I recently installed Dropbox on my Mac but can’t find it in Finder. I’m not sure what went wrong during the installation and need help figuring out how to add Dropbox to my Finder sidebar. Any advice would be appreciated.
First, try restarting your Mac. Weird as it sounds, sometimes the simplest solutions do the trick.
Still no Dropbox in Finder? Follow these steps:
- Open Dropbox: Click the Dropbox icon in your menu bar (top right).
- Preferences > Sync: Go to the “Preferences” and then click on the “Sync” tab.
- Finder integration: Make sure the “Show Dropbox in Finder” option is checked.
If it’s already checked or that step doesn’t work:
- Reinstall Dropbox: Uninstall it completely and then download the latest version from Dropbox’s website.
- Permissions Issue: Ensure Dropbox has necessary permissions. Go to “System Preferences” > “Security & Privacy” > “Privacy” tab. Check “Full Disk Access” and ensure Dropbox is there. If not, add it.
Still unlucky? Mac can be a bit finicky with syncing services. You might want to try using a third-party tool like CloudMounter. Apart from Dropbox, it lets you integrate other cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, etc., right within Finder. Plus, it could just possibly avoid all these set-up woes by acting as a handy all-in-one solution.
Good luck solving this! Let us know how it goes.
Hey there!
First off, I totally get your frustration with Dropbox missing from Finder. It’s a staple for many of us, and having it right there in Finder just makes life easier.
Since Jeff covered most of the basic troubleshooting steps, let’s assume you’ve done all that and still have no luck. Here are a few more advanced things you might try:
-
Launch Finder and Check Sidebar: Sometimes, the icon is just hiding. Open your Finder, then go to Finder > Preferences > Sidebar, and make sure Dropbox is checked in the list.
-
Check Dropbox Status: When you click the Dropbox icon in the menu bar, does it show that syncing is in progress or completed? If it is constantly syncing, there might be files or folders causing an issue.
-
Clear Finder Preferences: Sometimes Finder itself can be glitchy.
- Open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities).
- Type in:
rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
- Press Enter and then restart Finder by either restarting your Mac or typing
killall Finder
in Terminal. Your Finder preferences will reset but this can solve many mysterious issues.
-
Firewall and Network Configuration: Sometimes network settings or firewall restrictions can interfere with cloud services. Check under System Preferences > Network > Advanced > Proxies and ensure nothing is interfering there.
-
Third-Party Apps & Extensions: If you’re using any third-party system utilities or Finder extensions, try disabling them temporarily to see if they may be the culprit.
Now, if you’ve tried everything and Dropbox is still being stubborn, you might want to look into using a tool like CloudMounter. It integrates Dropbox directly into your Finder, along with other cloud services like Google Drive and OneDrive. Trust me, it can save you a lot of headaches, and it’s worth a shot. You can find more info with this link.
Give these a shot and hopefully one of them clicks for you. Keep us posted on how you get on!
Cheers!
Have you tried everything from @codecrafter and @jeff without success? Here’s another angle.
Let’s look up if Dropbox is installed correctly:
- Application Check: Open “Applications” and ensure you see Dropbox. If it’s not there, reinstall.
Now, deep dive into the Finder:
- Sidebar Fix: Finder > Preferences > Sidebar. If Dropbox is unchecked, that’s your issue.
- Spotlight Search: Command + Space > type ‘Dropbox.’ Sometimes, the path might be off.
- Reestablish Sync:
- Menu Bar > Dropbox > Preferences > Account > Unlink and relink your account.
Path permissions can be a problem:
- Terminal Tweak: Navigate to ~/Dropbox and ensure permissions are set correctly with
chmod
.
Additional tool - CloudMounter. It integrates multiple cloud services, including Dropbox, into Finder. Pros: consolidates all clouds; Cons: subscription based. Competitors: Cyberduck, Expandrive - have their pros but may lack the convenience of one unified interface.
Your next step? Check terminal tweaks, ensure correct user permissions, and consider CloudMounter if Dropbox’s being finicky. Happy file managing!