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Forum Discussion
The Dropbox app won't launch on my PC
Hello. The Dropbox App on my Windows 10 PC isn't launching any more. I've used this Dropbox setup for years, have made no changes to my PC (Windows 10) or security (that I'm aware of), yet when I click on the Dropbox tray icon (or from the actual Program app location on the C drive) I get the normal "progress spin pop up" for 3 seconds, then nothing. I Rebooted the PC = nothing. I uninstalled the App using Revo Uninstaller, Restarted, Reloaded = works once, close, then attempt to open Dropbox again = same problem. I checked the Community posting, but no luck. I opened Task Manager to the Dropbox processes, opened "Details" and this is the screenshot. I don't know if this is meaningful information. Suggestions? Thanks.
Hello, here's an update to this launch problem. Dropbox is still not opening properly when attempting to launch from the Taskbar Icon, or the Windows Program list, or from the app in the C drive programs folder. But, in the System Tray is another Dropbox Icon, and clicking that launches Dropbox, and it appears to be working properly. So, while the overall behavior is disconcerting, I'll be working with this approach until I find an entirely new approach to managing my files in the cloud.
- Thanks for your help. I've done the work around. I still hope the windows app will work as it did and should.
- Walter
Dropbox Staff
Hi Bob4244 & marpitch - thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Could you please let us know the OS version of your computer and the version and status of the desktop app as shown in your system tray?
Did you reboot your computer since you first noticed this and do you happen to be running any antivirus, firewall or VPN/proxy setting on your device(s)?
- Hannah
Hey marpitch, thanks for the update here.
The Dropbox app you downloaded from the Microsoft Store is not the Dropbox client that actually syncs your files to your computer, like the other user on this thread.
It's the Dropbox for Windows in S Mode (Dropbox Lite) app. It works more like our mobile app.
If you prefer using that app, that's of course up to you, especially if it works the way you want it to.
If you're still having issues, let us know.
Hannah, I just got a new laptop today and downloaded the app for desktop through the windows store. I get the icon on my toolbar but nothing happens when I click on it. I am PC based running Windows 11. I have all my drop box files accessible through the web browser version but i was hoping the desktop app would work.
Same here. I uninstalled it and re-installed it. I use this daily and want to get back on it asap. I use Windows 11
I had the same problem and didn’t really want to have to re-install.
‘Open Dropbox upon startup’ was enabled but it wouldn’t start unless I opened it manually however I did fix it without having to re-install:
- I turned off ‘Open Dropbox upon startup’ in preferences.
- Shut down the computer.
- Restarted the computer and turned ‘Open Dropbox upon startup’ back on.
- Shut down and restarted the computer and it launched like it should without me having to do it manually.
- Shut down and restarted a couple more times and it has launched every time.
- T_theresa_A
Community Manager
I had this problem - and discovered in the StartUp tab (Ctrl-Alt-Delete, Task Manager) that Dropbox on startup had been disabled. Enabled that and all is good!
I have discovered the same problem on my laptop. The app was working a while ago but now does not open. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the app.
No, that is not the solution on this PC or on any other!
Dropbox has just been reinstalled. The Dropbox folder has NOT been moved to another hard drive.
Why, when the problem has been known for a long time and the Internet is full of it, is DropBox itself - Dropbox is a file hosting service operated by the American company Dropbox, Inc., headquartered in San Francisco, California, U.S. - not solving it properly or programming it properly?
I am not interested in getting a level (2), I want, not only for myself, the solution.
The developers of Dropbox should finally do their job. I'm pissed off that situation.
How are you going to get customers with these bugs?
