Forum Discussion

Explorer | Level 4

4 years ago

Couldn't start Dropbox permissions error

Hi,

My dropbox app won't open at all anymore. I get a Couldn't Open Dropbox message saying it's usually a permissions error. I've been through my shared folders on the webpage and checked and removed them, I've followed a series of terminal scripts from the FAQ section but it did nothing. Help! 🙂

I'm on Mac OSX 10.13.6 (can't update any further) and this is the 'following info for help' text:

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox

bn.VERSION: 118.4.460

bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 47

bn.is_frozen: True

machine_id: 98d693a2-5ca3-5e2f-9968-c7834cc9259c

pid: 742

ppid: 1

uid: 501

user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='andrewmackay', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='CODA', pw_dir='/Users/andrewmackay', pw_shell='/bin/bash')

effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='andrewmackay', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='CODA', pw_dir='/Users/andrewmackay', 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', '_xcsbuildagent'])

effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', '_xcsbuildagent'])

DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None

cwd: '/'

real_path='/'

mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

HOME: '/Users/andrewmackay'

appdata: '/Users/andrewmackay/.dropbox/instance1'

real_path='/Users/andrewmackay/.dropbox/instance1'

mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20

parent mode=0o40722 uid=501 gid=20

dropbox_path: '/Users/andrewmackay/Dropbox'

real_path='/Users/andrewmackay/Dropbox'

mode=0o40722 uid=501 gid=20

parent mode=0o40777 uid=501 gid=20

sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'

real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'

mode=0o100777 uid=501 gid=20

parent mode=0o40777 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/9x/d16hd_ts6tz685wd0jkv1h_80000gn/T'

real_path='/private/var/folders/9x/d16hd_ts6tz685wd0jkv1h_80000gn/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 7701, in main_startup

File "dropbox/client/ui/cocoa/uikit.pyc", line 726, in initialize

File "dropbox/client/ui/cocoa/uikit.pyc", line 289, in create_app

File "dropbox/client/ui/cocoa/uikit.pyc", line 250, in static_init

Exception: should not give write permissions to other users for the module, /Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Frameworks/DropboxCrashpad.framework/Versions/A/DropboxCrashpad, loaded by Tungsten

Appreciate any help! Thanks in advnace!

Andy

Здравко
4 years ago
Hi again Andy Coda,
The dummy file you have created seems Ok. That proves the issue is not in your default settings. It appears exactly as has to be. The commands you have executed, as listed, can't be a reason for the issue observed. Still not clear what could be the reason, but let's try fix it by hands. At the beginning what shows the list of troublesome folder? Post the result of:
ls -al /Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Frameworks/DropboxCrashpad.framework/Versions/A
Next try fix the problem using following commands:
sudo chown -R "$USER" /Applications/Dropbox.app
chmod -R a+r /Applications/Dropbox.app
chmod -R u+w /Applications/Dropbox.app
chmod -R go-w /Applications/Dropbox.app
Execute the first (ls) command again. Is something changed? 🧐
Hope this helps.

Здравко
Legendary | Level 20
4 years ago
Andy Coda wrote:
..., I've followed a series of terminal scripts from the FAQ section but it did nothing. ...
Hi Andy Coda,
As mentioned in the error message (on the bottom), you have given strange write permission on some places. In the same context, what are the "series of terminal scripts" you have tried? To be clearer, share a link to them and/or post exact steps you have done (list the commands used). Just for one more example: every local user have write access to your Dropbox folder, but can't read or comes in there. 🤷 I can't see any meaning to be so. It byself isn't a reason Dropbox to stop work, but could be a "symptom".
Have you tried reinstall the application? Dropbox application folders recreation (during reinstall) might fix the permissions automatically. 😉 Try it, if haven't yet!
If still no any luck (including error log, you have posted, doesn't change in any way), let's see how your system create a file by default. Just create a dummy file, list it, and finally remove it using following commands:
echo "Hello world" > ~/hello_world.txt ls -l ~/hello_world.txt rm ~/hello_world.txt
Execute the commands one by one and post the result of the "ls" command (the second one). Let's see if some setting gets mess and those permissions are set by default. 🧐
Good luck.
- Andy Coda
  Explorer | Level 4
  4 years ago
  Hi,
  
  I am unable to uninstall the Dropbox app - it says extensions are in use. That was my initial thought: to re-install - the old On-Off is normally the one! Odd as I'm unaware of giving any permissions recently, it functioned fine last night and not today.
  
  The commands I tried were these:
  
  Click the Dropbox icon on the menu bar.
  Click your profile picture or initials, and select Quit Dropbox.
  Open the Terminal app (at /Applications/Utilities/Terminal).
  Copy and paste the following lines one at a time into Terminal. Press Enter after each one.
  You'll be prompted for your computer password (not your Dropbox password) after entering the first command. The password field in Terminal remains blank as you type your password. After you type it, press return.
  Important: We assume that your Dropbox folder is in the default pathway. If you placed your Dropbox folder in a custom location, replace all ~/Dropbox for the full location of your Dropbox folder. For example, if you have your Dropbox folder in the path /Volumes/DifferentPlace/Dropbox, you need to replace ~/Dropbox from the following instructions to /Volumes/DifferentPlace/Dropbox.
  Once the Terminal prompt shows up again, the instruction completed the requested task and is ready for the next command. If any of the commands return an error or do not respond after an hour, try restarting your computer and repeating these steps.
  sudo chflags -R nouchg ~/Dropbox ~/.dropbox ~/.dropbox-master sudo chown "$USER" "$HOME" sudo chown -R "$USER" ~/Dropbox ~/.dropbox sudo chmod -RN ~/.dropbox ~/Dropbox chmod -R u+rw ~/Dropbox ~/.dropbox
  Restart Dropbox by double-clicking the Dropbox icon in your Applications folder.
  The link is: https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/stuck-syncing
  
  I'll try the dummy file thing now (I presume you mean a file anywhere, as in just a .txt file on my system, not in Dropbox? Apologies, I'm not the most computer literate!)
  
  Thanks again!
- Andy Coda
  Explorer | Level 4
  4 years ago
  Hi Здравко
  
  So, I did the commands as listed for the dummy list, hope I understood correctly, and this is the result of the ls command:
  
  -rw-r--r-- 1 andrewmackay staff 12 20 Mar 15:13 /Users/andrewmackay/hello_world.txt
  
  The file did appear as a txt file in that location so.
  
  rgds
  Andy
  - Здравко
    Legendary | Level 20
    4 years ago
    Hi again Andy Coda,
    The dummy file you have created seems Ok. That proves the issue is not in your default settings. It appears exactly as has to be. The commands you have executed, as listed, can't be a reason for the issue observed. Still not clear what could be the reason, but let's try fix it by hands. At the beginning what shows the list of troublesome folder? Post the result of:
    ls -al /Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Frameworks/DropboxCrashpad.framework/Versions/A
    Next try fix the problem using following commands:
    sudo chown -R "$USER" /Applications/Dropbox.app
    chmod -R a+r /Applications/Dropbox.app
    chmod -R u+w /Applications/Dropbox.app
    chmod -R go-w /Applications/Dropbox.app
    Execute the first (ls) command again. Is something changed? 🧐
    Hope this helps.
JohnMc_Lpool
New member | Level 2
4 years ago
I've searched the threads and can't find anything recent that doesn't regurgitate "right click on Dropbox icon" type of advice. Dropbox won't start so there is no icon.

Since upgrading my iMac to Big Sur, the same thing is happening every couple of days at least. On start up I get the alert "Couldn't start Dropbox." with the message: "This is usually because of a permissions error. Storing your home folder on a network share can also cause an error."

I already own the folder. I am already an administrator.

The only way round it is to uninstall and reinstall the app. I can't be doing that every day.

Here is the log it tells me to send to support:

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 119.4.1772
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 47
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: c5cc0e6c-2be2-553d-8204-7c9039b69b3c
pid: 10167
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='johnmcdonald', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='John McDonald', pw_dir='/Users/johnmcdonald', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='johnmcdonald', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='John McDonald', pw_dir='/Users/johnmcdonald', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
euid: 501
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'johntemp', '_nsurlstoraged'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'johntemp', '_nsurlstoraged'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/johnmcdonald'
appdata: '/Users/johnmcdonald/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/johnmcdonald/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/johnmcdonald/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/johnmcdonald/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=0o100775 uid=501 gid=80
parent mode=0o40775 uid=501 gid=80
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/rb/5c1vt9fd0nj13npx220rs5h00000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/rb/5c1vt9fd0nj13npx220rs5h00000gn/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 7672, in main_startup
File "dropbox/client/ui/cocoa/uikit.pyc", line 701, in initialize
File "dropbox/client/ui/cocoa/uikit.pyc", line 266, in create_app
File "dropbox/client/ui/cocoa/uikit.pyc", line 242, in static_init
Exception: should not give write permissions to other users for the module, /Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Frameworks/DropboxCrashpad.framework/Versions/A/DropboxCrashpad, loaded by Tungsten

Any help to solve this issue once and for all would be useful.

Thanks
- Здравко
  Legendary | Level 20
  4 years ago
  Hi JohnMc_Lpool,
  You haven't taken a look on the help center. There is exactly the same case referred at the moment of this post. Follow the solution' steps, pointed there. 😉
  Hope this helps.
christiantuanphong
Explorer | Level 3
4 years ago
Hey guys!
I cannot login to Dropbox for two weeks now on my MacBook. The error message is always: Permission denied. In addition there's always this code:
bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 134.4.4115
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 51
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: 3eb1a00f-9cd3-5e14-a27c-9f85e126d669
pid: 75074
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='daphong', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Christian Nguyen', pw_dir='/Users/daphong', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='daphong', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Christian Nguyen', pw_dir='/Users/daphong', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
euid: 501
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'daphong'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', 'daphong'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/daphong'
appdata: '/Users/daphong/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/daphong/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/daphong/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/daphong/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/4f/7660pmw5737760hrysvxst1c0000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/4f/7660pmw5737760hrysvxst1c0000gn/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 816, in wrapper
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6537, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 313, in _wrapped
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6070, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5994, 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 278, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 245, 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 209, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 520, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 188, 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"

Can somebody help me with this? Since I cannot connect to the Dropbox Support because the button won't work..

Thanks in advance
- Megan
  Dropbox Staff
  4 years ago
  Hey christiantuanphong, welcome to our Community and thanks for using Dropbox!
  
  I've merged your message into this thread because the OP had the same experience.
  
  Could you please try an advanced reinstall and let me know how it goes?
  
  Thanks!
  - christiantuanphong
    Explorer | Level 3
    4 years ago
    Hey Megan,
    I tried the advance reinstallation already and it doesn't work
C Honner
New member | Level 2
3 years ago
Hi there,
My dropbox stopped Synching. I tried loading the app and I'm getting an error message. Can anyone help me please? I've reinstalled the app. Nothing seems to be working.

Error Message:
bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 141.4.3299
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 52
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: fda19104-2c4b-57e2-b558-ce1a3131650f
pid: 1089
ppid: 1
uid: 501
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='bse', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Chelsea Honner', pw_dir='/Users/bse', pw_shell='/bin/bash')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='bse', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Chelsea Honner', pw_dir='/Users/bse', 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', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', '_nsurlstoraged', '_serialnumberd'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/bse'
appdata: '/Users/bse/.dropbox/instance2'
real_path='/Users/bse/.dropbox/instance2'
mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
parent mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/bse/Dropbox'
real_path='/Users/bse/Dropbox'
mode=0o40307 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/hf/9b4dgl4914lbsz1wxlb20r100000gn/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/hf/9b4dgl4914lbsz1wxlb20r100000gn/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 838, in wrapper
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6619, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 313, in _wrapped
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6167, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6091, in create_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 218, in make_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 268, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 250, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 202, 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 529, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 133, in __init__
File "desktop/extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__
nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing platform |>> Opening worker root directory |>> open syscall |>> Permission denied"
- Megan
  Dropbox Staff
  3 years ago
  Hi C Honner, wishing you a great Wednesday ahead!
  
  Can you try follow these steps?
  
  If you have any questions, let me know.

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