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Forum Discussion
Dropbox app won't start on M1 Mac running Big Sur
I just got a new MacBook Air M1 running BigSur. Dropbox does show up in the Finder sidebar and it appears the Dropbox files and folders on my Mac have synced with Dropbox.com. However the dropbox i...
- Thanks for providing the full error-log MikeLV.
Could you please try an advanced reinstall with admin privileges and let me know how it goes?
While at it, please make sure that there's no antivirus or firewall that might be causing issues.
Keel me posted with your progress!
So, it turns out my anti-ransomware (folder/file protection) software was causing issues. It may have started to block Dropbox after an update or something(?) I removed then restored authorization for Dropbox to access my protected folders (including the Dropbox folder), and it seems to be working again.
I tried this (removing then reauthorizing the anti-ransomware protection). It didn't work for me (at least immediately). Did you need to do the advanced install again (e.g., remove authorization, then do advanced install, then re-authorize protection)?
I ran the advanced reinstall, it didn't work. Then I updated the protection software, and Dropbox started working immediately...
It definitely has to do with my Anti-virus software (includes ransomware protection). If I remove the Dropbox app's access in the anti-ransomware section of the software, and the Dropbox files from the list of protected folders, then do an advanced install, then Dropbox will start. If I add Dropbox access and folders back into ransomware protection, Dropbox will still run. However, if I have to quit Dropbox (or, for example, restart the Mac), when I try to restart Dropbox I get the same can't launch Dropbox error—even if I have the antivirus/anti-ransomware software turned off. Then I have to go through this whole process again. I don't know a working solution. I'll contact the antivirus software developer and see if they changed something a few weeks ago.
I've tried several tests (one thing was to turn off full disk access for Dropbox in the macOS System Preferences).
The reality is that, if I have anti-ransomware protection authorizing Dropbox access and protection of the Dropbox folder, Dropbox cannot start if opened. If those protections are turned off and the antivirus software is quit, Dropbox will open. Once Dropbox has started, the antivirus software can be opened and anti-ransomware protections configured for Dropbox. They have to be deleted and the software quit before re-starting Dropbox.
A fudgy-work-a-round, but it works for now.
