How to uninstall Dropbox on Mac: The complete step-by-step guide

Dropbox is an awesome app for managing your files. Maybe you've been using it for some time and now decided to move on, or simply don't need it anymore.

In my case, I wanted to switch to a different cloud storage tool that's integrated with my video conferencing, email, and other apps. I’ve also considered ditching cloud apps since they clutter my Spotlight search results.

Whatever the case may be that you want to remove Dropbox from your Mac, the process doesn't have to be a hassle. I've managed to delete it without any headache, and I'm going to show you how.

But first, here’s a quick look at common Dropbox-related issues on Mac and how you can fix them easily:

How to uninstall Dropbox on Mac manually

The good news is that macOS makes it easy to manually uninstall any third-party app if you prefer to be hands-on with your app management. The same applies to Dropbox.

Here’s how to delete Dropbox from a Mac step-by-step.

Step 1: Quit Dropbox completely

To quit Dropbox:

1. Click the Dropbox icon in the menu bar.
2. Click the Account icon.
3. Choose Quit from the drop-down menu.

If Dropbox is stubborn and won't close, close it using the Force Quit option from the Apple menu or close it using Activity Monitor.

Step 2: Delete Dropbox from applications

After closing Dropbox, you can now remove the application. Here’s how to delete Dropbox from Mac devices:

1. Open Finder and choose the Applications folder.
2. Scroll to Dropbox, right-click it, and choose Move to Trash. You can also click Dropbox and press Command + Delete.

Keep in mind that this move will only delete the Dropbox application but not your Dropbox folder.

Step 3: Delete Dropbox service files

When you delete an application, it often leaves behind some files and folders. To remove any leftover Dropbox files and folders:

1. Open Finder.
2. In the top menu bar, click Go > Computer.
3. Open your startup disk (usually named Macintosh HD).
4. Open the Library folder and proceed to Application Support.
5. Delete any Dropbox-related items in this folder and others under Library, like Preferences, LaunchAgents, and Cache. Dropbox may also have a folder directly under Library called DropboxHelperTools that you should delete.

Always double-check filenames to avoid deleting non-related files that might be vital for other apps and system features.

How to delete Dropbox from Mac without removing files

If you're removing Dropbox because you're switching to another cloud provider, you’ll likely want to keep your local files intact. Just keep in mind that any future changes in your online Dropbox won’t sync with the unlinked local folder.

To safely disconnect Dropbox while keeping your files:

1. Click the Dropbox icon in the menu bar.
2. Click the Account icon.
3. Choose Preferences and proceed to Accounts.
4. Click Sign Out and unlink any other associated accounts listed.
5. Click Sign Out on the prompt that appears.

Alternatively, you can disable synchronization. This will sever the link between your local folder and online storage without removing your account or deleting the app. To do this:

1. Click the Dropbox icon in the menu bar.
2. Click the Account icon.
3. Choose Preferences and proceed to Sync.
4. Click Select folders under the Selective sync option and select the folders in your online Dropbox storage that will also live on your Mac.

Stop Dropbox from launching at startup

Even when you finally learn how to remove Dropbox from Mac systems, you might still experience some of the behavior it had caused on your Mac. From longer startup times to slow Finder actions, many issues could persist.

To completely rid your Mac of this behavior, you need to remove Dropbox from your Login Items using these methods.

Using System Settings

You can remove Dropbox from your Login Items using native macOS features with these steps:

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Settings (or System Preferences, depending on your macOS version), then go to General.
3. Click Login Items & Extensions.
4. Under the Open at Login section, find Dropbox, select it, and click the – (minus) button at the bottom left to remove it.

Finding an uninstalled app still in your Login Items isn’t rare. It can happen if the app still has scripts or processes in your LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons directories.

For tricky cases, here’s a full guide on how to remove apps from a Mac that won't delete.

Using Dropbox settings

If you still have Dropbox on your Mac, you can remove it from your Login Items with these steps:

1. Click the Dropbox icon in the menu bar.
2. Click your Account icon, then select Preferences.
3. In the General tab, uncheck the box that says Open Dropbox upon startup.

This method will automatically change your System Preferences behind the scenes, and you can even see the change as you switch the setting on and off.

Final thoughts on how to delete Dropbox from Mac

To uninstall Dropbox, you can use Finder to delete it from the Applications folder and remove leftover Dropbox-related files and folders from the Library directory. For less drastic measures, you can unlink associated accounts and deselect some online Dropbox folders via Dropbox’s account and sync preferences, respectively.

Dropbox preferences also enable you to stop the app from opening at login, just like macOS System Preferences does with the customizable Login Items menu.

If you want to be less involved or don't like the options to uninstall Dropbox Mac systems offer, you can use CleanMyMac to uninstall Dropbox and remove leftover files, and CloudMounter will set you on a new journey to a more streamlined cloud file management experience. You can get these tools under one subscription on Setapp, a user-friendly app store for Mac and iOS.