Dropbox Not Responding, Keeps Crashing in Windows 10 – FIXED
Dropbox provides cloud storage but what really set it apart in its early days was its desktop client that could sync files between different devices. Dropbox also had an aggressive expansion strategy where it gave additional storage space to users who referred friends to the service.
Dropbox has changed quite a bit since its early days; a free account now only allows users to sync files from one computer. The Dropbox app has gotten better, and more stable over the years.
Dropbox Not Responding (Windows 10)
The Dropbox desktop app is essential if you want to use the service. Dropbox has a web interface but without the desktop app, the service is far less useful since it takes away the seamless syncing that users like it for.
Dropbox Keeps Crashing (7 WORKING Solutions)
If you use Dropbox on a desktop PC, and the app keeps crashing each time you access it or run it, there are a few things you can try to fix the problem.
1. Unlink Dropbox account
The Dropbox app links to a user’s Dropbox account and the link is established from the app itself. If there’s a problem between the app and the account link, it may cause the Dropbox app to crash.
- Open your browser.
- Visit this link and sign in to your Dropbox account.
- Scroll down to the Devices section.
- Click the bin icon next to the device the Dropbox app is crashing on.
- Quit the Dropbox app on your desktop and launch it again.
- Connect your account.
2. Uninstall and reinstall app
The Dropbox app gets regular updates and it’s possible that an update didn’t install correctly. Try to uninstall the app and install it again.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Programs>Uninstall a program.
- Select Dropbox from the list and click Uninstall.
- Restart your system.
- Once uninstalled, download and install Dropbox again.
3. Clean install Dropbox
Uninstalling and reinstalling Dropbox will fix problems with the app but if the app is crashing because of the system files associated with it, you will need to clean install Dropbox.
Your files in the Dropbox folder will be safe.
- Uninstall Dropbox from Control Panel under Programs>Uninstall a program.
- Restart the system.
- Tap the Win+R keyboard shortcut to open the run box.
- Enter
regeditin the run box, and tap Enter. - Go to the following key.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\
- Delete both the Dropbox and the DropboxUpdate keys under it.
- Navigate to the following key.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\
- Again, delete the Dropbox and DropboxUpdate keys under it.
- Open File Explorer.
- Paste this in the location bar: %LOCALAPPDATA% and tap Enter.
- Delete the Dropbox folder.
- Restart the system.
- Download and install Dropbox again.
4. Sync files in smaller chunks
If Dropbox crashes when you try to sync a large number of files, try to add files in smaller groups. The app may not be able to handle a large number of files.
5. Alow Dropbox through Windows firewall
Dropbox must be able to communicate over the network in order to work. If the Windows firewall is blocking the app, it may cause it to crash.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to System and security>Windows Defender firewall.
- Click ‘Allow an app or feature through Windows defender firewall’ in the column on the left.
- Click Change Settings.
- Find Dropbox in the list and enable it over both public and private networks.
- Click OK.
- Restart the system and run Dropbox.
6. Install Dropbox from the Microsoft Store
The Dropbox app has a desktop version and a Microsoft Store version. The Microsoft Store version is for Windows 10 S Mode but it will work just fine if you’re not running S mode.
Install the Dropbox app from the Microsoft Store and sync your files with it.
7. Disable antivirus
Some antivirus apps are more conservative than others and they may block otherwise perfectly good apps.
- Disable the antivirus that you’re using.
- Quit Dropbox if it’s running.
- Restart the system.
- Turn Windows Defender on.
- Open Dropbox.
If the app doesn’t crash, freeze, or stop responding, the problem was like the antivirus. It’s a good idea to whitelist Dropbox in your antivirus app to continue using it without any trouble.
CONCLUSION (Dropbox Stops Running)
The Dropbox app has come quite a long way over the years. It used to be resource hungry and is now one of the lightest apps that can run on your system all while delivering better performance than ever before. If the app crashes constantly, a reinstall or a clean install should fix the problem.
