FIX: Dropbox failed to uninstall

The Dropbox failed to uninstall error is common, but the good news is that you can troubleshoot it quickly. Most times, you can’t get Dropbox to uninstall because of a broken uninstaller.

Many Dropbox users have solved this problem by fixing their account linking. On this page is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to uninstall Dropbox when it fails.

How do I get Dropbox to uninstall when it fails?

1. Re-install the Dropbox app

1. On an internet browser, visit this install page to download the Dropbox offline installer.
   
2. On downloading the Dropbox offline installer, double-click it and follow the installation steps
3. After installing Dropbox, find its icon from your system tray, right-click on it, and hit Quit Dropbox.
4. When you close all instances of the Dropbox app, attempt to uninstall Dropbox again and check if your Dropbox fails to uninstall still.

We recommend using a specialized tool for this process, to ensure unwanted software and all residuals will be removed seamlessly. With a single click, you can free up more storage space by removing leftover app junk files like cache data and application logs.

An uninstaller tool is designed to facilitate the uninstalling process of any service and product, so it’s a quick and secure solution if you didn’t manage to remove Dropbox via the standard method.

2. Uninstall Dropbox manually

1. Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E.
2. In the address bar of File Explorer, enter the following string:
   • %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%.
3. You will be taken to the Program Files folder.
   • Here, double-click on the Dropbox folder.
     
4. Next, open the Client folder.
5. Here, find Dropboxuninstaller.exe and double-click on it.
   
6. This launches the Dropbox manual installer.
   • Here, click on the Uninstall button.
     

3. Remove your computer from Dropbox web

1. Close the Dropbox application on your computer and every other instance of Dropbox.
2. Visit the Dropbox login page on any internet browser.
3. Sign in to Dropbox using the credentials of the account logged in on the app on which you get the Dropbox failed to install error.
4. In Dropbox, click on your account name at the top right-hand corner of the screen and select Settings from the dropdown menu.
   
5. Next, navigate to the Security tab.
6. Find the Devices area and look for the machines that are linked with your Dropbox account.
7. Here, click the X beside the computer where Dropbox fails to uninstall to unlink it.
   
8. Select Unlink to confirm your action.
9. Next, press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
10. On the address bar, search for

    C:Program Files (x86)DropboxClient

11. You will land in the Client folder of Dropbox. Next, find and delete Dropbox.exe.
12. Return to your desktop and right-click on the Recycle Bin icon.
    • Select Empty Recycle Bin to clean it up.
13. Finally, restart your machine.

Fix Dropbox failed to uninstall  on  Mac

1. First, you unlink your Dropbox account.
   • Click on the Dropbox icon from the menu bar and select Preference.
2. Next, click on Account and now hit Unlink Dropbox.
3. After unlinking Dropbox, launch Activity Monitor and Force quite Dropbox.
4. Now open Finder.
   • From the sidebar, select Applications, and then drag-and-drop Dropbox to Trash.
5. Next, locate the Dropbox folder and also move that to Trash.
6. Press the following key combination:
   • Shift + G + Command.
7. Open the Go to the folder window and enter /Library to go to the Library folder.
8. Here, look for the folder called Dropbox Helper Tools and also remove this folder.
9. Finally, clean the logs and caches.
   • On the Go to the Folder window, enter /.dropbox and hit Return.
10. Delete all the files in this folder also.
    • You may want to empty the Trash.

That’s what to do when Dropbox fails to uninstall. Attempt the solutions in the order in which they are here, and one will fix the issue.

If you have any questions or encounter challenges using any of these methods, do leave a comment here.

For more articles on this amazing service, check out our dedicated Dropbox Hub.

We have even more guides like this one on our Web Apps Fix page too.