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Forum Discussion
Rodney E.
11 years agoNew member | Level 1
My Dropbox desktop app is stuck on "Connecting".
Dropbox won't connect on my pc with windows 7.
I've re-installed, rebooted and tried: https://help.dropbox.com/desktop-web/configuring-firewall
Most of the preferences buttons are disabled; selective sync, unlink dropbox (says it's not even linked to an account).
Works fine online. I'm paying monthly for this service but it's not working.
Has anynone found a solution for this ? I've unlinked and reinstalled in 5 different ways and I can't get it to work no matter what i do...
Edit: Found a fix for myselfGo to proxies on your Mac and disable ''Auto Proxy Discovery''. I did not realise that this needed to be disabled in order for there to be no proxies. As I have a new computer I thought proxies where basically none.
Hope this helped someone. Here's another thread with more fixes.
https://www.dropboxforum.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/206754586-Dropbox-3-20-1-not-connecting-not-syncing
- Iván T.New member | Level 2
Thank you Markus M., your solution works perfectly.
- Frederik L.New member | Level 1
The fix from Markus M. worked for me as well, it stopped working about a day ago.
- Simon M.35New member | Level 1
I had the same problem (in Windows 7). Stuck on "connecting". Continued like this for a few days. Finally, opened "task manager", ended Dropbox process. Dropbox icon disappeared from task bar. Then went to "search programs and files, opened Dropbox program, icon reappeared and it connected almost immediately. Now working properly again.
- richgExplorer | Level 4
I too am stuck connecting. I have windows 10 and recently (2/6) did a dropbox update on my iphone and ipad. The problem started then. When I try to troubleshoot compatability, it seems like it is trying to be compatible for windows 8 (windows 1o is not an option). Also dropbox version number for devices is different for my PC. After I uninstalled and re-installed, It said I have no internet connection...computer is offline...check network settings. Network and internet is fine. Issue is that when I move something to dropbox on my PC it goes there, but not to my devices...
- RichSuper User II
richg wrote:
I have windows 10 and recently (2/6) did a dropbox update on my iphone and ipad. The problem started then.
Updating Dropbox on your mobile devices would have no impact on your computer.
When I try to troubleshoot compatability, it seems like it is trying to be compatible for windows 8 (windows 1o is not an option).Make sure Dropbox is NOT running in any compatibility mode. It's not needed.
Also dropbox version number for devices is different for my PC.The version numbers are not the same across multiple device types. Only Mac, Windows and Linux (usually, but not always) share a version number. Android and iOS devices will always have different version numbers.
After I uninstalled and re-installed, It said I have no internet connection...computer is offline...check network settings.Something on your computer or network is blocking Dropbox from connecting to the Internet. You need to determine what that is and prevent it from doing so.
Temporarily disable any antivirus or firewall software and try again. Also, if you can get to Dropbox Preferences, ensure that the Proxy setting is set to No proxy (assuming you don't use a proxy, of course).
- richgExplorer | Level 4
Thank you Rich (superuser), I fixed issue with your help. I went to my webroot and disabled my firewall, web shield and realtime shield, and when I clicked the dropbox icon in lower right bar, I was given a prompt to sign on to dropbox. I also had set proxy for "no proxy". Thanks again!
- SetyNew member | Level 2
One thing that worked for me was; starting windows in 'Safe Mode' and then installing dropbox app with offline installer.
I setup everything while in safe mode, then restarted to normal mode, and it works fine.
See if it works for you. Worth a shot.
To start windows in safe mode, press F8 just when windows is starting to load.
If unsure, press F8 repeated while win is loading, and it should get the message.
Make sure you start windows in 'Safe mode with networking'.
No gurantees that it will work for you. Just sharing because it worked for me.
BTW, my system is Win-7 Professional on Dell Inspiron.
Good luck. :relieved:
- gafsiqueiraNew member | Level 2
I found a fix this problem by doing the following
Dropbox settings > Preferences > Proxies > Proxy settings: select "No proxy".For me the "Auto-detect" option was selected and changing it solved the problem.
Let me know if it also worked for you.
- mark_with_oNew member | Level 2
Try killing the "Dropbox.exe" process from Windows Task Managers
[This thread is now closed by moderators due to inactivity. If you're experiencing a similar behavior, feel free to start a new discussion in the Ask a Question section here.]
- Ed568New member | Level 2
Ive been using the Desktop App for about 5-6 years now, and starting last week it would just not connect. Ive uninstalled the app and downloaded the latest version (Dropbox 119.4.1772) off the website but the app still does not work. Its continuously says its connecting but to no avail, while my network is just fine. proxy and firewall is also not an issue here. Any clue whats going on ?
- MeganDropbox StaffHey Ed568, and welcome to our Community!
I've moved your question under this thread, since the issue seems to be similar.
Usually this is caused due to an antivirus, firewall, security program, proxy or VPN blocking the Dropbox desktop client from connecting to the internet. Can you disable them temporarily or whitelist and let me know if this helped?
Also, can you click on your Dropbox icon, then avatar or initials, then Preferences, Proxies and change the Proxy settings to "No proxy"?
Hope this helps!
- letters-of-lightNew member | Level 2
I am on Mac OS and had a problem for months with Dropbox thinking there was no internet connection even though all my other cloud apps were connected to internet, my email worked, and my internet browser worked. My smart sync on my desktop app had stopped working because of this. I chatted and emailed with tech support for months, and tried everything out there without any solution to the problem. For anyone out there who relies heavily on Dropbox for business files and experiences an issue like this, I know your pain.
One day I got on my computer and noticed Dropbox was recognizing internet connection after months of not working. No idea how, but I'm thinking it was because of a new Mac OS update I had just done the day before. I had made sure my OS was up to date all the months prior while troubleshooting to no avail... it could have been something about this specific update, but not sure. However, my sync was still not working. I started fiddling around and right clicked a file in Finder that was in my Dropbox folder. I noticed an option that said "Move to Dropbox". This peaked my curiosity because I wondered, "How can you move something to Dropbox that is already in Dropbox"? So, I went ahead and clicked on it, and the file disappeared. Astonished, I began to realize that I somehow had two Dropbox folders. I never created two, but somehow I ended up with two. I immediately jumped on Dropbox chat, and the tech helped me to find the new Dropbox folder by going to Preferences > Sync, and you will see your Dropbox Folder Location. The older folder was under My Documents. The new folder was under my "name" folder. The strange thing was that the old Dropbox folder had a little dropbox icon on the folder icon in Finder. The new folder had no icon, so I was skeptical about it even though Dropbox showed that location as my Dropbox Folder Location. Anyway, here is what the tech guided me to do at this point:
1. Make sure all files were backed up on the Dropbox website.
2. Delete the old Dropbox folder.
3. Follow the Dropbox reinstall link (without uninstalling). I believe it's dropbox.com/download.
After doing this, when I opened up Dropbox I could tell things had improved because less options were grayed out as they had been for months on the desktop app. However, it still wasn't syncing. I opened Preferences > Sync and toggled the smart sync on and off and on again. I almost couldn't believe it, but I guess it needed that to wake it up because after months of no Dropbox on my desktop it was working perfectly. I wanted to write this to hopefully help anyone else who might be going through something similar.
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