Impossible to access my files (documents, downloads and desktop) on Mac because of Dropbox sync

[Jeremybenhamou]

Hello, 

In 2020, I worked for a company and I had to download Dropbox on my computer. Since 1 week, I encountered a big issue with my Mac since I can no longer access all my files. For example, when I try to open my file Documents it says ""Documents" cannot be opened because the original item cannot be found.". I called Apple's customer service and after few days of research, it appears that this problem is caused by the Dropbox syncronization.  As I understood it, they told me that my files still exist but it's somewhere on my Mac and that Dropbox bloc the access. The problem is that since I have no news form the company and I don't know if it still exist. Therefore I can't access the account I used when I was working with them. 

Is there someone who had the same problem or is there anyway to contact Dropbox's customer support ? 

Thank you in advance

[Megan]

Hey @Scott B.35, let's jump right into this! 

Just to make sure we're on the same page, I understand that what you want, is to move your Documents, Desktop and Downloads back to where they originally were, right? If not, feel free to correct me. 

If you access your account online, are you able to see your content there? What about the message to reinstall Dropbox? Where do you see that? 

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there! 

[Scott B.35]

Correct. As it stands now I do not have access to the desktop, documents or download files. I found them on dropbox labeled My Mac (Scott-Macbook-Pro.local). It says it is unlinked. I cannot find that folder - My Mac - on my laptop.

The back up is off and has been off so there is nothing to disable on that end. When I try to download the documents file it says I tried too many zip files. I used that as current activity file but now can't and can't. On the reinstall I saw that on a community thread but I can;t tell which one now because I have gone through so many threads trying to get this problem resolved. 

[Jay]

H @Scott B.35, could you try downloading the backup in smaller batches, for instance, doing a subfolder of the Documents folder first to see if this helps?

[Silene1]

I recently bought a new macbook air and migrated all my documents from the old one . Everything seemd OK but now I do not have access to the desktop, documents or download files. Apple support told me this is caused by dropbox. I dont understand why the dropbox should deny me access to my own computer. How can this be fixed?

[Walter]

Hey @Silene1, sorry to hear about this. 

Did you enable the Dropbox Backup feature for your computer's OS folders at some point in the past perhaps? 

When you say you don't have access to those folders, can you clarify if you're getting any particular error of if you just can't see them on your new computer?

Do you see them on your backups page by the way? 

Any additional information and screenshots are more than welcome!

[Scott B.35]

Good luck getting a straight forward solution. I tried but never got an answer and that is why I will need to migrate to another system. Really frustrating.  

[njet01]

Hey Jeremy I am having this exact issue I believe on Windows OS PC, thinking my files were safe and sound in the backup.

I now have a secondary folder on my laptop where dropbox has labelled the storage with a (2) in the name and I can't actually get access to the files, apps won't open them anymore saying the files belong to someone else (me) even though I am the owner of said files, I can't get access to them and it has pretty much destroyed my storage of files on this device and has given me nothing but a headache to resolve, I am over it Dropbox.

[Megan]

Hi @njet01, sorry to hear about that! 

You mentioned you have a second Backup folder, that you can't get access to the content there. Can you let me know if you get any errors? 

What about the message that the files belong to someone else? Can you send us a couple of screenshots, in order for us to have a visual here?

Keep me posted!