Take Dropbox out of Mac Library

[ShanaC]

The Dropbox upgrade moved the dropbox files to my  ~/Library/CloudStorage/ --- but I can't save any files to that folder. 

All the online instructions say "do the advanced reinstallation per this page: https://help.dropbox.com/installs/advanced-reinstall " -- but the instructions on this page aren't visible;  the accordions don't open. 

How can I move my files out of my library and back to my user folder, so I can edit them? 

[Andrew Parker]

Curious lack of response from Dropboxers to this...

[Hannah]

Hey @BJRo and @Andrew Parker, sorry to see you're having trouble with this. 

Did you manage to try the advanced reinstall steps, to see if they help?

[Rich]

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@Hannah wrote:

Did you manage to try the advanced reinstall steps, to see if they help?

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Hannah, why would an advanced reinstall work in this case? Their goal is to move Dropbox out of the Library/CloudStorage folder, but moving the Dropbox folder is no longer supported on macOS. Are you suggesting that an advanced reinstall will allow them to bypass a restriction that was put in place by Apple?

[Andrew Parker]

Bingo Rich, without the option of moving Dropbox out of the user library, it is useless to us.

[Michael S.197]

@Andrew Parker and all on this thread, I've attempted a workaround from another thread, but it failed in Ventura.

https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Apps-and-Installations/MacOS-13-0-Ventura-and-Dropbox-follows-OneDri... 

Mac were great, and the guy I spoke to is raising it to engineers.  If you have Mac tech support, then please do the same.  The more the wheel squeaks, the more likely to get our solution.
@Hannah the more Dropbox raises our issues to Mac, the more likely we can get a solution.  Please be activists on behalf of your customers!

[Michael S.197]

Yes!!  @Walter your solution is brilliant.  @Andrew Parker did you try the advanced install option?

I still cannot backup Documents, Downloads and Desktop however.

Is there a sudo workaround for those too?  Thanks so much!

[Andrew Parker]

Hi Michael, no I haven't! Where can I find this?

[Michael S.197]

@Andrew Parker 

https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Apps-and-Installations/Take-Dropbox-out-of-Mac-Library/m-p/635053/hi...

Follow the instructions in the link. It takes a while, and you might have to re-sync your dropbox, but it works.

[Andrew Parker]

Thanks Michael, just for absolute clarity, this means I can upgrade Dropbox, upgrade to Ventura, and locate my Dropbox folder outside the Users folder?

[Michael S.197]

@Andrew Parker Yes, it does.