Why is the Dropbox Open button not appearing?

Updated Nov 28, 2023

If you don’t see the Open button when viewing files on dropbox.com, try troubleshooting the following issues.

Does your computer meet the system requirements?

The Open button requires:

Is the Dropbox desktop app running on your computer?

The Open button requires that the Dropbox desktop app is running on your computer.

How to check if the Dropbox desktop app is running on your computer

To see if the app is running, look for the Dropbox icon in your computer's taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac). If it’s not running, you can open it just like any other app on your computer—through the Windows Start menu or the macOS Launchpad.

Are ports 17600 and 17603 available?

The Open button requires that the Dropbox desktop app have access to ports 17600 and 17603.

If a firewall or antivirus app is preventing Dropbox from using one or both of these ports, you may need to configure the firewall or antivirus app to allow Dropbox access to these ports. The steps to do this will vary depending on your operating system and software.

How to check if you’re logged into the correct account

First, log in to dropbox.com and click your avatar (photo or initials) in the top right. You’ll see your name and email address in the menu that appears. 

Then, click the Dropbox icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) and click your avatar (photo or initials) in the top right. Check that the name and email address in the menu that appears matches the name and email address on dropbox.com.

Is the link pointing to a file in your Dropbox account?

The Open button appears only for files already synced with your computer's local Dropbox folder.

How to check if the link is pointing to a file in your Dropbox account

To see if a file exists in your local Dropbox folder, look for it in File Explorer (Windows), Finder (Mac), or the Dropbox desktop app.

Is your Open button still not appearing?

If the Open button is still not appearing when you’re viewing files on dropbox.com, contact the Dropbox support team.

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