You might see that the Dropbox Community team have been busy working on some major updates to the Community itself! So, here is some info on what’s changed, what’s staying the same and what you can expect from the Dropbox Community overall.
Forum Discussion
Dropbox APP missing
The main reason why the construction company that I represent, had decided to start using Dropbox instead of a server are 2
1) Everything is in the iCloud no need to have computers with a lot of ...
Hey all, thanks for posting here!
Your feedback regarding our Dropbox desktop application has been very valuable, and I will endeavor to make sure your voice is heard.
I will pass on your comments to the relevant departments so that we can further improve our product.
Keep in mind that no features were removed and you can still use your Finder or File Explorer without an issue.
If you have any questions, or you're not sure how to achieve something on your app, this is why we are here to jump in and help.
Thanks a bunch!
Megan
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffHey all, thanks for posting here!
Your feedback regarding our Dropbox desktop application has been very valuable, and I will endeavor to make sure your voice is heard.
I will pass on your comments to the relevant departments so that we can further improve our product.
Keep in mind that no features were removed and you can still use your Finder or File Explorer without an issue.
If you have any questions, or you're not sure how to achieve something on your app, this is why we are here to jump in and help.
Thanks a bunch!
Hi there,
I think Dropbox should restore the Dropbox App. It was hugely convenient for accessing files and making comments on folders. Finder is not that intuitive as compared to the Dropbox app which gave the option of making certain folder favourites for quick access.
Regards,
Saqib
The Dropbox desktop app appears to have merged with File Explorer. Now it is less streamlined to:
-see who edited a file in File Explorer
-when a file was last edited
-when a file was added to a folder in File Explorer
-the list of people who have access/permission to a folder in File Explorer
-how to invite someone to a folder in File Explorer
Agreed! My work is now doubled. Bring back the desktop app!
I totally agree!!! Removing the app has made my work double!!! I work on a Mac and can no longer comment with out opening in the browser and I cannot open a file via the browser (except for "preview" only) so I'm having to switch between the browser and file manager.... This is more than a headache for me.
This is a non-answer. With the already poor communication on this, users deserve more information. There are still directions everywhere on how to install the app but no further explanation on why you are not making it available anymore.
Please do better Dropbox.
It is absolutely FALSE that no features were removed! How can I do selective sync?? All of your website instructions say "use the app", which you killed. I am rapidly looking for an alternative, but am curious if you will refund the yearly fee I just paid for Professional, as you changed the terms with no notice. SHAME ON YOU for ruining something that has worked well for years.
I have been a user of dropbox forever. With dropbox ending support for the desktop app, I no longer can use Selective Sync, which was at the heart of how I used the product. I have multiple computers, and different files are held locally on each of them. I need those files to be local because I have to access without internet. But none of the computers can hold all of the files I have.... ergo, the Selective part of selective sync.
how am I supposed to use this product without the Preferences control that the desktop App gave me? Why did you ruin such a great product by taking away the App? And please don't tell me "no functionality was removed". Really, it was. Even you own web based documentation only can explain how to do certain things by referring a user to the App.
- Jay
Hi Sheila M.8, this feature was never removed from the app. When you click the Dropbox icon near the clock, you can click on the avatar on the top right, then Preferences, and Sync to amend the selective sync settings.
Hi Jay,
Thanks for attempting to answer this. However, the directions you provided only work in the non-defunct desktop app. The only thing that happens when you click on the icon on the taskbar now is that the file explorer/finder window opens to the dropbox folder. That's it. No window opens, no avatar is there, and no ability to adjust preferences exists. If you look at this very long thread, you will see this issue is what we are all complaining about. Dropbox somewhat stealthily removed the app and its functionality.
As far as I can see, the claim that no functionality was lost by discontinuing the desktop app is just plain false! In the desktop app, it was simple to move the Dropbox folder to a different location. Does anyone have a clue whether it's possible to move the Dropbox folder now at all - and, if so, how?! Thank you!
- Hi Megan,
Thank you for response and for acknowledging the comments. I just want to make sure we are on the same page and that I’m not missing something. The desktop app is gone, correct? I can’t gain access to this feature any longer. Or is there some way to? I’m only asking because you stated that “no feature was removed”. The app operated completely differently than the finder integration and offered large visible captions that describe what is in a given folder. I believe all of those features are gone?
Thanks again for the response,- Mark
Super User II
tdeboer you can do everything you could do via the app on the website instead, hence, no features have been removed. They are just accessed in different places now
Hi Mark ,
I disagree. The logic you are using is saying that because a flip phone makes phone calls and an iPhone makes phone calls they have the same features. It's just not the case. In the web browser version is VERY clunky and hard to navigate (very Window 95). Especially when we are brining on new people remotely, it does not serve the purpose of helping our organization stay organized. We had just built our entire information infrastructure in the desktop app and then DB removed that arm of their services. It is a completely optional task to download the desktop app, and the reason that I was given by DB as to why they got rid of it was because "a lot of people complained about the app." When I asked if they had sent out surveys to make sure that their dataset wasn't just biased by unhappy users that are usually much more vocal than those who are happy with a service, the reply was no.
I tried someone's fix to go to General and uncheck early releases but that did not work.
I used to see all the folders that were set up nice.
I am unable to see if my coworkers downloaded files now. I
This new app is not user friendly and just plain ugly.
To see everything in File explorer setting is awful to ,look at. Very disappointed in Dropbox of which I also own stock in.
No features were removed?? STOP! Just stop. I don't know what this company thinks to accomplish by fooling and lying to themselves. The app literally worked perfectly and had no problems, then we're all forced to move to these sub-par versions of the platform because some whiny man children WHO NEVER PAID MONEY FOR THIS LIKE THOSE OF US WHO USE IT FOR BUSINESS just makes the corporate branch of the company cow-tow to their complaints without asking the rest of us how we feel about it. You guys literally can't bring back the APP for a year?!?!?! There's literally nothing wrong with it you could bring it back right this second. Quit lying. It's ridiculously obvious.
Do you people have any idea how many employee hours you've cost us by wasting our time with the crappy windows explorer and online versions of the program? We are seriously looking for another program to replace Dropbox because of how inefficient these versions we have to use are. "...you can still use your Finder or File Explorer without an issue." Literally using either of these at any point every single day is an issue. I have to have multiple dropbox links open in my browser now consistently because the File Explorer can and will delete files without my permission at random for now reason without being prompted to do so. Oh yeah, I also have to have it open on my browser even when I don't use it in browser because your File Explorer version IS NOT CAPABLE of searching inside of files like PDFs whereas the Dropbox App had no problem doing this ever.
There is such a plethora of reasons that not having the desktop APP has negatively impacted our work experience. You guys seriously need to come back to reality of where your customers exist because there is not a single good reason to have removed the app. Who is it in upper management that needs to be FIRED for this??
If you wanted to improve your product you wouldn't have gotten rid of the app! Bring back the APP now!
I feel Phil37 's frustration. The Dropbox app included spaces that contained instructions and a hierarchy about the filed within that sub-folder. To say that no functionality was removed is to say that you've never actually used the desktop client. Even in the web version , all of the instructions and notes for the folders are gone. This was a huge change without alerting the customers, so I didn't even have the ability to save them in a document. Between not being able to update my OS to the latest Monterey release, losing the ability to use a functional client outside of finder, and the devil-may-care attitude of Dropbox, I have already been searching for migration options. As a law firm owner, I need something reliable and without the worry of losing my files. I've seen numerous posts of files being wiped out suddenly or accounts being de-coupled from devices, out of nowhere. This kind of thing could cost me my bar license. I'm not taking any further chances waiting for Dropbox to listen to the customer base.
This is the second time that i've had the desktop app stop working but last time I was able to fix it in the preferences. This time the option that allows you to check "dropbox to open in app" instead of windows file explorer, is no longer in the preferences at all. I have uninstalled and reinstalled and restarted my computer to no avail. The dropbox icon is in my tray and is syncing fine but it won't allow it to open as an app. I am on Windows 10. Google searches for this problem have amounted to nothing as well. Please help.
- Mark
Hi,
Unfortunately what you are looking for has been depreciated. The app no longer works. You need to do the stuff via the website instead.
If this is the case, I will be migrating my business account elsewhere. Trying to sift through a massive amount of law firm files, through a Mac finder is not efficient, and it's not the experience I signed up for. Glad to know that this is the direction they have headed in.
Edit to add: after some researching, it looks like part of the problem is Apple choosing to depreciate the kernel that Dropbox uses for the client https://www.macrumors.com/2022/01/27/macos-12-3-deprecates-dropbox-onedrive-kexts/
Hello,
Whenever I click into the drobox on my windows, it directs me to the files instead, and it doesn't have the dropbox app in the menu below. I re-installed it and downloaded it again, but it still doesn't have the app.
Someone else had a similar problem (though with a mac), but following the support he was given, all of his data was wiped away. You can search for him here.
Are there any other methods to help?
- Rich
littlehero wrote:
Whenever I click into the drobox on my windows, it directs me to the files instead, and it doesn't have the dropbox app in the menu below. I re-installed it and downloaded it again, but it still doesn't have the app.
That portion of the Dropbox app no longer exists. You can manage your files in Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac). All other functions of the app remain unchanged.
- Hello,
Sorry I think there’s a misunderstanding. I can’t access the dropbox app, I can’t find it. When I do click on the dropbox icon on my windows homepage, it directs me to the dropbox files instead.
I'm afraid I have to disagree. The file explorer makes it more difficult to change some settings in Dropbox, such as its co-opting of the print-screen key. I don't see a preferences menu unique to Dropbox in the file explorer app.
- Mark
mftuchman65 wrote:
I'm afraid I have to disagree. The file explorer makes it more difficult to change some settings in Dropbox, such as its co-opting of the print-screen key. I don't see a preferences menu unique to Dropbox in the file explorer app.
Thats because there isnt on.
You need to open the menu from Dropbox itself and then you can do things like disable screen shots. For info it is on the 'Backup' tab of the preferences menu.
