We're making changes to the Community, so you may have received some notifications - thanks for your patience and welcome back. Learn more here.

Forum Discussion

Kacy's avatar
Kacy
New member | Level 2
4 years ago

Error message "couldn’t communicate with a helper application" when opening a file

Couldn't communicate with a helper application.   i am using an iPad, I see all my folder and I can see the document in the folder, but I cannot open it.  I don’t know what to do and the message ...
Error Messages
Mobile
Mobile App
Organise
Sort and Preview
  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    3 years ago

    Could you try going to the Locations tab in the Files app, and then removing Dropbox, rebooting the device, and then re-enabling Dropbox?

nashvillenewman's avatar
nashvillenewman
Explorer | Level 4

Now it’s ghosted entirely

Jay's avatar
Jay
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
3 years ago

Could you try going to the Locations tab in the Files app, and then removing Dropbox, rebooting the device, and then re-enabling Dropbox?

  • nashvillenewman's avatar
    nashvillenewman
    Explorer | Level 4
    3 years ago

    This worked. (for now - lol) Thanks Jay

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    3 years ago

    Glad to hear it helped, enjoy your weekend!

  • dreamerer's avatar
    dreamerer
    Explorer | Level 4
    2 years ago

    Nope, it didn't work.

  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    2 years ago

    Hey dreamerer! Sorry to hear this didn’t work for you. 

     

    Can you let me know what’s the app version of the Dropbox app on your device? Also, what’s the OS version that it’s running at the moment?

  • dreamerer's avatar
    dreamerer
    Explorer | Level 4
    2 years ago

    iPad OS 16.3

    Dropbox 312.3

    iPad (Gen 9)

     

     

    I think it may be and os problem. Why? I was trying to web upload a file and that generated an error of file 0 size.  Looking at the file in Files shows that file size of 1 mb.

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    2 years ago

    Were you trying to upload it to Dropbox directly, or another website?

  • dreamerer's avatar
    dreamerer
    Explorer | Level 4
    2 years ago

    No, link removed

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    2 years ago

    Hi dreamerer, if you didn't try to upload to Dropbox directly, or another website, could you then clarify the steps you followed? 

  • myownbiggestfan's avatar
    myownbiggestfan
    New member | Level 2
    2 years ago

    All I'm trying to do is move a folder from dropbox onto my ipad. I've tried doing it from the dropbox app and I tried from the files app. Both give me this error. I have disabled the sidebar item and rebooted, I've deleted dropbox and rebooted and reinstalled. iOS version 16.2. I've made the files available offline before doing it. 

     

    This has worked for me in the past. Suddenly there are problems. 

  • Walter's avatar
    Walter
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    2 years ago

    Hi myownbiggestfan, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

     

    Can you please send us a screenshot of the exact error you're getting?

     

    Also, have you tried clearing the apps' cache since you first noticed this? 

About Delete, edit, and organize

Solve issues with deleting, editing, and organizing files and folders in your Dropbox account with support from the Dropbox Community.

Need more support

If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X or Facebook.

For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.

If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!