laurent22/joplin · error · JoplinError

rejectedByTarget

rejectedByTarget

Error message

Cannot download because content is restricted by Dropbox

What it means

A JoplinError (code 'rejectedByTarget') thrown by the Dropbox driver's get/download method when the Dropbox API returns the 'restricted_content' error code. Dropbox returns this for content that has been flagged as restricted (DMCA, policy, or ToS violations); the driver converts it so the sync engine skips the item rather than treating it as a normal download failure.

Solutions

1. Check the affected file in the Dropbox web UI for restriction notices and follow Dropbox's remediation process.
2. If the content is legitimate, file a counter-notice/review request with Dropbox.
3. Remove or replace the restricted item in the sync target so sync can proceed.
4. Consider switching to a different sync target (Joplin Server, local filesystem) if restrictions are persistent.

import JoplinError from './JoplinError';
function isRejectedByTarget(e: unknown): e is JoplinError {
  return e instanceof JoplinError && (e as any).code === 'rejectedByTarget';
}

try {
  const content = await driver.get(path);
} catch (error) {
  if (isRejectedByTarget(error) && /restricted by Dropbox/.test(error.message)) {
    // skip the restricted item; inform the user it needs manual attention
    logger.warn('Dropbox restricted content', path);
    return;
  }
  throw error;
}

When it happens

Trigger: During sync DELTA, apiCall('get', path) calls the Dropbox download endpoint which returns error code 'restricted_content'. The driver's hasErrorCode_ check matches and throws this JoplinError.

Common situations: A file in the Joplin app folder on Dropbox was flagged as restricted by Dropbox's automated policy enforcement; shared content subject to a takedown; region-specific content restrictions.

Related errors

• Batch delete failed?
• rejectedByTarget
• User is not authenticated
• 404
• AWS S3 bucket not found

AI-assisted analysis of laurent22/joplin@2654b33620 (2026-08-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/2a1e4922a47a8eb8. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at packages/lib/file-api-driver-dropbox.js:163

			let response;
			if (!needsFetchWorkaround) {
				response = await fetchPath('POST', path);
			} else {
				// Use a random If-None-Match value to prevent React Native from using the cache.
				// Passing "cache: no-store" doesn't seem to be sufficient, so If-None-Match is set to a value
				// that will never match the ETag.
				//
				// Something similar is done for WebDAV.
				//
				// See https://github.com/laurent22/joplin/issues/10396
				response = await fetchPath('GET', path, { 'If-None-Match': `JoplinIgnore-${Math.floor(Math.random() * 100000)}` });
			}
			return response;
		} catch (error) {
			if (this.hasErrorCode_(error, 'not_found')) {
				return null;
			} else if (this.hasErrorCode_(error, 'restricted_content')) {
				throw new JoplinError('Cannot download because content is restricted by Dropbox', 'rejectedByTarget');
			} else {
				throw error;
			}
		}
	}

	async mkdir(path) {
		try {
			await this.api().exec('POST', 'files/create_folder_v2', {
				path: this.makePath_(path),
			});
		} catch (error) {
			if (this.hasErrorCode_(error, 'path/conflict')) {
				// Ignore
			} else {
				throw error;
			}
		}

View on GitHub (pinned to 2654b33620)