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
Sep 15, 2019 Make sure you check for incompatible apps before you upgrade to macOS Catalina, because it no longer supports 32-bit apps! Let’s take a look at the full list of 235 incompatible apps that the macOS Catalina installer has been programmed to look for. Downloading Dropbox. Your Dropbox download should start automatically within seconds. Once the download has finished, click Run to start installing Dropbox. Downloading Dropbox. Your Dropbox download should automatically start within seconds. Once the download finishes, click Run to start installing 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.
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 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.
Dropbox Update is a process that makes sure the Dropbox desktop application is running the latest version. Dropbox Update is installed alongside the Dropbox desktop application on Mac computers running a supported macOS. Specifically, Dropbox Update:
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- Works in the background to check that you’re always using the latest version of the desktop application
- Ensures that you always have the latest features and your Dropbox application is compatible with new Operating System updates
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Note: A similar process is available on Windows computers with the Dropbox desktop application installed.
How does Dropbox Update work?
Dropbox Update periodically checks to see if your computer is on the latest version of Dropbox. If your computer is using an older version, the new version of the desktop app is available the next time you start the app.
Can I uninstall Dropbox Update?
Dropbox Update must be installed on any compatible computer (OS X 10.7 or later) that has the Dropbox application installed. Dropbox Update keeps the desktop application on your computer on the current version and helps keep your desktop application running.
If you don’t want Dropbox Update to run on your computer, you can uninstall the Dropbox application. You can still access your files on dropbox.com and using the Dropbox mobile apps.
Do I have to be connected to the internet for Dropbox Update to work?
Yes, Dropbox Update requires an internet connection to check if you’re on the latest version of the application.
When does Dropbox Update run?
Dropbox Update doesn’t apply updates to the Dropbox desktop application while you’re interacting with the application. It downloads new versions in the background. Dropbox Update waits until you’re done performing a task before restarting the application to apply the update.
Dropbox Update can run when the Dropbox application is closed, but only to check for version updates. This periodic check is independent from the main Dropbox application. It helps Dropbox fix issues that might occur, even if the Dropbox application is unable to run.
What should I see in the Activity Monitor?
The process for Dropbox Update is called DropboxMacUpdate. There should be no other differences on your computer. Dropbox Update runs in the background and doesn’t affect any program except for the Dropbox application.