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Forum Discussion
Dropbox for Windows 11 Virtual Machine (Parallels) on Macbook M1 (Apple silicon) -- can't install
I'm trying to use Dropbox in a "Windows 11 Pro" virtual machine (under Parallels) on Macbook M1 (Apple silicon). When I attempt to install, I get an error message "Couldn't start Dropbox. Your device is not compatible with this version of the Dropbox app." It states that I could use Windows 11 in S mode, but I can't be restricted to S mode.
I installed Dropbox a month ago on the Mac (Ventura) side, and it installed (although it's awkward). I write some of my own apps (C# .Net) and need to have stable locations for many Dropbox files. I just installed the newest version of MacOS Dropbox but it conceals the drive locations of files in a way that wrecks the programmatic access from the Windows side. I therefore uninstalled Dropbox from the Mac side am now trying to install it on the Windows side.
I've used Dropbox happily for over a decade, but this has me stumped. Any help is most welcome. Thanks
Thanks to both you and Hannah. I think I may have found a work-around while searching the developer forum. I'll pursue that for now.
timpalpantDropbox Staff
Hi Everybody,
Hi Tim,
I have just installed Dropbox for Windows 11 on Windows running virtually in Parallels on Mac Studio with Apple Silicon M2 Max processor ARM.
Thank you for the addition of this software for Dropbox on Mac ARM machines! 😀
Craig
Is this for all Windows 11 on ARM Parallels, or only those running in S-mode?
- timpalpant
This is for all Windows 11 on ARM Parallels, and does not require S-mode. Thanks for clarifying!
- Hannah
Hey TomFuller, thanks for joining our Community!
Your setup is actually not really supported by Dropbox (with the VM and all), but let's see what we can find.
If you switch out of S Mode on the Windows side, and try to install the Dropbox app again, does it work?
Let me know when you have an update.
Dropbox team ... given how much money I am paying for my team to use this product ... and that they use Apple computers with Windows VM's .. "and the like". How about you let us know when you will provide support for what is a simple set-up and one for the future not the past ... "and the like". We moved an entire company away from Fusion to Parallels for ... "and the like" support practices. We have been looking very hard at moving away from Dropbox for this same reason to Microsoft. It would be great to see some of that historical service orientation return to Dropbox rather than "we don't support your set up ... and the like.". Thank you.
Personally, while I love Dropbox and have used it for many years without any issues, when it didn't work with Windows 11 on Parallels on my M1 and M2 MacBook Pro computers, I switched to Sync.com. So far it's working pretty nicely. And it has no issue with Windows 11 on Parallels.
If Dropbox ever starts supporting Windows 11 or newer on Parallels, I'll definitely consider moving back. But for the time being, Sync.com is just fine!
Hi Hannah,
Thanks for responding (and so fast!)—very encouraging to this newbie. Yes, I am a newbie on the Forum, but I have used Dropbox for over a decade. I have used it on a virtual machine on my Macbook pro for 8 years. The programs I wrote (C# .Net) for backup, organization, photos, etc. all worked perfectly in this dual environment (MacOS and Windows 10). In fact, they worked fine when I installed Dropbox on the MacOS side of my new Macbook M1 a month ago. (BTW, I do not use, cannot use, Windows in S mode.)
For example, in Windows 11 on the new Macbook M1, I could see the MacOS Dropbox folders as something like Z:\dropbox\family\. . .
The trouble began a few days ago when I upgraded to the most recent MacOS Dropbox. It conceals the location of files stored in the MacOS side. I can’t reach them with my Windows programs now. If there is a stable folder location visible to the Windows VM, I would not need Dropbox on Windows VM. I understand from your response that Dropbox in Windows 11 VM is not supported. With the MacOS Dropbox location known, I could reinstall MacOS Dropbox and be happy again.
Thanks for your interest!
Tom
- Jay
Hi TomFuller, as the Silicon chip used by Apple is actually an ARM chip, for the full Dropbox app, this is not supported for any installation of Windows, so only the S Mode app can be installed.
Since you're using Windows 11 as a VM on that hardware, this is why you can only install that version of the app.
