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RobLatour's avatar
RobLatour
Helpful | Level 6
4 years ago

Dropbox not syncing - as of about 2 days ago

My dropbox folder on my Windows 10 (v20H2) PC has stopped syncing.

 

I think perhaps it was because I ran an automated upgrade to the Dropbox software yesterday and perhaps something went wrong - but I am not sure about that.

 

Regardless, here what I have tried to get it working again, and my current situation:

 

I tried all the steps here: https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/files-update-issues

 

Also, I completely uninstalled Dropbox from my machine and installed it again.  I am signed on correctly and can see all my other dropbox files/folders just fine; they all have a green circle with a checkmark in them; they are also all present as expected.

 

I reviewed some past community posts, one suggested the use of a tool called ISS Crypto, which I installed and ran, followed by a reboot - but still no love.

 

What is not happening, but had worked for months and months, is I am creating a Dropbox file thru the use of a service called IFTTT and once that file is created and synced to my PC, a program running on my PC opens it up, processes it, and deletes it.

 

However, now, while the file is getting created by IFTTT it is not being synced to my PC as it had in the past.

 

Originally, I thought that the problem might have been with IFTTT, but it is not (see notes below).

 

Having that said, if I sign on to dropbox.com and navigate to the folder that I expect the file to be created in, and then trigger IFTTT to create the file, I see it being created via the web interface (following a refresh my browser (chrome)) and in that case it is then immediately synced to my computer as it should be.

 

I checked my syncing options and they seem correct.  Some of the documentation said I could disable selective sync but I don't see that option as one which exists now.   Regardless, the folder and subfolder in which the file is being created are both 'checked' to be synced - and as I mentioned, when I am signed onto the dropbox.com site and refresh my browser it all works fine.  It just does not work without me doing that.

 

I've spent several hours today trying to work this out, but am at a loss and am now reaching out for support.  Any help would be very much appreciated.

 

Thank you

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • It seems to be back working again.  But only after I disconnected my IFTTT applet and then connected that same IFTTT applet again.

  • Ravi S.'s avatar
    Ravi S.
    New member | Level 2

    I'm pretty sure the dropbox desktop app version 115.3.529 caused these issues. I've also got a strong feeling dropbox will not admit that. I've had the same issue of not syncing suddenly for about the last week, on two different machines. I ran through all the various steps recommended and it was still stuck indexing the same 500k+ files for multiple days. Wasted multiple hours on multiple days when I should have been getting actual work accomplished. Instead I was installing, uninstalling, rebooting, unlinking, relinking, cleaning uninstalling etc etc. Requested support via a ticket (that as a business customer I should have gotten a response to within 12 hours and still haven't heard back)

    Today one of my machines auto udpated to version 115.3.533 (no other changes on my side) and suddenly the number of files being indexed is actually reducing. It's not completely finished yet... but fingers crossed.

     

    Anyway... seems like dropbox released a buggy version and broke their app from doing the very fundemental thing that it's supposed to do. Then quietly (may have) released a fix.

     

     

     

    • RobLatour's avatar
      RobLatour
      Helpful | Level 6

      Well, that would both be a shame and a blessing if it turns out to be the case.   I too spent several hours on this today but would be happy to see it fixed with something as simple as a behind-the-scenes auto-update to a newer version.   However, with that said, the version of the installer I downloaded and ran today was 1.3.415.1 and the dropbox.exe file has a version number of 114.4.426 on it so neither match the numbers you have.

      • RobLatour's avatar
        RobLatour
        Helpful | Level 6

        Solution found!

         

        So after continued digging, and following the advice on this page: 

        https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/select-files-to-sync?utm_content=fa&utm_source=sup

        I got dropbox back working (/syncing) again.

         

        More specifically this is what I did:

         

        1. Click the Dropbox icon in your system tray.
        2. Click your profile picture or initials, and select Exit Dropbox.
        3. Press the Windows Key + R (at the same time).
        4. Type cmd and press Enter to open the command prompt.
        5. Copy and paste the following lines one at a time into the command prompt. Press Enter after each one.
          • If the location of your Dropbox folder is not C:\Users\YourUser\Dropbox, modify the first command to point to its actual location. For example, if your Dropbox is in D:\Dropbox, change the command to:
                icacls "D:\Dropbox" /grant "%USERNAME%":(F) /T
          • Regardless of where your Dropbox folder is located, other commands remain unchanged.
          • Depending on the size of your Dropbox, this operation can take more time to complete. Wait for the C:\ prompt to appear before moving to the next step.
                icacls "%HOMEPATH%\Dropbox" /grant "%USERNAME%":(F) /T
                icacls "%APPDATA%\Dropbox" /grant "%USERNAME%":(F) /T
        6. Go to the Start menu and select Program Files.
        7. Select Dropbox.

         

        Also, for clarity, for the first part of step 5 I entered

        icacls "C:\Dropbox" /grant "%USERNAME%":(F) /T

         

        Because on my system the Dropbox folder is on the c: drive

         

         

    • funkusty's avatar
      funkusty
      New member | Level 2

      My Desktop version of dropbox is dropping out and losing the abilty to green ticks and or share files. This is seriously slowed my workflow and costing money.  

       

      Dropbox are you listening.

       

      Russell

      • petera2's avatar
        petera2
        Explorer | Level 3

        The issue is not fixed on my workstation. Dropbox on my laptop seems to be working fine in that it can upload files, but still cannot get new files and updates from my workstation. 

    • lc54's avatar
      lc54
      Helpful | Level 6

      Same thing happening to me today. I installed, re-installed, etc. etc.   Nothing.

      • Megan's avatar
        Megan
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

        Hi lc54, I'd be happy to help! 

         

        Can you clarify if the app launches at all? Does it crash immediately when you try to open it, and if so, do you see any error messages?

         

        Let me know more! 

  • idanfo's avatar
    idanfo
    Helpful | Level 5
    The problem was the beta version... I didnt know i was a beta tester!
    We all need to turn off the early release option in setting (in the webaite).
  • I have a Basic membership with 2 PC & phone signed in to Dropbox. If I change any file on the PC, those changes are not showing up on the other two devices.

    Dropbox marked green signal not appearing on files

    Dropbox icon not appearing on windows from down

    • Mark's avatar
      Mark
      Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II

      Hi maher1982 

       

      Thanks for the images, they really help. 

       

      Based on the second one Dropbox isn't running - the icon is missing. 

       

      Restart Dropbox on your machine and all should be good 🙂

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