On Ubuntu 16.04, I installed dropbox using the .deb downloaded from the website. It went on to install the daemon and started. The problem is that I can't sign in. Instead of giving me the login screen, it simply opens a blank window of my browser. Any ideas why I might be seeing this? Could I be missing dependencies or have file permissions wrong? Is there an alternate way to connect the desktop app to my account? Thanks!

Ok, I got it solved. Here's the answer for posterity. I think something left over from a previous install was messing up the communication between dropbox and chrome. I changed my default browser to firefox, removed and reinstalled dropbox, and this time it worked just fine.

Unable to sign into desktop app on Ubuntu

richardjconrad
New member | Level 2
8 years ago
Ok, I got it solved. Here's the answer for posterity.

I think something left over from a previous install was messing up the communication between dropbox and chrome. I changed my default browser to firefox, removed and reinstalled dropbox, and this time it worked just fine.
- eorojas
  New member | Level 2
  7 years ago
  Does not seem like a fix.
  - rajhanschinmay
    Collaborator | Level 8
    7 years ago
    I tried using Firefox as default browser. It is not working.
- Mishmash
  New member | Level 2
  7 years ago
  This solution worked for me thanks!
  Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, dropbox 2015.10.28 amd64 and Chrome as default browser.
Jane
Dropbox Staff
8 years ago
Hey richardjconrad,

Happy to work on that with you!

Seems like an antivirus, firewall, security program, proxy or VPN is blocking the Dropbox desktop. Can you make sure that these steps are followed for the configuration of your firewall and that the domains listed here are allowed or whitelisted?

Also, if you are connecting through a proxy, please try selecting "No proxy".

If all the above criteria are met, please let me know here, I’d be glad to follow-up!

Kind regards,

JaneA
- ginobean
  Helpful | Level 5
  8 years ago
  I also just ran into this issue. When I tried to sign in to dropbox, it would simply open an empty chrome window.
  
  Finally, I set the default browser to Firefox and the Dropbox sign in worked correctly, bringing up a firefox sign in window.
  
  Can you fix the Ubuntu (Debian) version of Dropbox so that it works correct when Chrome is the default browser?
  - Vicon
    Helpful | Level 6
    7 years ago
    Ginobean's answer works for me. Just setting Firefox as the default browser so that the sign-in redirect goes to the correct page. I did not uninstall and re-install Dropbox. Ubuntu 14.04 here, Dropbox installed using .deb file via GUI.
- richardjconrad
  New member | Level 2
  8 years ago
  No problem with the firewall, turns out it's not enabled by default in ubuntu. And I don't have any proxies set up. Seems to me like the problem has to do with Dropbox's ability to communicate with the browser - it can open one but it doesn't go to the right page.
tgr
New member | Level 2
6 years ago
For a better solution see https://askubuntu.com/questions/689449/external-links-are-opened-as-blank-tabs-in-new-browser-window-in-chrome (the Chrome launcher needs to be fixed)