The Dropbox desktop app is stuck on starting on Mac OS

[jgoshawk]

I can't get past the "starting..." stage on the DB app. I've uninstalled, cleared everything related to DB from my computer, downloaded fresh, installed again. Everything I can think of. Always, the menu bar icon stays gray and the pulldown shows "Starting..." I've let it sit for days, no luck.

I can get to my account via dropbox.com as usual. It's the app that's not working. I've unlinked the account and relinked it. I must be missing something. FWIW, this happens on both my Macbook Pros, a new M3 and an M1.

And I've read old messages about this problem... so, a new query. Ideas please?

[Walter]

Hey there @jgoshawk - sorry to hear about this.

Can you please let us know the exact OS version of your devices and the version of the Dropbox desktop app too?

Have you ensured that this is not caused by an antivirus, a firewall or some VPN/proxy setting?

Any additional information or screenshots are more than welcome! 

[jgoshawk]

Hi Walter,

Macbook Pro M3 Max, Sequoia OS 15.0

Macbook Pro M1, Sonoma OS 14.6.1

Dropbox.app version 209.4.3661

No antivirus active. 

No VPN running.

I don't think it's a firewall issue. To test that, I just now successfully installed the app on an older Macbook Pro running Monterey OS 12.75. 

I hope this helps

[Walter]

Thanks for the additional information @jgoshawk - much appreciated.

How many files are you trying to sync, if I may ask? 

[jgoshawk]

At the moment, a single file would suffice, but I can't get to the point of synching. My local Dropbox folder is empty.

[Hannah]

I hope it's okay for me to jump in here as well, @jgoshawk.

Out of curiosity, is it possible to connect to a different network/WiFi to test if the app works?

[jgoshawk]

I might try that later in the day, but please note that I can successfully use the app on an old computer on this same network -- so I don't think the network/WIFI is the problem.