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Forum Discussion
Viewing files locally is incredibly slow since the February/March 25 update.
Windows 11. Desktop app. Dropbox Plus
Prior to the February/March 25 update, my files (any type of file, but mostly PDF's and JPG's) would open either instantly or within a few seconds.
After the February/March 25 update, opening a file results in the spinning wheel of death and takes 20-30 seconds to open.
If I quit the Dropbox app the problem is fixed and the files load instantly again.
It's almost as if Dropbox is either force downloading these files from the cloud before opening them locally, or the Dropbox app is hanging for whatever reason.
I have not changed any settings between updates and my preferences are set to Sync > "Available Offline" and unchecked "Save hard drive space automatically"
This has absolutely killed my productivity as I reference these creative files regularly and having to wait 20-30 seconds per file opening makes Dropbox unusable in its present state.
Has anyone else experienced incredibly slow file opening since the February/March update and is anyone aware of a fix on the horizon?
- Megan
Dropbox Staff
Hey d3fin3d welcome to our Community!
As a first step, what’s the version of the Dropbox app that you have installed locally on the device? You can find this by locating your little Dropbox icon on your taskbar, next to your WiFi and hovering your mouse over it.
How many files are currently syncing locally to your Dropbox folder? You can right click on your Dropbox folder, and select "Properties" to double check that.
Lastly, does this only happen with your Dropbox folder and no other folders on your computer?
Keep me posted.
Thank you!
- My Dropbox app version is 219.4.4463
- I have 200k files synced in my Dropbox folder (Essentially all my creative work, photography, design files and a few website backups; 800gb of my 2tb allocation)
- Files outside of my Dropbox folder load normally/quickly
A couple of extra notes:- Dropbox contextual menus also load incredibly slowly, displaying "Loading..." x3
- The Dropbox update has new icons to represent synced status. Only one of my folders has a solid green tick (always available), while the rest of my folders show a hollow green tick (available). With the new Dropbox system, it's not clear how to ensure a folder is always available or whether this will speed up local file browsing.
- Rich
Super User II
With the new Dropbox system, it's not clear how to ensure a folder is always available ...
That hasn't changed. Right-click on a file or folder (or multiples of either) and select Make available offline.
I only see "make online-only" (which I assume means the folder is already available offline.)
My note was based on the assumption that the new status icons (available vs. always available) might be related to the incredibly slow Dropbox performance since the Feb/Mar 25 update.
