Dropbox On My Mac
Map multiple Dropbox accounts to your Mac and use one of them for free! Mount a Dropbox account on Mac without actually installing it. Now you can download, upload, and edit your Dropbox files directly from Finder. As a longtime Dropbox user, the three-device limit on free accounts that was imposed in March 2019 had me searching for a replacement service. And Apple delivered. With most of my family. After you install the Dropbox desktop app, you’ll see a Dropbox folder on your computer’s hard drive. This folder will have the Dropbox logo on it, and will be named Dropbox. It may also show the name you use to log in to your computer. Go directly to the Dropbox folder’s default location. Turn on Mac and run Dropbox app by clicking on the icon. You will find a “Gear” icon on the panel, click on that icon and then go to “Preferences”.
Dropbox is a file hosting service operated by Dropbox, Inc. That offers cloud storage, file synchronization, and client software. Dropbox allows users to create a special folder on each of their computers, which Dropbox then synchronises so that it appears to be the same folder (with the same contents) regardless of the computer it is viewed on.
Once upon a time, Dropbox was just a really useful cloud storage service that offered a reasonable amount of storage space for free and allowed you to pay for more as you needed it. However, over the years it has grown in features and its Mac app has grown in complexity.
Now, Dropbox wants to be an online platform, integrating with the likes of Google Docs, Trello boards, and Slack. But what if you don’t want all of that and are fed up with the nagging requests for you to upgrade to a paid storage plan? Well, then it’s time to uninstall Dropbox from your Mac.
Uninstalling Dropbox
Before we continue, it’s important to note that there is a distinction between uninstalling the Dropbox app and closing your account. When you uninstall the app, all your files will still be available through a web browser on your Mac or via another device. You just won’t be able to access them via the Dropbox app. If you want to close your account and remove your files from Dropbox, you will have to do that separately, in a web browser.
Equally, when you uninstall Dropbox, it won't remove the Dropbox folder from your Mac. If you want to do that, you will have to drag it to the Trash. However, before you do that, make sure all your files are backed up elsewhere.
How to remove Dropbox on your Mac
- Launch the Dropbox app if it’s not already running.
- Click on the Dropbox menu item in the menu bar.
- Select your profile picture or initials then choose Preferences.
- Click on the Account tab.
- Choose Unlink this Dropbox.
- Click on the Dropbox menu bar item again.
- Select your profile picture or initials, then choose Quit Dropbox.
- Navigate to your Applications folder, open it and drag the Dropbox app to the Trash.
- Empty the Trash.
How to uninstall the Dropbox contextual menu
- In the Finder, choose the Go menu and then Go to Folder.
- In the box, type /Library and press Return.
- Locate the DropboxHelperTools folder and move it to the Trash.
Remove Dropbox application settings
- In the Finder, choose the Go menu and then Go to Folder.
- In the box, type /.dropbox and hit Return.
- Select all the files in the folder by clicking and dragging over them or Command-clicking each one in turn.
- Drag the files to the Trash.
- Empty the Trash.
Here’s what to do if Dropbox won’t uninstall
- Go to Applications>Utilities and launch Activity Monitor.
- Locate any processes with Dropbox in the name.
- Select each one in turn and press the Quit Process (x) button in the toolbar.
- When you’ve quit all the Dropbox processes, quit Activity Monitor.
- Try uninstalling Dropbox again.
Once you have completed the steps above, the Dropbox app will have been uninstalled from your Mac. Your files will remain in the Dropbox folder on your Mac and in your Dropbox account, but they will no longer sync. To remove the Dropbox folder from your Mac, drag it to the Trash. Remember to back up your files first.
If all that seems like a lot of work to delete Dropbox from your Mac, there is an easier way. CleanMyMac X allows you to uninstall apps with just a couple of clicks. Here’s how to use it.
- Download and launch CleanMyMac X — get a free version here
- Click on the Uninstaller tool in the sidebar.
- Locate Dropbox in the list of apps and check the box next to it.
- Press Uninstall.
- Check for any leftover files by clicking on Leftovers in the Uninstall utility. If there are any listed, check the box next to them and press Uninstall.
How To Install Dropbox On My Mac
Dropbox will be fully uninstalled and all its associated files removed. However, your Dropbox folder and all your files will remain on your Mac.
Alternatives to uninstalling Dropbox
There are several reasons you may want to uninstall Dropbox on your Mac. Depending on your situation, there may be better options than uninstalling it completely.
Dropbox syncing using too much bandwidth?
If you have lots of files on Dropbox and they change frequently, and particularly if they are large files, you might find that syncing between your Mac and Dropbox’s servers uses up a big chunk of bandwidth. You can limit this, however.
- Click on the Dropbox menu bar item.
- Choose Preferences.
- Select the Network tab.
- Press Change Settings, next to Bandwidth.
- Check the box next to Limit to in the Download rate section and type in a transfer rate.
- Repeat for the Upload rate section.
Dropbox sync speeds will now be throttled, ensuring it doesn’t take up too much bandwidth.
Don’t like Dropbox launching at startup?
In order to sync files whenever you make changes to the Dropbox folder, its helper app needs to be running. But you don’t need the full Dropbox app to launch at startup. And if you don’t use Dropbox much, you can stop the helper app launching at startup, too.
- In Dropbox’s Preferences, choose the General tab.
- Uncheck the boxes next to Start Dropbox on system startup and Open the desktop app when starting Dropbox.
Apps and helper apps that launch at startup can slow down your Mac when it’s booting. If this is causing a problem, the best thing to do is to stop them launching automatically. You can do that in Users & Groups in System Preferences. But an even quicker way to do it is to use CleanMyMac X’s Optimization tool. That way, you can prevent multiple apps and services launching at startup with just a few clicks.
Dropbox On My Mac Is Not Syncing
Dropbox is a useful cloud storage service. But over the years, its app has grown in size and in the features it offers. If you no longer want it on your Mac, uninstalling it is easy. You can then choose whether to close your account completely or to continue using it with other devices. If you decide to close your account, remember to backup your data first.
If you are making use of a new cloud-based storage system, or just want to remove the Dropbox desktop app from your Mac, this step-by-step guide will take you through the process.
We’re going to look at two different uninstall methods. The first is the more common manual uninstall procedure. We’ll also show you where to find the remaining files after removing the executable file.
Secondly, we’re going to uninstall Dropbox by making use of App Cleaner & Uninstaller – an application that assists in clearing up unnecessary bulk on your Mac.
Without further ado, let’s get cracking.
Method 1. Manual Uninstall
To complete the manual installation, follow the following numbered steps.
1. From the Menu bar, open the Go dropdown menu and select Applications.
2. Once you are in the Applications folder, find Dropbox and right-click on it. Then click on Move to Trash.
3. If you get a pop-up saying that Dropbox can’t be moved because it is open, click on the Dropbox icon in the top menu toolbar.
4. This will open the Dropbox widget. Under the dropdown menu, click on Quit Dropbox.
5. Now that Dropbox has been exited, repeat steps 1 and 2 to uninstall the Dropbox executable file. There are still some remaining files that need to be removed to complete the uninstall process.
6. Application Support – In Finder, navigate to your home folder and find the Library folder. If you can’t see the Library folder, right-click in your home folder, and select Show View Options.
This opens your home folder settings. Make sure that Show Library Folder is checked.
Once the Library folder is visible, navigate to the following directory: Library > Application > Support > Dropbox. Move the Dropbox folder to Trash.
- Caches - From the Library folder, navigate to the following directory: Library > Caches > com.getdropbox. Move the folder to Trash.
- Preferences – From the Library folder, navigate to the following directory: Library > Preferences. Remove the com.getdropbox.dropbox.plist file. Move it to Trash.
- To complete the manual uninstall, remember to delete the DropboxInstaller.dmg file in the Downloads folder if you still have it.
You have successfully removed the Dropbox application from your Mac.
Method 2. Delete with App Cleaner & Uninstaller
App Cleaner & Uninstaller from Nektony is a user-friendly app manager. The free version does a great job to uninstall executable files. It also finds and removes all relevant files and folders to the application.
1. Once you have downloaded and installed App Cleaner & Uninstaller, open the application.
Under the Applications tab on the left pane, scroll down and click on Dropbox. The right pane will show all files and folders relevant to Dropbox on your computer.
2. Click on Select All to select all files and folders. Then click on Remove Service Files.
3. A confirmation window pops up, giving you a summary of the selected files that are to be deleted. If you are happy with the selection, click on Remove.
Note, if you get a popup saying that Dropbox needs to be quit before uninstalling, you can exit Dropbox by making use of steps 3 and 4 in the Manual Installation above.
4. App Cleaner & Uninstaller will give you a warning if any files could not be removed. To remove the specific files manually, click on the Show in Finder button.
5. This will open the directory and select the specific file that could not be removed. Right-click on it and select Move to Trash.
6. Remember to remove the DropboxInstaller.dmg file from the Downloads folder. You have now successfully removed the Dropbox application from your Mac.
Remove Dropbox Account
1. If you are wanting to remove your Dropbox account completely, you can do so by navigating to the Dropbox website. Once you have logged in, click on your initials on the right-hand side of the window and select Settings.
2. Under the General tab, scroll all the way to the bottom to find the Delete Account Section. Click on Delete account.
3. You will then be prompted to enter your Dropbox password and select why you want to delete your account. Once done, click on permanently delete.