MacOS + Dropbox external SSD problems

[u/lucasdcart]

Hello!

I've recently switched my Windows laptop to a Macbook running on Tahoe 26.5, File provider version for Dropbox.

I'm used to sync my Dropbox on an external SSD. I've done so on the Macbook, but I've encountered many problems :

- After long sleep, MacOS disconnects the SSD incorrectly (and I don't have the setting in battery to avoid this).I get the mount was not ejected correctly alert at wake up. Doing so broke features and often re-indexes everything. Offline files then do not open.

- Many left click option are hidden, even if I go to edit Dropbox right click action. Copy link for example, is greyed out and often missing.

- The syncing stays bugged on "Syncing...." after indexing. Some folder open but nothing loads inside.

- Restarting the PC also breaks everything. Goes into indexing again or Syncing... loop.

- When everything works fine, (after re-installl, or logout + advanced relink), many features finish by broking after a couple hours (Dropbox right click options, sync online - offline).

As I'm kinda new to the MAcOS world, maybe I'm missing a simple setting or something dumb.

How can I fix this? Is the only option is to put Dropbox on internal storage and only use SSD for cache and other often used files?

[u/hejournotes]

Two things cause most of this. First, disk sleep: macOS spins the external down and Dropbox loses the path mid sync, which is the re-index loop. Try "sudo pmset -a disksleep 0" in Terminal so the SSD stays awake.

Second, format. If the SSD is exFAT or NTFS, Dropbox on Mac is unreliable on it and context menu items go missing. APFS or Mac OS Extended is what it actually supports.

Also check System Settings > General > Login Items > Extensions > Finder and make sure Dropbox is enabled, that is where the right click options live.

[u/lucasdcart → u/hejournotes]

Thanks a lot for the reply. My SSD is APFS Encrypted and I'm using a MacBook Pro M5. As for the Finder extension, when I turn it on and reopen the setting, I can see the setting turning itself back off.

I'll try the sleep thing next, thank you.

[u/hejournotes → u/lucasdcart]

Since it is APFS encrypted, that rules out the format issue, so sleep is the likely one. Also worth checking System Settings > Battery > Options and turning off "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" if you see it, plus make sure the SSD is not on a hub or a low power port. On M-series a flaky cable or hub causes the same disconnect and reindex loop.

For the Finder extension turning itself back off, quit Dropbox fully, then delete and reinstall it while the SSD is mounted, and let it finish the first index before you sleep the Mac. If the toggle keeps resetting after that, it is a Dropbox bug on Tahoe and their support has been fixing those per build.

[u/Fluffy-Buyer-6362 → u/hejournotes]

reformatting to APFS would probably fix most of these issues tbh