Dropbox doesn't start up automatically after updating my Mac to Sonoma 14.3.1

[Federico10]

Hi. I have a macOS Sonoma 14.3.1 and I recently updated it. Since the update, when I turn on the computer, Dropbox does not start automatically; I need to click on the dropbox app icon, and then it starts. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the app multiple times. I have checked the option 'start dropbox on system startup' in my dropbox preferences. The dropbox app is listed among my login items in the Mac general settings. What should I do? thanks. 

[Nancy]

Welcome to our forum, @Federico10! 

Can you clarify the app version of the Dropbox app you’re running on your device? 

Also, did you uncheck - recheck the "Start Dropbox on system startup” in your app preferences and it didn’t help, or do you mean that the option was always selected there? 

Finally, have you also tried an advanced reinstall or just the basic one? 

Let me know, and we’ll take it from there.

[Federico10]

Hi Nancy!

I tried to check and uncheck the preference, and I have run both the simple and advanced reinstall. 

But the problem still persists. When I turn on the compute, dropbox does not start automatically. I need to click on the dropbox icon, and then it starts. It is very frustrating. 

The dropbox version is v194.4.6267

[Nancy]

Thanks for the updates, Federico! Have you already reached out to our support team by any chance? 

If yes, please send me your ticket number here. Otherwise, I can open a ticket for you to check this further.

[Federico10]

My ticket number is 23449428. The problem is that they keep telling me to uninstall and reinstall the app, but I have done 1000 time and it does not work. May I get any advice that is more sophisticated than this? I use Dropbox for work and this issue is very annoying. 

[DavidF1]

Same problem here. Two machines (M2) both on Sonoma 14.4.

Dropbox app in Menu bar is greyed out and hangs on "reconnecting to the internet, this will only take a minute." 

Uninstall and reinstall has no effect. Simple or advanced.

"Start Dropbox" on setup has been checked and unchecked. The login items are OK.

Only solution is to quit the hanging app and then restart. It then goes through "Starting.... installing components.. etc." and behaves normally after that. You have to do that after every machine restart.

Waiting for an update that fixes this. 

[jypsilantis]

 I have the same problem on my M1 Mac mini but Dropbox does autostart correctly on my Intel MacBook. Both are running Sonoma 14.4 (latest as at the time of writing).

I tried a workaround on my Mac mini: for Finder, I dragged Dropbox to the dock and set "open at login" in the hope that this would autostart. Interestingly, this setting is not saved in this case - it appears to be forced off. 

So it looks like the issue is restricted to M1, M2 etc Mac systems.

[jypsilantis]

I managed to resolve the issue for my M1 Mac mini.

It appears that the "open at Login" shortcut was corrupted in General Settings. (System Settings/General/Login items/Open at Login). Dropbox was present but with a generic icon. I deleted the entry and created it afresh. Dropbox is now auto starting on login.

Hopefully this helps others who have experienced the same issue.

[Federico10]

I eventually gave up. My solution was remove dropbox from the login items and create an application with automators that launches dropbox for me; then I selected this user-created application among the login items, after removing dropbox. Basically the user created application launches dropbox, and since this application is a login item, it is as if dropbox were a login item. It is not really a direct solution to the problem, but it gets the job done and I am fine with it.