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Dropbox Folder sync fails after re-booting

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peter3

10 Jul, 2026 11:04 AM

I have two iMacs using Tahoe - both loaded with the latest version of Moneydance, purchased from your web site, and both loaded with the same up to date version of Dropbox. iMac 1 set as primary device and iMac 2 as secondary device.

I recently had a problem with dropbox and had to install it freshly on both iMacs and following that I set up Dropbox Folder as per instructions and both installations of Moneydance were perfectly in sync. Both iMacs are turned off overnight and the next morning when turned on again they were not in sync and iMac 2 was not up to date although iMac 1 was.

Over the next few days I tried setting up Dropbox Folder a number of times and it always failed after turning off and on again.

I used Toolbox to ensure that the Primary and Secondary devices were correctly set and also used Toolbox to Reset Sync. I reinstalled Dropbox on both iMacs as well as Moneydance but Dropbox Folder always failed on iMac 2 when booting up the following day.

I have had no problem setting up Dropbox Connection but not Dropbox Folder. I’m not sure what the actual difference is but it seems odd that one works and the other fails.

1. 1 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 11 Jul, 2026 04:55 AM

   

   Run toolbox on both. There is an option to check Dropbox folder alias. Does that say it’s ok?

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2. 2 Posted by peter3 on 11 Jul, 2026 10:56 AM

   

   Thanks for your advice on this issue.

   I have just reset the sync on both iMacs and set them both up using the Dropbox Folder instructions and both synced perfectly.

   After rebooting both iMacs, iMac 2 (Secondary) did not sync afterwards. I checked to see if I could sync it manually by opening a new file but the sync file did not exist in the selection box.

   I ran Toolbox on both iMacs but couldn’t find any option to check Dropbox Folder alias.

   I’ve been messing with this for some time and it always fails so I revert to Dropbox Connection which works ok so I’m wondering if I should just stick to Connection but wonder what the difference actually is and if it’s worth worrying about.

   Thanks again.

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3. 3 Posted by dwg on 11 Jul, 2026 11:50 AM

   

   With Dropbox connection Moneydance uses the Dropbox API to copy files to/from Dropbox.

   With Dropbox Folder Moneydance reads/writes data to the local Dropbox folder and the Dropbox client handles the copying of data to/from Dropbox.

   From the user perspective Dropbox Folder appears to perform faster, since Moneydance is only copying files locally.

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4. 4 Posted by peter3 on 11 Jul, 2026 12:30 PM

   

   Thanks for that info I thought maybe it was faster (when working) but at least I know that when using Dropbox Connection I will be able to sync albeit slightly slower.

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5. 5 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 11 Jul, 2026 12:33 PM

   

   If DBC works and is fast, stick to that

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6. 6 Posted by peter3 on 11 Jul, 2026 12:35 PM

   

   Thanks to all for your advice - DBC it is then.

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7. peter3 closed this discussion on 11 Jul, 2026 01:44 PM.