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Forum Discussion
TomFuller
2 years agoHelpful | Level 7
Dropbox for Windows 11 Virtual Machine (Parallels) on Macbook M1 (Apple silicon) -- can't install
I'm trying to use Dropbox in a "Windows 11 Pro" virtual machine (under Parallels) on Macbook M1 (Apple silicon). When I attempt to install, I get an error message "Couldn't start Dropbox. Your device...
- 2 years ago
Thanks to both you and Hannah. I think I may have found a work-around while searching the developer forum. I'll pursue that for now.
CarBer
New member | Level 2
This thread has been the most useful ever, to understand and solve this exact issue, for which I have been in contact with customer care services from Dropbox, Microsoft, Parallels and Apple, each with different answers and bouncing me to each other.
I was about to remove and re-install Windows 11, because I thought the "S" mode was a WIN OS installation problem within Parallels, when I realised the issue is with the Dropbox app (running on Win 11 environment, on Parallels, on a M1 or M2 powered Apple).
The ultimate workaround solution, as suggested in this thread, is using the full Dropbox app on Mac (with selective sync and all that), saving all files in the Dropbox folder on Mac, then "pointing at" that folder from Windows 11 by using the "files sharing" function in Parallels. If you need help with this, here is a Parallels article where it is well explained: https://kb.parallels.com/en/6912
It works beautifully and has the added value to save storage space: before I used to duplicate the Dropbox-synced folders (one set on Mac, one on Windows), in order to find them in both partitions. Now I have only stored them on the Mac side, and I can access them from Windows too -- opening and working on them with Windows programs.
TomFuller
2 years agoHelpful | Level 7
This is similar to my eventual workaround. I was discouraged when a the new version of Parallels (19.1) started assigning Mac folders to different drive letters (Y:\ instead of Z:\ etc.). But I found a way to override those assignments, so now a given Mac folder will always get the same letter. Things work quite well now.
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