Dropbox for Windows 11 Virtual Machine (Parallels) on Macbook M1 (Apple silicon) -- can't install

[TomFuller]

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 is not compatible with this version of the Dropbox app."  It states that I could use Windows 11 in S mode, but I can't be restricted to S mode. 

I installed Dropbox a month ago on the Mac (Ventura) side, and it installed (although it's awkward). I write some of my own apps (C# .Net) and need to have stable locations for many Dropbox files. I just installed the newest version of MacOS Dropbox but it conceals the drive locations of files in a way that wrecks the programmatic access from the Windows side. I therefore uninstalled Dropbox from the Mac side am now trying to install it on the Windows side.

I've used Dropbox happily for over a decade, but this has me stumped. Any help is most welcome. Thanks

[Hannah]

Hey @TomFuller, thanks for joining our Community!

Your setup is actually not really supported by Dropbox (with the VM and all), but let's see what we can find.

If you switch out of S Mode on the Windows side, and try to install the Dropbox app again, does it work?

Let me know when you have an update.

[TomFuller]

Hi Hannah,

Thanks for responding (and so fast!)—very encouraging to this newbie. Yes, I am a newbie on the Forum, but I have used Dropbox for over a decade. I have used it on a virtual machine on my Macbook pro for 8 years. The programs I wrote (C# .Net) for backup, organization, photos, etc. all worked perfectly in this dual environment (MacOS and Windows 10). In fact, they worked fine when I installed Dropbox on the MacOS side of my new Macbook M1 a month ago. (BTW, I do not use, cannot use, Windows in S mode.)

For example, in Windows 11 on the new Macbook M1, I could see the MacOS Dropbox folders as something like Z:\dropbox\family\. . .

The trouble began a few days ago when I upgraded to the most recent MacOS Dropbox. It conceals the location of files stored in the MacOS side. I can’t reach them with my Windows programs now. If there is a stable folder location visible to the Windows VM, I would not need Dropbox on Windows VM. I understand from your response that Dropbox in Windows 11 VM is not supported. With the MacOS Dropbox location known, I could reinstall MacOS Dropbox and be happy again.

Thanks for your interest!

Tom

[Jay]

Hi @TomFuller, as the Silicon chip used by Apple is actually an ARM chip, for the full Dropbox app, this is not supported for any installation of Windows, so only the S Mode app can be installed.

Since you're using Windows 11 as a VM on that hardware, this is why you can only install that version of the app.

[TomFuller · Accepted solution]

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.

[Kauaigene]

Hoping you have good luck cause this "new" location thing is a PAIN !

[andymilder]

Hi Tom,

What was your workaround? I have the same issue. Thanks!

[TomFuller]

Hi Andy,

Welcome to the forum. I wish I could tell you of some profound insight or clever work-around. Right now I just use USB drives to update the Mac virtual Windows machine. It's clumsy but it does work. I continue to look for something better, but that's it for now.

[alissa914]

As an FYI, if you don't share what is your working solution, you're not assisting others with the same problem as they'll wonder "OK, what are you doing to solve it?"

Simple solution is to install Dropbox on your Mac and then make a mapped drive using Parallels so that it maps your Dropbox in Windows 11.  Then you get to use the M1/M2 native app for Mac to work on your PC.

[alissa914]

For Mac in Parallels, if you turn on file sharing between Mac and Parallels, you can send files to each other using UNC paths.  You can set mapped drives and then use them like you would anything else.  On mine, the Mac is referenced like \\Mac\ in Windows.  If your Dropbox is at \\Mac\username\Dropbox, then that's your Dropbox.  Keep in mind that online files will show up as 0 bytes and if you access them, it doesn't seem to download the files when you do... so that's something to be aware of.