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Forum Discussion
How many years until Dropbox will fix offline files being unaccessible
I see via Google that many people continue to share having this problem. When I update my offline files, they're usable for about 24 hours and then they are no longer accessible. So for example, if you go camping for the weekend, and have some file you'd like to access, you're out of luck. This problem has been reported by many people for at least two years (confirm on Google if you doubt this).
Hey
I have 2 ipads and 1 iphone, all of them are running Dropbox.
I use it for work purpose to have videos of my products.
Before the newest updates, where it changed form "favorites" to offline files, i had no problems, but now, the videos set to offline, just dont work offline, and its causing a lot of problems.All the videos i use, are formatted to Mp4, i have about 30 videos, and only 4 (the 4 newest added) refuse to work. They have been doiwnloaded about 5 til 8 times now, and soon as wifi is gone, they dont work, while all the old videos work. This is the same problem accross 3 devices!
Can anyone shine some light on what the heck is going on?This has been some damn good support. I will make sure, that we find a different hosting service, one that has client support, and not just a useless forum. Where no one raises an eyebrow for a serious issue with the software.
I feel sad that we ever paid for dropbox.I seem to have the same issue.
I uploaded a few videos from my Mac onto dropbox, checked they played while over 4G. Selected to save them offline and watched them download to my phone. Got on a flight, put on aeroplane mode... and they don't play :'(
Even when I reconnect to 4G or wifi now the "offline files" still won't play. The loading indicator just sits there spinning.
I have song lyrics and chords saved on Dropbox (hundreds of them). They are arranged in folders, then the songs are listed in alphabetical order in the folder. (example: Folder 1 Country Music A-I Folder 2 Country Music J-Z......etc.)
My problem is this: after each update, I have to go to each folder and open each song to re-establish it on my Ipad to have it available for offline use in places I play that don't have WiFi. I'm talking 500+ songs; open the file, open the next file, open the next file, etc). I have looked at the "offline" folder system, but can't figure out how to do it a folder at a time, and retaining the alphabetical order in each folder. Without this organization, finding a tune quickly would be impossible.
I MUST be doing something wrong to have to open each and every file after updates so that I can access the file offline when WiFi is not there.
Anyone have any suggestions to help me through this mess? I love Drobox, but this re-load every song after every update is making me think I need to leave DB and find a better program for my use.
Thanks for any advice anyone has for me.
I have the DB app on my iphone and have set some files (video and audio files) as 'available offline' so i can watch some movies on my commute. I have set my app to only connect over wifi, however, my monthly data allowance has since run out and all of a sudden all the files are unavailable and all display with a yellow exclamation icon.
Does dropbox still require internet access in order for me to access the files which are supposed to be on my phone? Is this why my entire data allowance has gone in a week? Surely the files are saved locally and should have no need for a connection?
Please help ^_^
Hi Ed, The files were definitely complete as it took me several hours on my crappy connection for them to finally say complete (and for the '% downloaded' message to go). I had been watching them on the bus for a few days before i lost my data allowance and the exclamation marks appeared.
The app is now telling me there's not enough space on my phone for the offline files - despite there being roughly twice the value of my entire dropbox available. I installed a game on there at some point so my other question is: do offline dropbox files get overwritten by other apps? If my phone was struggling for space (it is not) would it not just say it couldn't install the new app, rather than overwriting dropbox files and then dropbox telling me there's not enough space for the files that were already supposed to be there?
I have the same issue. Large audio files downloaded over wifi. Confirmed available offline by switching to aircraft mode and was able to listen to them. Now when driving the files are no longer available. Only solution is to switch to cellular. This has happened several times now an the only resolution is to download the files again when connected to wifi.
I seem to have the same issue.
I uploaded a few videos from my Mac onto dropbox, checked they played while over 4G. Selected to save them offline and watched them download to my phone. Got on a flight, put on aeroplane mode... and they don't play :'(
Even when I reconnect to 4G or wifi now the "offline files" still won't play. The loading indicator just sits there spinning.
In the Android app (latest version), I open the offline files screen. Dropbox says "All files are up to date".
I go offline and try to open the files. I receive the error "Can't connect to Dropbox. Make sure you're online" when opening images or "Couldn't load file. Check your internet connection" when opening PDF files.
I go online and click on "Update All". Dropbox says "Syncing..." for a while and then "All files are up to date". When I go offline the problem is still not solved.
It would be great to see a response from Dropbox on this. I set 2 video presentation files for 'Offline' but when my ipad is offline, I cannot open the video presentations. I have to reconnect and be online for Dropbox to allow me to open the files. I don't get any error messages when offline and try to open the file. It just doesn't open.
- I have a similar issue. it seems to me that if dropbox cannot sync the files for some reason, it cannot show the files even if they are marked as offline
I have te same issue, but I'm an iOS user (9.3.5) and updated yesterday, just before loading the files and setting them to "offline files". I had this in the past, but can't remember how I managed to fix it.
- Many thanks for your feedback. I have found two workarounds: The first is to put the device in airplane mode (offline), sometimes works and the other is to navigate with an external file browser to Android/data/com.dropbox.android/files where you can find a folder named scratch or a folder with a strange name that contains a folder named scratch. here you will find all the offline files and others... (that paths works on Android devices, ça va sans dire)
Downloaded android app on Samsung galaxy tab, signed in and saw all my documents as expected. I checked each individual one to make them available offline, but when I go somewhere with no wifi connection a load of the docs won't load.
Instead I get a message saying 'Dropbox can't open this file, check your internet connection'.
Dropbox is usually left open on the tablet and lives in a wifi zone for the majority of the time, yet nearly 3 weeks after checking all the docs as available offline, it clearly isn't downloading them to the device as it should be.
These aren't big files (maybe two dozen pdf's) and I'm nowhere near exceeding my download limit and I rely on having these docs available at all times. Does anyone have any suggestions??
Same problem. The sugested solution is for a Windows tablet, Mine is Android, so is there no solution? If not, what is the point in having "available offline" if it needs a connection every time?
- Still no reply from Dropbox on this issue...someone needs to address this issue as it is very annoying and stupid.
Brian O.Dropbox Staff
Hey there. The only thing that comes to mind is that when on a cellular network, Dropbox will try to spare your data plan. It won't update files unless you tap the Update all button from the Offline files screen. Do you think this could be what's happening?
If not, could you please send me a screenshot of a sample file saved for offline viewing, but subsequently needing to be downloaded again?
You can read more about Offline files in our Help Center article:
https://www.dropbox.com/help/267
- You did not understand the question..."available offline" should mean files downloaded and made available offline should be accessed when we are not on Wi-Fi or cellular data connection! It's stupid to put and "available offline" feature but is not accessible when we go offline.
An intelligent reply, better yet, a solution would be appreciated.
I can't believe that DropBox is SO unreliable. The notion that my files are actually being stored 'offline' in my phone seems fanciful due to the constant issues trying to access them. Why would I need to 'Refresh' to play offline files? And why is DropBox saying 'Deciding which files to download' or somesuch with files previously stored offline? Please don't try to second-guess me. I want the files in the folder I asked to be stored offline. Not your version of what I want: MINE.
Instead of developing fancy features (and creaming some I used all the time) why don't you fix the bugs?
Appalling.I've now experienced a few other file sharing services. When my DB subscription runs out I'm outta here.
Accessing the offline content when you are really offline is, in Dropbox, when the offline file is previewed, touch the "three small buttons (ooo)" on the top right hand corner, then select Export and then select "Open in" and then slect the relevant app. It is done.
Accessing the offline content when you are really offline is, in Dropbox, when the offline file is previewed, touch the "three small buttons (ooo)" on the top right hand corner, then select Export, then "Open in" and then slect the relevant app. It is done.
Using iOS 10 I downloaded a file for offline mode. I've been traveling with limited wifi but wanted to work on some MP3 files (editing in Ferrite, an audio editor). The share sheet didn't work, GoodReader couldn't see the file, so I was stuck being unproductive. There isn't much you can do in just the Dropbox app, it's supposed to function like a file system so I can access, that is, manipulate and use, the files with any app I want, not just see a preview. Disappointing.
- Mark
Super User II
Got to be honest I've never seen it reported here I'm afraid. Certainly not with a 24 hour 'cut off' period.
May I suggest logging a ticket with support for them to look at and possibly include some links from others having issues. You'll need to be more specific though (OS/Dropbox version etc. as a minimum)
http://bit.ly/cm-support to report
http://dropbox.zendesk.com to track
Note that replies will take at least a few days, longer for free users. Support ticket submitted. Android/app v48.2.2
Examples of other people having this problem...
