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Forum Discussion

Chinky P.'s avatar
Chinky P.
New member | Level 1
10 years ago

UNINSTALL with a Mac

I want to get rid of Dropbox entirely from my Mac. I'm not a very advanced Mac user, and ordinarily apps can be uninstalled with ease, but not with Dropbox. I followed all the procedures according to...
Desktop
Setting up the apps
  • Robert S.'s avatar
    Robert S.
    10 years ago

    Open the Dropbox app and under its setting uncheck enable Finder integration. Then quit the app and try to drag it to the trash.

    I cannot say for certain this will work but a few users have reported they had success with this route.

    * I would also uncheck "Start Dropbox on system startup", doing this will allow you to log out and back in if the initial uninstall attempt above doesn't work. After the log out and in, you should be able to remove the app with no issue. 

SaoirseD's avatar
SaoirseD
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
10 years ago

Hi,

You may need to quit any and all other programmes that you have running on your computer before you try to uninstall Dropbox. I've put the reinstallation instructions below.

First, make sure you save and quit ALL programs that access files in the Dropbox folder.

Here are the steps:

  1. Download the newest version:

www.dropbox.com/install

  1. Stop Dropbox (If needed):
- Click the Dropbox icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen
- Click on the gear icon in the Notifications panel and select 'Quit Dropbox'
  1. Delete Dropbox meta-data folder:
- To delete this folder open a Terminal (Located at /Applications/Utilities/Terminal for Mac OS)
- Copy and paste the following lines into the Terminal and press RETURN:

mv ~/.dropbox ~/.Trash/dropbox.old

- This will move the folder to the Trash and make it visible.
  1. Delete the Dropbox Contextual Menu Item Plugin
- Open the Finder and select Go to folder... from the Go menu (or press Shift-Command-G)
- A dialog box should appear. Now copy and paste the following line into the box and press the return key:

     /Library/

- Finally drag the DropboxHelperTools folder to the Trash and enter your Administrator password if prompted to complete this action.
  1. Reinstall the Dropbox desktop application
- Open the Dropbox .dmg file and double click the Dropbox icon.
- Dropbox should appear in your menu bar.
- Relink your account.

Hope that helps!

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