macOS Monterey 12 - Couldnt Start Dropbox

[RobertPatton]

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 131.4.3968
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 48
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: dd8495f4-eeb6-52f3-a698-4cbb0543dbcf
pid: 3947
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='robertpatton', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Robert Patton', pw_dir='/Users/robertpatton', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='robertpatton', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Robert Patton', pw_dir='/Users/robertpatton', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
euid: 501
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/robertpatton'
appdata: '/Users/robertpatton/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/robertpatton/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/robertpatton/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/robertpatton/Dropbox'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/yy/w1nv1hm92x1bn8cmjznvcs780000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/yy/w1nv1hm92x1bn8cmjznvcs780000gn/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 808, in wrapper
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6525, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 307, in _wrapped
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6052, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5976, in create_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 226, in make_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 280, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 219, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 152, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 217, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 587, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 182, in __init__
File "desktop/extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__
nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to register icons |>> fchflags syscall: _set_hidden |>> Permission denied"

[Jay]

Thanks for the info, I'd recommend getting in contact with the support team directly for further assistance as they'll be able to investigate from there on.

[RayNoyes]

Does this mean my case is so hopeless?!

[Jay]

It means that this might require further insight which the support team can provide since they can request specific information from your machine.

Once you get a ticket ID from the automated response, please let me know the number here so I can locate it in our system.

[heinric]

Hi there! I am writing on this thread however my issue is a TAD different. I cannot download Dropbox or shall I say when I download it, it will not even open to be installed. I deleted the app that I had because it wouldn't open and was planning on just reinstalling but now it won't install. I am running Monterray 12.5. Any help would be appreciated!

[Jay]

Hi @heinric, could you let us know more details on what you're experiencing? Any error messages or other behavior?

[Audrey J.1]

Long time Dropbox user here. Had a working Dropbox installation on MacBook Air (M1, 2020) then today updated to Monterey 12.5 (21G72). Dropbox at this point stopped working correctly. I can't launch the app.  I have tried the following without success:

* confirmed System Preferences > Security Privacy > Privacy > Accessibility > (checked) Dropbox.app AND Full Disk Access > (checked) Dropbox.app, then restarted machine.

* Activity Monitor > search for any process named "dropbox" and force killed > from clicking Apple icon launched Force Quit > force quit Finder, then restarted machine

After attempting these two processes and rebooting, neither fixed the issue. I still can't launch Dropbox.app from either Launchpad or from Finder ~/Applications/Dropbox.app. There is no error message. Activity Monitor shows only one process running "Dropbox Finder Extension". When I manually attempt to launch ~/Applications/Dropbox.app from Finder while looking at Activity Monitor, I see a "Dropbox" process start and then cease maybe 5-10 seconds later.

Is there any other fix I should attempt? Is there any other debug information that I might provide to help figure out what is happening?

[Jay]

Hi @Audrey J.1, have you tried reinstalling the Dropbox desktop application to see if this helps?

[Audrey J.1]

@Jaythank you for the advice, manually removing dropbox fixed the problem. I rebooted and DB launched and appears to be functioning correctly.

In case anybody else has this same problem, this is what I had to do. Dropbox's online instructions about uninstalling DB were not usable because the steps depended on being able to launch the app which I couldn't do.

I manually dragged dropbox.app to trash > opened Finder and un-hid all hidden files and folders with Shift + Command + . (the period key). Re-hide by pressing the same key combination > went through and manually deleted all hidden Dropbox-related objects. This last bit is risky, so if you are reading this proceed with caution. I followed this guide, although I believe there are other unlisted Dropbox items beyond what it listed:

https://www.macupdate.com/how-to/uninstall-dropbox

After clearing Trash can, I rebooted, reinstalled Dropbox, and verified files and folders restored correctly.

[Jay]

Glad to hear you were able to resolve the issue.

Enjoy your weekend!

[O7CAR]

Hello, ive tried all possible solutions mentioned here but still unable to install it on a macbook pro 16" MacOS Monterey 12.6, what can i do? thanks