We are aware of the issue with the badge emails resending to everyone, we apologise for the inconvenience - learn more here.

Forum Discussion

Michael S.100's avatar
Michael S.100
Helpful | Level 5
7 years ago

dropbox system extension not showing up

Hi there,

 

I just installed dropbox on a brand new MacBook. I'd like to activate SmartSync. The setupwizard ist opening my system-preferences/security/ and wants me to accept the system extension.

 

BUT: There is no system extension which I can accept. It's simply not showing up in my preferences :(

 

 

Any Ideas what I can to to install the extension?

 

Thanks

Michael 

  •  

    Thanks for your suggestions. It seems that the dropbox-version provided by homebrew/cask is some kind of developement build with a broken kernel extensions...

    So I solved the problem with complete removing my dropbox installation and re-install it using the "official" client downloaded via dropbox.com

    :/

     

    Michael

  • Anastasios's avatar
    Anastasios
    Collaborator | Level 9

    If you are a Dropbox professional user and have  Mac OSX 10.9 and above then you can use smart sync by doing the following 

     

    Smart Sync requires enabling a driver, known as a kernel extension on Mac, in order to integrate with your operating system’s filesystem.

     

    1. Open the Dropbox folder on your computer.
      1. Click the Dropbox icon from the menu bar.
      2. Click the folder icon.
      3. Choose Open folder.
    2. Locate the content that you want to make online-only.
    3. Control-click or right-click the file or folder.
    4. Choose Smart sync.
    5. Choose Online-only.
    • Michael S.100's avatar
      Michael S.100
      Helpful | Level 5

      Hmm, maybe I did not express my problem understandable.

       

      I know how smartsync works, but when I try to activate smartsync, I am prompted to activate the kernel-extension in the macos system settings. But I cannot activate the kernel-extension, because it's not shown in the settings as it should be according the dropbox-guide...

      • Anastasios's avatar
        Anastasios
        Collaborator | Level 9

        I apologise I did not understand you , its not your fault 

         

        Have you tried the following ?

         

        Maybe you unintentionally blocked the kernel extension installation process ?

         

        If that is the case you can easily allow Dropbox access:

         

        1. Click the dropbox icon in the system tray or menu bar.
        2. Click the gear icon.
        3. Click Preferences.
        4. Click Enable Smart Sync.
        5. If needed, click the lock icon and sign in to your computer.
        6. Click Privacy.
        7. Under Allow the apps below to control your computer, check the box beside the Dropbox icon.
  • Ross_S's avatar
    Ross_S
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    Hi,

     

     If you click Privacy on the far right > select Accessibility > tick Dropbox.

     

    Hope this helps you.

     

    • Michael S.100's avatar
      Michael S.100
      Helpful | Level 5

      Hi Ross, 

       

      the accessibility-options does not affect the missing system extension... I have activated the accessibility option...

       

      Thanks

      Michael

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!