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thecreativeoffices's avatar
thecreativeoffices
Explorer | Level 4
3 years ago

macOS Monterey 12.0.1 - "Dropbox Folder Missing"

The other day, I rebooted my Mac and Dropbox greeted me with the following notification:   "Dropbox Folder Missing.   Your Dropbox folder has been moved or deleted from its original location...
Desktop
Folders
Sync
Jay's avatar
Jay
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
Hi thecreativeoffices, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Did this occur after a Mac OS update, or any other updates?

Did you enable iCloud or make any other system changes?

This will help me to assist further!
thecreativeoffices's avatar
thecreativeoffices
Explorer | Level 4
3 years ago

Hi Jay,

 

Thanks for the response.

 

The most recent system change I made was a few days ago; I swapped out an external hard disk drive that I was using for Time Machine. It was several years old and beginning to fail. Dropbox had nothing to do with that disk. Prior to that, I upgraded to macOS Monterey in early November, and everything was fine with Dropbox afterward.

 

I can't think of any other major changes...

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    3 years ago
    Was the Dropbox folder itself located on the old external drive, or an internal drive?
    • thecreativeoffices's avatar
      thecreativeoffices
      Explorer | Level 4
      3 years ago

      In a separate external drive that's still attached and working fine.


      (Although even if it wasn't, I don't understand why I can't just re-select the original Dropbox folder and go on my merry way just like I've done lots of times over the years with new computers, new disks, new folder arrangements. It's never stopped me in my tracks at startup before this problem).

      • Megan's avatar
        Megan
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        3 years ago
        Hey there thecreativeoffices, I hope you're doing well. 

        We don't suggest keeping Dropbox on external drives because it can lead to a variety of sync issues, including the one you described.

        If you want to preserve space on your computer, you could sync it to your root hard drive but utilize the Selective Sync function to block specific folders from syncing to your computer (they'll only be stored on Dropbox and accessible through dropbox.com).

        Also, how do you try to re-link to your Dropbox folder? Do you do it upon installation through the Advanced settings?

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