Hi everyone, I’m planning to upgrade to macOS Sequoia and would like to check a couple things first. Does anyone know if Dropbox is fully compatible with macOS Sequoia? I rely on it heavily for work, so I need to make sure there aren’t any issues with synchronization or general functionality.
How I Grab My Dropbox Stuff on Mac (And Why I Switched Tools)
Let me just cut to the chase: when people ask, “How do I get to my Dropbox files on my Mac?”—the first, super-generic answer is, just open up your browser and log into the website. Or, if you’re feeling classic, you can download the desktop app straight from the official Dropbox site. Honestly, you don’t need a PhD in computer science for this: visit the website, click that big ‘Download’ button, launch the installer, and you’re basically golden. Don’t worry, the Dropbox app is constantly updated, and is compatible with the latest version of Mac
But, full disclosure, if you’re tired of juggling a dozen cloud services and hate clutter on your hard drive as much as I do—there’s this nifty utility I found called CloudMounter (yep, that’s the link). It’s an app that, in my experience, goes way beyond “Download = Done.”
Here’s My Actual Workflow
I used to bounce between Finder and a zoo of browser tabs for Google Drive, Dropbox, whatever the team’s using this month. Look, my desktop was practically an airport terminal for “cloud gate” boarding passes.
Then I gave CloudMounter a try. What does it do? It lets you hook up cloud accounts (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, you name it) straight into Finder like they’re local disks. No more, “Wait, where’s that doc? Which tab is it in?” Everything’s in one spot, and it doesn’t hog space on your SSD because it streams files unless you need them.
And yeah, I’ve got a basic Dropbox account and an old business one from my freelancing days. Both show up together now, side by side in Finder. No logging in-out. It’s weirdly satisfying.
Wanna Ditch the Multi-App Circus?
Seriously, my days of switching from Dropbox to Google Drive’s awful web UI to whatever random SFTP site the client insists on are (mostly) over. Now, I can mount them ALL as drives and jump around like it’s just part of the computer. Also big plus: data is encrypted. I used to be paranoid about privacy—still am, tbh—but this helps a bit.
For those of you who want to geek out on the setup, here’s a really straightforward tutorial I used to map Dropbox as a drive on Mac. Saved me more time than I want to admit.
Anyway, those are my unsponsored two cents. If you’ve got a better way, I’m all ears. But after years of doing things “the normal way,” sometimes it’s nice to quit making things hard on yourself.
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So here’s the scoop: I totally get needing Dropbox for work—it’s basically my digital life raft. As for macOS Sequoia compatibility, Dropbox says they’re on it. They’ve pushed updates for every macOS version so far, and Sequoia’s on their roadmap (their support docs usually lag behind releases, but the beta versions have worked fine for folks in the dev channel). Worst-case, sometimes the Finder integration takes a few days to catch up after a macOS launch, but I’d say you’re safe—just keep an eye out for any small kinks or permissions popups (macOS loves tossing those around every cycle).
Installing? Yeah, the classic way is still smooth: grab the latest from dropbox.com/install, open the .dmg, and drag Dropbox to Applications. Start it up, sign in, and the Dropbox folder’ll pop up in your Finder sidebar. If you’re doing a fresh macOS upgrade, sometimes Dropbox will require you to re-authorize full disk access or re-enable the extension in System Settings. Don’t skip those!
Slight disagreement with @mikeappsreviewer about ditching the desktop app altogether. The CloudMounter thing is nifty for cloud multi-taskers (Google Drive, S3, etc), but for heavy Dropbox use—especially stuff like Smart Sync, LAN sync, and office integration—the official desktop app is better, at least for now. I’ve had a few hiccups with third-party “mounting” tools not playing nice with selective sync (once had 10 gigs go poof into the ether—never again, lol).
If you’re pure Dropbox and a power user (tons of shared folders, offline access, etc.), stick with their app. If you despise local clutter or lean on a zoo of cloud services, CloudMounter’s a strong contender—just double-check that it supports everything you do with Dropbox (e.g., requesting files or setting advanced link settings).
TL;DR: Dropbox app works just fine on macOS Sequoia (with the usual early adopter caveats). Install as usual, watch for permissions prompts, and tweak settings as needed. Multi-cloud power user? Sneak a peek at CloudMounter. Stick with the Dropbox app if you like peace of mind and all the “official” features running smoothly.
Real talk, Dropbox on macOS Sequoia? As of the latest dev builds and early reports, yeah, it’s compatible enough—Dropbox always scrambles to roll out a quick update when Apple drops a new OS, though Finder add-in stuff sometimes lags behind a bit. Couple folks mentioned it already, but you will likely see some “allow full disk access” prompts and you might have to re-tick Dropbox’s extension in your System Settings after the upgrade (thanks, Apple security theater).
As for install, everyone here’s driving home the drag-and-drop .dmg thing, but let’s be honest: if you’re upgrading from an older macOS, sometimes weird stuff happens post-upgrade—not the app crashing, but like, selective sync folders showing blanks, or the Finder sidebar icon disappearing. Don’t panic. Just uninstall, reboot, and reinstall with the latest .dmg after your Sequoia update. Also, don’t be surprised if Dropbox wants you to re-login (again and again).
Now, I see @mikeappsreviewer likes browser access—fine for the occasional doc grab, but it’s miserable for high-volume work. And to @stellacadente’s point: CloudMounter is legit if you’re juggling other clouds, but I’d add a warning—the official Dropbox app is still king for fully featured stuff, especially if you rely on Smart Sync, LAN sync, or stuff like file history/versioning.
Random note: Dropbox sometimes lags with Apple Silicon optimizations in the first week or so, so if you’re brave, keep an eye on their forums (or Reddit)—the first person to hit a weird permissions bug is usually way louder than Dropbox’s own PR team.
TL;DR: Dropbox works on macOS Sequoia, just do the usual up-to-date install routine. If you want Finder integration across ALL your clouds (and don’t need highly advanced Dropbox-only features), CloudMounter’s a strong alternative—but don’t ditch the official app if you live and die by Smart Sync. Be ready for a couple popups. And always keep your installer handy… you never know when a macOS update decides to “improve” your workflow by breaking something.
Short answer: Dropbox is good to go on macOS Sequoia. I’ve upgraded and, aside from the standard “grant permissions again” dance, it works. Now, on installing, you can stick to the Dropbox .dmg method (drag, drop, finish), but hot tip: if you’re upgrading macOS, be prepared for some Finder oddities and extra login prompts. That’s normal, not a crisis.
About CloudMounter—props to others for shouting it out. Personally, I think it rules if you’re juggling tons of clouds. Pro: CloudMounter’s streaming keeps your SSD free and mounts stuff in Finder with zero fuss. Also, you see all your storage in one organized spot (beats the web tab shuffle). Con: You lose the very deepest Dropbox features—Smart Sync, version history, LAN sync aren’t as tightly baked in. Reliability is great, but not 100% at Dropbox’s level when syncing at scale.
Side note: A couple posters here swear sticking with just browser access is plenty. I hard-disagree for day-to-day multitasking. Sure, you’re not installing anything, but web access is slow, and you get zero offline access when Wi-Fi’s out. And sure, CloudMounter is cool, but others like Mountainduck or Expandrive do similar cloud integration—none are perfect. My take: Use CloudMounter for cloud juggling, stay with official Dropbox if you’re neck-deep in their ecosystem. Either way: always keep your installer file somewhere—it’ll save headaches after a macOS update tries something “innovative.”
Bottom line: Dropbox will run on Sequoia, maybe with a few permissions nags. CloudMounter = tidy Finder, but missing some advanced Dropbox tricks. Your workflow, your call.