Dropbox this week rolled out the first stable update that optimizes its app for Apple silicon chips. The version 143.4.4161 release should be significantly snappier and more efficient on M1, M1 Pro and M1 Max machines.
The update, which should also fix a kernel extensions issue that prevents Dropbox from working properly under macOS 12.3, comes hot on the heels of a similar release for Dropbox competitor Microsoft OneDrive.
Dropbox is ready for Apple M1 chips
Dropbox faced overwhelming criticism from disgruntled users over its handling of Apple’s newest chipsets. Some employees initially stated that the company had no plans to support them. It took a year for Dropbox to change its mind.
A beta version of the app, designed to run natively on Apple silicon, first entered testing in early January. Just two months later, it is now rolling out to all Dropbox users on Mac for the first time, according to an official statement.
“Dropbox natively supports Mac computers with Apple silicon (M1), leveraging its improved performance and efficiency to run seamlessly on your Mac device,” the company wrote in a blog post on Thursday.
You don’t need to reinstall
There should be no need to reinstall the Dropbox app. The version 143.4.4161 is rolling out automatically to those who already have it installed on their Mac. However, if you don’t see it, you can download the manual installer.
Dropbox also provides instructions on how to check whether the app you’re using is the latest one (optimized for Apple silicon):
- Press Command + the spacebar on your Mac keyboard to launch Spotlight search.
- Search for Activity Monitor.
- On the drop-down menu that appears, click Activity Monitor.
- Click the CPU tab at the top of the window.
- Locate Dropbox under Process Name.
- Locate the column labeled Kind.
- If the value for this column reads Apple, Dropbox is running natively on Apple silicon (M1).
If you run into any issues after installing this update, you can provide feedback through Dropbox Support, or in the Dropbox Community forum.
