clarify ambiguous error message?

New here so I hope this is the correct section to post...

Dropbox Desktop App installs fine on my Win 11 PC. Unfortunately, I'm unable to sign in to it. The error message reads:

"This file does not have an app associated with it for performing this action. Please install an app or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Apps Settings page"

and the 'link' at the top of the message box appears to point to something that includes
dropbox-client://o-auth2/?code=........

I'm sure I've seen an almost identical error message somewhere in a completely different context so I'm just not sure whether this is a Dropbox issue or a Windows one?

If anyone has an insight into what it might mean, then I'd be most grateful for any advice - thanks!




Windows 11 Home 25H2 26200.7462

The dropbox-client:// part is considered a URL protocol. URL protocols much like file extensions can be associated to an application to open them. This is looks like an oauth loopback (just part of how authentication works). This should be associated to the dropbox client. You can try a repair or reinstall of the dropbox client to resolve.

Thanks for the swift response - much appreciated.

Well I've tried complete uninstall of Dropbox followed by an Advanced Reinstall - as per their website - several times. I've also posted in the DB forum but no luck so far.

I'm afraid authorisation processes are a tad beyond my skill set. I wonder if there might be a way to configure the association manually?

This all stems from a PC failure which meant that I had to use a clone of the system drive to get back to a working PC. As far as I can tell, everything else seems to be just fine ... apart from DB Desktop. Whether that has any relevance at all to the issue, I really don't know but thought I'd mention it. Maybe there are remnants of something or other still lurking in the Registry that prevent the DB client form working as it should.

If I had any hair left, I'd be pulling it out

Reiver said:

Thanks for the swift response - much appreciated.

Well I've tried complete uninstall of Dropbox followed by an Advanced Reinstall - as per their website - several times. I've also posted in the DB forum but no luck so far.

Click to expand...

Try removing it with REVO uninstaller and remove ALL debris.

Installing Dropbox client on a fresh VM it doesn't create the URL protocol, so presumably a bug with their client.

Rollback_Jockey said:

Try removing it with REVO uninstaller and remove ALL debris.

Click to expand...

Certainly the nuclear option of a complete removal would be worth a try. I thought I'd done that already, but maybe it wasn't totally purged and Revo might do a better job. Can't do any harm to try - thanks for the tip!

neemobeer said:

Installing Dropbox client on a fresh VM it doesn't create the URL protocol, so presumably a bug with their client.

Click to expand...

As I understand it, there are two installers. One needs an internet connection; the other doesn't. I have tried them both but perhaps the offline one is worth another go if - as you suggest - it might avoid the URL protocol problem. I can but hope. Thanks!

Well I'm delighted to report success. Not quite sure how and I have no idea why but we're back up and running now.

I think it was a nudge from someone in another forum who suggested trying a different browser. My default is Firefox but I keep a plain copy of Chrome as well. After a reboot, DB asks for a sign-in. I just copied the link and pasted it into Chrome. Much to my surprise, the process went through with no errors and the desktop client is fine.

In any event, thanks very much one and all for your help and we now have one very happy bunny