How To Install Dropbox on Manjaro 20

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install Dropbox on Manjaro 20. For those of you who didn’t know, Dropbox is a Cloud-based file Sharing and file-syncing service that allows you to store files in the cloud and share them with other people. Using the Dropbox app you can sync files between your computer and the Cloud and access them from anywhere using your web browser or mobile phone.

This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you the step-by-step installation of Dropbox on a Manjaro 20 (Nibia).

Prerequisites

• A server running one of the following operating systems: Manjaro 20 (Nibia).
• It’s recommended that you use a fresh OS install to prevent any potential issues.
• An active internet connection.
• A non-root sudo user or access to the root user. We recommend acting as a non-root sudo user, however, as you can harm your system if you’re not careful when acting as the root.

Method 1: Installing Dropbox via AUR Helper (Yay)

Step 1: Install Yay (if not already installed)

Yay is an AUR helper that simplifies the process of installing packages from the AUR. If you don’t have Yay installed, you can do so by executing the following commands:

sudo pacman -S yay

Step 2: Installing Dropbox using Yay

Once Yay is installed, you can easily install Dropbox by running this command:

yay -S dropbox

This command will fetch the Dropbox package from the AUR, resolve dependencies, and install it on your system. Follow any prompts that appear during the installation process.

Step 3: Running Dropbox

After installation, you can start Dropbox either from your application menu or by typing the following command in the terminal:

dropbox start -i

This command initializes Dropbox and opens a setup wizard to guide you through logging into your account or creating a new one.

Step 4: Initial Setup

Upon launching Dropbox for the first time, you will be prompted to sign in with your existing account or create a new one. After logging in, you can choose which folders to sync with your local machine. This setup allows you to manage how much storage space you utilize effectively.

Method 2: Installing Dropbox Using Pamac

Step 1: Open Pamac Manager

Pamac is a graphical package manager that makes it easy to install software on Manjaro. You can access it by searching for “Add/Remove Software” in your application menu.

Step 2: Enable AUR Support

To install packages from the AUR using Pamac, you’ll need to enable AUR support:

• Select “Preferences” from the menu.
• Navigating to “AUR” tab, check “Enable AUR support”.
• You may also want to enable “Check for updates” for AUR packages.

Step 3: Search and Install Dropbox

With AUR support enabled, search for “Dropbox” in Pamac’s search bar. Once found, click on it and then press “Install”. Follow any prompts that appear during installation.

Step 4: Handling PGP Keys

If you encounter issues related to PGP signatures during installation, you may need to import missing keys manually. You can do this by running:

gpg --recv-keys [missing-key-id]

This command retrieves the necessary key from a keyserver. Replace [missing-key-id] with the actual key ID shown in the error message.

Method 3: Manual Installation via Terminal

Step 1: Clone the Dropbox Repository

If you prefer manual installation or want more control over the process, you can clone the Dropbox repository directly from AUR using Git:

git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/dropbox.git

Step 2: Build and Install the Package

Navigating into the cloned directory allows you to build and install Dropbox manually:

cd dropbox
makepkg -si

The makepkg -si command will compile the package and install it along with any required dependencies.

Step 3: Resolving GPG Key Issues

If there are GPG key issues during this process, follow similar steps as mentioned previously regarding importing keys. This ensures that all necessary signatures are verified before installation proceeds smoothly.

Alternative Installation Methods

Using Flatpak

If you’re looking for an alternative way to install Dropbox on Manjaro, consider using Flatpak. Flatpak provides sandboxed applications that are easy to manage and update independently of your system packages.

Installation Commands for Flatpak

• • If Flatpak is not installed:

sudo pacman -S flatpak

• • Add Flathub repository:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

• • Install Dropbox using Flatpak:

flatpak install flathub com.dropbox.Client

This method provides an isolated environment for Dropbox, which can enhance security and stability while using different versions of libraries without affecting system-wide settings.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter problems during or after installation, consider these common issues and their solutions:

• Poor Internet Connection: Ensure that your internet connection is stable when downloading packages from AUR or Flathub.
• Poor Performance or Sync Issues: Check if there are any known issues with specific versions of Dropbox or conflicts with other applications running simultaneously.
• Error Messages Related to PGP Signatures: If you receive an error regarding PGP signatures while installing via Yay or Pamac, ensure you’ve imported all necessary keys as outlined previously.
• Dropped Sync Connections: If syncing fails intermittently, check firewall settings or other network configurations that might be blocking connections to Dropbox servers.
• Dropped Files Not Syncing Properly: Ensure that files are placed within your designated Dropbox folder; otherwise, they won’t sync correctly.
• Caching Issues:If changes are not reflected immediately in Dropbox after file updates, try restarting the application or clearing its cache.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Dropbox. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the latest version of Dropbox on the Manjaro system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Dropbox website.