Dropbox app won't start after removing File Provider

[wjquigs]

I broke Dropbox.

The file provider on my Macbook (12.7.4 Monterey) was consuming all the CPU and the laptop was extremely hot. So I followed Internet instructions to remove Dropbox and iCloud from file provider, uninstalled and reinstalled Dropbox. But the new install won't start because of the missing file provider link.

Is there a way to disable file provider and go back to the old way before starting Dropbox?

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 200.4.7134
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 72
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: e1929782-8e89-5cb2-b225-cbe010de6fce
pid: 7219
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='wjquigs', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='WJQ', pw_dir='/Users/wjquigs', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='wjquigs', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='WJQ', pw_dir='/Users/wjquigs', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
euid: 501
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/wjquigs'
appdata: '/Users/wjquigs/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/wjquigs/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/wjquigs/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/wjquigs/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
not found
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/l6/dglvbpmj3g94m7rj204mp4sm0000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/l6/dglvbpmj3g94m7rj204mp4sm0000gn/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 5643, in _setup_root_for_account
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_root/helpers.py", line 565, in get_root_for_account
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 874, in result
File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/threading.py", line 890, in _bootstrap
File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/threading.py", line 932, in _bootstrap_inner
File "desktop/dropbox/db_thread.py", line 96, in run
File "<string>", line 1, in _x__db_thread__sleep_thread
File "desktop/dropbox/db_thread.py", line 36, in set_name_and_run
File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/threading.py", line 870, in run
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/runtime/__init__.py", line 676, in decorated
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/sleep/__init__.py", line 163, in _run
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 704, in set_result
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 667, in _on_post
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 1050, in _stage1
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 421, in _then_callback
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/helpers.py", line 436, in <lambda>
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_root/handlers/macos/file_provider.py", line 1004, in _get_mount_path
dropbox.mac.internal.MacError: [Errno -2001] Error Domain=NSFileProviderErrorDomain Code=-2001 "No valid file provider found with identifier com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/cc0c1cb4-d6e6-45c9-a725-953e428f28c3." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=No valid file provider found with identifier com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/cc0c1cb4-d6e6-45c9-a725-953e428f28c3.}

[Nancy]

Welcome to our Community, @wjquigs. 

Have you restarted the Dropbox app after the error appeared? If not, please quit the app with these steps and then relaunch it from your Finder > Applications folder. 

Let me know if that helps at all.

[wjquigs]

I can't actually restart it because it won't start. When I start it from Finder->Applications, I get the Starting... window, then the error message, then Dropbox exits.

[wjquigs]

I also uninstalled, rebooted, and reinstalled the app, but apparently that didn't reconnect to the file provider.

[Walter]

Hey @wjquigs - could you click on the hyperlink shown in your error message and forward us the whole error log?

[wjquigs]

That's in my first message but I can forward it again if you need it.

[wjquigs]

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 200.4.7134
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 72
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: e1929782-8e89-5cb2-b225-cbe010de6fce
pid: 40454
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='wjquigs', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='WJQ', pw_dir='/Users/wjquigs', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='wjquigs', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='WJQ', pw_dir='/Users/wjquigs', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
euid: 501
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/wjquigs'
appdata: '/Users/wjquigs/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/wjquigs/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/wjquigs/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/wjquigs/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox'
not found
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/l6/dglvbpmj3g94m7rj204mp4sm0000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/l6/dglvbpmj3g94m7rj204mp4sm0000gn/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "desktop/dropbox/client/main.py", line 5643, in _setup_root_for_account
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_root/helpers.py", line 565, in get_root_for_account
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 874, in result
File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/threading.py", line 890, in _bootstrap
File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/threading.py", line 932, in _bootstrap_inner
File "desktop/dropbox/db_thread.py", line 96, in run
File "<string>", line 1, in _x__db_thread__sleep_thread
File "desktop/dropbox/db_thread.py", line 36, in set_name_and_run
File "../mac_x86_64_dropbox_virtual_env/lib/python3.8/threading.py", line 870, in run
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/runtime/__init__.py", line 676, in decorated
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/sleep/__init__.py", line 163, in _run
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 704, in set_result
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 667, in _on_post
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 1050, in _stage1
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/basic.py", line 421, in _then_callback
File "desktop/dropbox/foundation/futures/helpers.py", line 436, in <lambda>
File "desktop/dropbox/sync_root/handlers/macos/file_provider.py", line 1004, in _get_mount_path
dropbox.mac.internal.MacError: [Errno -2001] Error Domain=NSFileProviderErrorDomain Code=-2001 "No valid file provider found with identifier com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/cc0c1cb4-d6e6-45c9-a725-953e428f28c3." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=No valid file provider found with identifier com.getdropbox.dropbox.fileprovider/cc0c1cb4-d6e6-45c9-a725-953e428f28c3.}

[Nancy]

In this case, please check if you have a copy of the Dropbox.app file on your computer in these locations:

1. /Applications
2. ~/Library/Application Support/Dropbox

• If you see this file in both locations, delete the file in the second location(~/Library/Application Support/Dropbox).
• If you see the file in the second location but not in the first, move the file to the first location(/Applications).

Restart the Dropbox desktop app. If the issue isn’t resolved from there, try these steps:

1. Open the Terminal application on your computer.
2. Type fileproviderctl domain list.
3. Press return on your keyboard.
   • Please provide us with a screenshot of the output.
4. Navigate to your user profile folder ~/Users/[YourUsername].
5. Press command-shift-. (period).
   • This will show your hidden files.
6. Locate and delete the .dropbox folder in ~/Users/[YourUsername].

Your Dropbox application should re-sync your files, and the application should return to normal.

Let me know if that seems to help instead!

[wjquigs · Accepted solution]

I did have another copy in ~/Library/Application Support/Dropbox

I deleted it but that didn't fix the problem. Then I did "rm -rf ~/.dropbox" and reinstalled and now I have my Dropbox back!

Thank you for your help!

William

[Walter]

We're glad to hear it's sorted now and thanks for keeping us in the loop on this @wjquigs

See you around the Community and have a lovely weekend!