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

paul20's avatar
paul20
Helpful | Level 6
3 years ago

Dropbox support for MacOS 12.3 - can we finally upgrade?

Hi, I cannot find anywhere anyone saying that Dropbox properly supports MacOS 12.3, even though it was released weeks ago and has now been superseded by 12.3.1 with zero-day fixes.  I can find discussion of this question in the past, and I can find several users having significant problems with 12.3 as recently as this morning (https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-installs-integrations/High-CPU-Usage-after-updating-MacBook-Pro-to-MacOS-Monterey-12-3/td-p/583880), but not anywhere where Dropbox can say that 12.3 is actually supported.  As of 3 weeks ago, the most that was said was that it was not fully supported yet.  Since then there has been a conspicuous silence.  (The issue, of course, is that Apple finally completely banned the file system extension Dropbox was using, per what they had been promising for years.)

 

Is 12.3 officially supported?  What are the limitations associated with running Dropbox in 12.3, if any?

 

  • UKD's avatar
    UKD
    Experienced | Level 12

    Is there any update? You've been working on this for a very long time now.

     

    12.4 is out now and yet you can still hear the crickets for the lack of announcement coming from Dropbox. If you value your customers maybe you can give actual updates to them to let them know where you are and maybe even what challenges you are facing. Customers may be sympathetic to what issues you're having.

     

    You guys used to rock but as I've noticed with all those great companies that got big over the years, they neglect the maintenance and updating of the day to day main features people use and start concentrating on new features that nobody asked for just so they look "cool" in the space. Like another commenter I too am tied of Dropbox hogging huge amounts of RAM, making my fans go wild and make me sound like I'm in a wind tunnel. Come on guys, you used to be much better than this.

    • UKD's avatar
      UKD
      Experienced | Level 12

      dropbox Are you going to ever update your software?

      dropbox Are you ever going to respond to your PAYING CUSTOMERS with more than "we're working on it"  because you've been saying it for a very long time now.

       

      I've got 39TB on Dropbox, so to move it is a pain, but I will if I get more concerned over the security of our machines, because we can't upgrade our OSes to a more secure version of it.

       

      dropbox you do realise WWDC is right around the corner with the more than likely launch of macOS 13 in the autumn as usual. At the rate you're going macOS 13 will be out before you've sorted macOS 12.3.

  • DBXCommunity's avatar
    DBXCommunity
    Icon for Community Manager rankCommunity Manager

    Hi everyone,

     

    Thank you for reaching out. We hear your feedback and we’re working hard on this experience.

     

    A public beta for full support of macOS will be available in early Q4. For now, you can still double-click to open files in Finder. Everything else is working as usual.

     

    Your experience on PC devices, dropbox.com, and from the latest iOS and Android apps remains unaffected. You can find more information here [https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/desktop/macos-12-monterey-support].

     

    Please ensure you have turned on early releases and once the beta is available to you, you will receive a notification.

     

    Thank you.

    • dogwooddrive's avatar
      dogwooddrive
      Explorer | Level 4

      I'm sorry, but this is unacceptable. I've been a Dropbox user for a decade and the last 2 years have turned my positive feelings for the platform into spite. I used to suggest Dropbox as a solution to at my job and to clients. I would never do that in 2022. I've already downgraded my account from the absurd "Pro" service and will unsubscribe entirely if this new deadline is not met promptly. You had runway and now you've had 2 full years. A company of this size not fully supporting MacOS is pathetic and inexcusable.

      • arndtk's avatar
        arndtk
        Helpful | Level 5

        i have just cancelled my contract and will switch to iCloud. i will not continue to support this bad game.

    • andrewmatoxy's avatar
      andrewmatoxy
      Helpful | Level 6

      18 months since the announcement, and how many years since it became clear this change would be coming? Pathetic.

    • arndtk's avatar
      arndtk
      Helpful | Level 5

      unbelievable that you completely ignore all the frustrated users and messages!!!

       

      I have never experienced such a bad support...

  • paul20's avatar
    paul20
    Helpful | Level 6

    On the plus side I do see that there is finally native support for Apple silicon!  Yea!

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

      Hi paul20, thanks for your interest in this!

       

      We’re actively working on full support for macOS 12.3 (Monterey). You can read more info in this article from our Help Center.

       

      Let me know if you have any questions.

      • paul20's avatar
        paul20
        Helpful | Level 6

        Ok, so you're still working on properly supporting macOS 12.3.  In the meantime, what limitations and/or bugs do we know exist if we go ahead and upgrade to macOS 12.3 without joining the beta program?  I am aware that online-only files will show as zero size and may not be possible to open unless opened from the Finder.

         

        If we upgrade to macOS 12.3/12.3.1, do you recommend we use the normal version of Dropbox, or upgrade to the beta channel?

         

        Keeping my machine on macOS 12.2.1 is a security risk.  But my data is really important to me too, and I don't like feeling like I have to balance those against each other.  (I count 37 system-level security problems fixed in 12.3.  Fortunately only one of those is remote code execution.  2 more problems were fixed in 12.3.1, both of which Apple says they have been told have been actively exploited.)

  • Buntomat's avatar
    Buntomat
    New member | Level 2

    Hi there!

    Works fine for me on macos Monterey 12.4 !

    Carsten 

    • arndtk's avatar
      arndtk
      Helpful | Level 5

      Really? I'm on 12.4 now and have still the same problem.

      Which Dropbox version you're using?

       

      Thanks and regards

      Arndt

  • johan watt12's avatar
    johan watt12
    Explorer | Level 3

    Greetings, I have been looking for somewhere to read a statement that Dropbox is compatible with macOS 12.3, even though the operating system was released a few weeks ago and is now being replaced by 12.3.1 with zero-day security fixes. This question has been discussed in the past. I have also found several users who have been experiencing significant problems with 12.3 as recently as this morning. However, I have not been able to find any place where Dropbox can claim that 12.3 is actually supported. As of three weeks ago, the most that were said about this product was that it wasn't fully supported yet. As a result, there has been conspicuous silence since then. In reality, the issue is that Apple has finally completely banned the file system extension that Dropbox was using. Apple had promised for years that it would do so. 

    Could you please let me know if 12.3 is officially supported? Can you tell me if there are any limitations associated with running Dropbox in 12.3?

  • Robin FH's avatar
    Robin FH
    Explorer | Level 3

    Do I upgrade to 'Dropbox on macOS' as requested/required?  

     

    Whilst it is clear my main iMac Pro will not be affected (OS 14) other than my needing to reorganise files, and my partner's Mac Mini (OS 13) simiarly, my late-2012 MacBook Air can only run 10.13 and yet I frequently need to use synchronised files on that computer as part of my business, especially for presentations.  

     

    If I upgrade, will my MacBook Air still be able to access the synchronised files?  As I am still recovering from Long Covid, my business is only just starting to rebuild and I cannot afford to replace a perfectly serviceable MacBook Air.  Surely, Dropbox recognises that Macs last a long time?  That is one of the reasons I use them!  

     

    If it is the case that my MacBook Air will not be able to access the files, I will sadly have to transfer all file synchronisation to iCloud (which is unaffected by which operating system you use) and end my [paid for] contract with Dropbox as it will no longer serve a purpose.

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

      Hi Robin FH, welcome to our Community! 

       

      Do you wish to upgrade the OS in your MacBook Air, or your Dropbox? 

       

      Keep in mind that the updated Dropbox for macOS app has been developed to adhere to the requirements as set out by Apple therefore this update was introduced to ensure the best possible experience for our Mac users long into the future.

       

      In any case, whether you use an older OS, or a new OS, you should be able to have access to Dropbox, and your content there, as long as the system requirements are met.

       

      I hope this helps!

      • Robin FH's avatar
        Robin FH
        Explorer | Level 3

        It is the new Dropbox upgrade.  A late-2012 MacBook Air cannot be upgraded beyond OS 10.12.

        I know the files will be safe – I can access them on the other two computers – it is simply whether I will still be able to access them on the MacBook Air.

        Thankyou for your help.

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