Maestral Redux

Open-source Dropbox sync for macOS and Linux

Maestral Redux

A revived, lightweight Dropbox client built for people who want a small native app, a capable command line, and clear control over what syncs where.

Download View source
Maestral Redux running on macOS
Important: never sync the same local Dropbox folder with both the official Dropbox client and Maestral Redux at the same time. Network drives and some external drives are not supported as Dropbox folder locations.

Download

Install the package that matches how you work.

Recommended on macOS

macOS app bundle

Download the latest Maestral Redux app from GitHub Releases. The bundle includes the Cocoa interface and the sync daemon.

Latest release

Python

PyPI

Install the daemon, CLI, and the platform GUI dependency.

python3 -m pip install --upgrade "maestral-redux[gui]"

macOS

Homebrew

Install and upgrade Maestral Redux with Homebrew.

brew install maestral-redux

Container

Docker / GHCR

Run Maestral Redux in a container on amd64 or arm64 systems.

docker pull ghcr.io/garyjay/maestral-redux:latest

Usage

Start with the GUI, automate with the CLI.

Launch the app on macOS, or run the Qt interface on Linux. On first start, Maestral Redux links your Dropbox account, asks where to put your local Dropbox folder, and begins syncing. 

maestral-redux gui
maestral-redux status
maestral-redux pause
maestral-redux resume
maestral-redux excluded list
maestral-redux autostart -Y
Maestral Redux running on Ubuntu
Qt interface on Linux
Maestral Redux command line session
Scriptable command line control

Workflows

Designed for everyday Dropbox syncing.

Multiple accounts

Run separate configs for personal, work, or project-specific Dropbox accounts. 

maestral-redux start --config-name="personal"
maestral-redux start --config-name="work"

Selective sync

Exclude cloud folders from local sync and manage the list from the app or command line. 

maestral-redux excluded add "/Archive"
maestral-redux excluded list

Local ignore rules

Use .mignore files to keep generated files, caches, and local-only work out of Dropbox. 

*.tmp
.venv/
build/

Projects

Three packages, one client.

Package Purpose Repository
maestral-redux Sync daemon, CLI, Dropbox integration, core configuration. GitHub
maestral-redux-qt Qt desktop interface for Linux and other Unix desktops. GitHub
maestral-redux-cocoa Cocoa menu bar interface for macOS app bundles. GitHub

Compatibility

What Maestral Redux supports.

Maestral Redux supports simple file sync, multiple Dropbox accounts, selective sync, local ignore rules, desktop notifications, and daemon control from scripts.

Known limits

  • Dropbox Paper is managed through Dropbox on the web.
  • Team administration is managed through Dropbox on the web.
  • Shared folder settings are managed through Dropbox on the web.
  • The public Dropbox API does not provide binary-diff transfers.

Support

Report issues, request packaging, or help maintain the fork.

Maestral Redux continues the archived Maestral family with active packaging, compatibility fixes, and a renamed package set that can coexist cleanly with the original projects.

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