how useful that will be though, since it will just show a list of Locations that does not include Dropbox. I am attaching here a screenshot of my Finder with Dropbox in its correct place under Locations.
- Hannah
Thanks for the screenshot and the update, Steven-in-OC.
Hopefully restarting the machine will do the trick and you won't have this issue again, but if you do, make sure to let us know.
Thanks!
Same problem here. I see lots of users have been suffering same issue. Looking for a way to fix it. Thanks.
I'm still running 10.13.x. My Mac Pro 5,1 is still a work horse. I love it. But unfortunately, 10.13.x is the latest I can install on it. If I had a Metal Compatible GPU, I can upgrade it to 10.14.x. So I make do.
I think my issue is related to this issue. My Dropbox folder has always been synced to my account. You know, because you can see green check-marks on all the files saved in that folder. Everything was working great. Then one day, about a couple of years ago, those green check marks disappeared. So I could no longer do a right-click to get all the the Dropbox contextual options. However, the folder was still synced, as I can still upload and download from it. And the only way to get it back to normal, was to force quit the Finder. But at some point, I will lose the contextual menu again. Step and repeat.
I've uninstalled, and reinstalled Dropbox a few times (as per the suggestion of support). But still kept happening. I've even had to reinstall 10.13 again (for other reasons), and everything that was installed, including Dropbox. You'd think that would fix any hidden issues. But still happens.
I think it's Mac OS (whatever version) not playing nice with Dropbox app, or Network (or vice versa). Causing it to disconnect one way or another. And the only way to re-establish full connection, is to force quit the Finder. Which, as the OP said, is very inconvenient.
Mac OS Ventura 13.6.6
I feel your pain. Same is happening to me. May 2024, a year and a half since you reported. It's super maddening when the only way to save work is save to desktop and then add to dropbox via a browser.
