Forum Discussion

Explorer | Level 4

3 years ago

After upgrading to Ventura, cannot start dropbox app

Hi, my dropbox app was working beforehand. I recently uggraded to Mac OS Ventura but now it's not working or syncing. I'm getting the error message "couldn't start dropbox" or sync. So I did the adva...

elizeufreitas
2 years ago
Hello friend.

Unfortunately, after several tests I did, the only alternative I found was to delete the aforementioned folders and reinstall, thus correcting the permissions.
Here is a link where my suggestion was accepted as a solution.
If it helped you, leave a Like. 🙂

https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Apps-and-Installations/Moving-Dropbox-folder-from-Library-CloudStorage/m-p/654283#M49803

pizzadoh

Explorer | Level 4

I've installed the new dropbox app but I get this error message:

Couldn't start Dropbox. This is usually because of a permissions error. Storing your home folder on a network share can also cause an error.

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 161.4.4923
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 56
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: 59c044c0-94d9-5385-9432-434809bbf24f
pid: 1862
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='lt81878', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='lt81878', pw_dir='/Users/lt81878', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='lt81878', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='lt81878', pw_dir='/Users/lt81878', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
euid: 501
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', '_nsurlstoraged'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', '_nsurlstoraged'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/lt81878'
appdata: '/Users/lt81878/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/lt81878/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/lt81878/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/lt81878/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
sys_executable: '/private/var/folders/2d/wtynny5523qb4ckzmfkl02280000gn/T/AppTranslocation/F3FC4404-74A7-4E81-B4E3-D01FD15C2D0D/d/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/private/var/folders/2d/wtynny5523qb4ckzmfkl02280000gn/T/AppTranslocation/F3FC4404-74A7-4E81-B4E3-D01FD15C2D0D/d/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/private/var/folders/2d/wtynny5523qb4ckzmfkl02280000gn/T/AppTranslocation/F3FC4404-74A7-4E81-B4E3-D01FD15C2D0D/d/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/private/var/folders/2d/wtynny5523qb4ckzmfkl02280000gn/T/AppTranslocation/F3FC4404-74A7-4E81-B4E3-D01FD15C2D0D/d/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/2d/wtynny5523qb4ckzmfkl02280000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/2d/wtynny5523qb4ckzmfkl02280000gn/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5160, in _setup_root_for_account
File "dropbox/sync_root/helpers.pyc", line 420, in get_root_for_account
File "dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.pyc", line 853, in result
File "dropbox/sync_root/handlers/macos/file_provider.pyc", line 121, in set_result_or_convert_exception
dropbox.mac.internal.MacError: [Errno -2002] Error Domain=NSFileProviderErrorDomain Code=-2002 "The executable currently located at file:///private/var/folders/2d/wtynny5523qb4ckzmfkl02280000gn/T/AppTranslocation/F3FC4404-74A7-4E81-B4E3-D01FD15C2D0D/d/Dropbox.app/ is translocated and can't be launched." UserInfo={NSDebugDescription=The executable currently located at file:///private/var/folders/2d/wtynny5523qb4ckzmfkl02280000gn/T/AppTranslocation/F3FC4404-74A7-4E81-B4E3-D01FD15C2D0D/d/Dropbox.app/ is translocated and can't be launched., NSLocalizedDescription=The application cannot be used from this location., NSURL=file:///private/var/folders/2d/wtynny5523qb4ckzmfkl02280000gn/T/AppTranslocation/F3FC4404-74A7-4E81-B4E3-D01FD15C2D0D/d/Dropbox.app/}

Nancy

Dropbox Staff

2 years ago

Hi pizzadoh, thanks for sending over your error log!

From what I can see, your support ticket is still open and our advanced agent has emailed you some steps to try.

Please follow them carefully and let them know when you’re done, so that they can continue assisting you.

Thanks.

elizeufreitas
Helpful | Level 6
2 years ago
Hello goodnight.

I'm using the Ventura version, and I also had the same problem, analyzing my Logs, and observing the Forum messages, I performed a battery of tests.

He follows:
1. Reinstall via homebrew (same error)
2. Manual reinstall (same error)

Then I went to other levels of execution, when running as Root, it worked at first.
Puff, it dawned on me, permission was the problem.
I reset the permissions. (same error) lol 😞

I decided to run the binaries via terminal.
"cd /Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS"
Then "./Dropbox"
However, I still got error.

Realizing that it had worked as root, and there were indications of permissions.
I decided to delete the root folders.
"/Users/elizeu/.dropbox"
"/Users/elizeu/Dropbox"

IT WORKED.!!!!

Running as RootRunning as a regular user, after excluding local folders.synchronizing
elizeufreitas
Helpful | Level 6
2 years ago
Hello friend.

Unfortunately, after several tests I did, the only alternative I found was to delete the aforementioned folders and reinstall, thus correcting the permissions.
Here is a link where my suggestion was accepted as a solution.
If it helped you, leave a Like. 🙂

https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Apps-and-Installations/Moving-Dropbox-folder-from-Library-CloudStorage/m-p/654283#M49803
elizeufreitas
Helpful | Level 6
2 years ago
You will not need to re-synchronize your files.

Let's assume you have your huge Dropbox folder stored on an external drive and it is accessible at /Volumes/External/Dropbox. You can replace that location with the actual location of your folder for the remainder of these instructions. It will work just fine.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN
I assume your Dropbox folder is located on an external drive that can be accessed at /Volumes/External/Dropbox. You should substitute that folder with the actual location of your Dropbox folder as you go through this guide.

If you have not already done so, make sure you quit Dropbox before you begin!

Open a Terminal window
In the Terminal, type

sudo rm ~/Library/Dropbox && ~/Library/.dropbox

Enter your Mac's password when prompted. You will not get any visual feedback while you are entering the password
Run Dropbox. It will think it's the first time you run it. Go through the setup.
As the last step of the setup, you will be asked to choose what files and folders in your Dropbox account you want to keep a local copy of. Select them all. Complete the setup.
As soon as Dropbox loads, quit the app.
Now go back to the Terminal:

sudo rm ~/Library/Dropbox && ln -s /Volumes/External/Dropbox ~/Library/Dropbox

To verify everything is good:

ls -al ~/Library/Dropbox

You should see a listing of all the files located at /Volumes/External/Dropbox If you don't, go back to step 2.
OPTIONAL: Install macFuse https://osxfuse.github.io/
Now start Dropbox. You are DONE!

Credits: mrforged
joelawalter
New member | Level 2
2 years ago
Thank you, elizeufreitas. Your solution worked for me.

I used the Terminal command rm - R /Users/Joel/.dropbox to remove this directory. Then I went dropbox.com, signed in, and downloaded a new installation file. Dropbox is finally working for me on Ventura!

My situation may be unique as I used a Time Machine backup to port everything over from my very old Mac Mini running OS 10.something to my M2 Mac Mini running OS 13.2, so I am sure the .dropbox directory contained many old and incompatible files.
pizzadoh
Explorer | Level 4
2 years ago
Ok, thanks so much. i hope i can get it resolved.
Djuna
New member | Level 2
2 years ago
Same issue for me.
Hannah
Dropbox Staff
2 years ago
Hey Djuna, sorry to see you're also having trouble with this.

Are you getting the exact same error, when you check the error log on the message?

And have you tried any troubleshooting steps, like uninstalling and reinstalling the app, or perhaps a more advanced reinstall, to see if that helps?
uniekdesign
Explorer | Level 3
2 years ago
same error here after updating to osx Ventaru 13.1. Dropbox message, 'files will be moved to a save location, it will take up to 10 min'. Error message 'you need to restart the computer'. And now Dropbox won't startup and only showing a link to a log-file.
Is there a solution?
Gazpacho
Explorer | Level 4
2 years ago
After upgrading Ventura 13.1, Dropbox (business subscription) stopped syncing.
All of our dropbox stored files are not retained locally.
I tried to add an image file to dropbox from dropbox.app but it just sat there spinning wheels overnight.
There is no dropbox icon on the top bar or the bottom bar.
I checked Activity monitor App confirming that was Dropbox.app active.
I removed dropbox.app, downloaded new dropbox.app, re-installed.
After installation, no dialogue appeared.
I double clicked dropbox.app in applications folder.
That process opened the finder window.
Again, no evidence in action bars top or bottom, and not syncing.
Now, when right clicking on a file, there are no dropbox actions available.
Hannah
Dropbox Staff
2 years ago
Hey everyone, if you haven't done so already, can you please try to quit the Dropbox app and then relaunch it, to see if that helps?