Start 2025 on time and up to date! Seamlessly integrate your calendars into Dropbox with these simple steps! 📆
Forum Discussion
msheppard
2 years agoNew member | Level 2
Won't stop indexing on Mac
I installed the mac dropbox update and the application began indexing my files. It has now been stuck for the last few days. I can only access some files. Many are now only available through dropbox....
- 2 years ago
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for your patience while we investigated. We have confirmed that the problem with resyncing has been resolved with macOS Sonoma 14.1. Users should not experience a resync when upgrading to 14.1.
Upgrading to 14.1 will prevent resyncing, but it will not resolve this issue for users who have already become 'stuck' on the resync upon upgrading to 14.0. We can help, but we're asking that users contact support for individual assistance.
Regards,
Ben
cloudres
2 years agoExperienced | Level 12
Good morning, after updating to MacOS Sonoma, something went wrong with my DropBox installation (version 183.4.7058). Right after the reboot, DropBox started re-indexing all the files. But then - I'm not sure when - at some point, it stopped. It might have been caused by a standby that occurred after a certain amount of time; I can't say for sure. The bottom line is that DropBox is no longer able to synchronize.
Here's what I've already tried:
- Restarting my Mac several times.
- Closing the DropBox app and its instances through Activity Monitor, including restarting Finder.
- Checking permissions for Privacy and Accessibility.
I haven't logged out and logged back in yet, as suggested in other threads. I haven't done it because I'm afraid of losing files that haven't been synchronized correctly, as it happened to someone here on the forum.
In the screenshots, you can see how an unsynchronized file appears in Finder, in contrast to one that was correctly (previously) synchronized.
In this other screenshot, you can see what I see inside the DropBox app.
Does the DropBox team have any information about this issue with Sonoma?
Thank you.
Jay
2 years agoDropbox Staff
Hi cloudres, thanks for bringing this to our attention.
We've not received reports about similar issues to what you've described.
Have you considered backing up the files that didn't sync previously outside of the Dropbox folder, and then resume syncing in the app?
This will help me to assist further!
- cloudres2 years agoExperienced | Level 12
Hello Jay, I've actually already come across a similar issue on other threads within this forum. Samantha's latest post seems to confirm that the development team is aware of this problem and, I presume, is working to understand its causes.
I must admit, I'm a bit surprised, given that Sonoma Betas have been around for months. Especially considering that almost all of us here use Dropbox with a paid account, in my case, nearly 200 euros per year.
Regarding your suggestion, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure what you mean. Have you read what I've already tried to do to resolve the issue? From what I've gathered in Samantha's comment, restarting the sync is the issue. It seems blocked in some way. But then again, if it hasn't been resolved by restarting the Mac multiple times, I don't see how this would have helped.
I'll repeat, the only thing I haven't tried is logging out and logging back in. Someone seems to have resolved the issue that way.
- Hannah2 years agoDropbox Staff
Thanks for the additional info here, cloudres and elkcilb, have you had the time to check Samantha's post here, for more info?
- elkcilb2 years agoHelpful | Level 5
I believe it's not "stuck syncing" as described in the post by Samantha because it has been indexing for over 48 hours now. I have tried restarting my computer.
- agpsa2 years agoNew member | Level 2
I have just installed Somona on my Mac
Then saved a file to a shared dropbox folder on my computer. The unthinkable happened. was contacted by a colleague. EVERYTHING I have submitted to the shared folder since 2020 was deleted on their folders and the dropbox website!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Worse still, it had synced the same modified/ deleted dropbox folder to my Mac
EVERYTHING IS GONE!!!!!!! Not even in the deleted folder on Dropbox
Well done. 3 years collaborative work destroyed. Wow
- LRH42 years agoExplorer | Level 4
Hi
I too have encountered syncing problems after the updating to Sonoma - I have multiple files that are now conflicted and files are missing.
Would love dropbox to find a work around for this.
- Stewart Bunn2 years agoHelpful | Level 6
I'm experiencing the same problem. 98% of my files are not accessible in offline mode and only some of my Word files can actually be opened. I've reported the problem to Dropbox who helpfully respond with we're not supporting Apple's latest OSX operating software update - Sonoma. They're working on a fix apparently. It's a nightmare!
- LRH42 years agoExplorer | Level 4
I hope they let their help staff know - I wasted time chatting with someone on their help chat - who tried to help me but clearly had no idea about the update problem - let's hope they come up with a solution soon.
- rickzer02 years agoNew member | Level 2
im having the same trouble, tried everything and dropbox hasnt updated in two days since updated, constantly indexing
- Stewart Bunn2 years agoHelpful | Level 6
Yep, three days in and no progress. My Dropbox sync is stuck at 99% and many files remain unavailable. I'm holding off contacting Apple to work through Carl8's recommendation about creating a new user profile to see if Dropbox has the technical capacity to solve this problem with a patch first. After recent other problems with Dropbox, I'm seriously reconsidering my subscription. If they don't fix this in the next 72 hours, they're toast. I've warned many other Apple users who are ardent Dropbox devotees not to update to Sonoma, while I await, patiently, any advice from our seemingly unconcerned friends at Dropbox.
- jameelalayyan2 years agoNew member | Level 2
I've been experiencing similar issues where Dropbox is stating it cannot sync due to being out of storage. However, I have plenty of storage available. I've tried everything. Rebooting, restarting app, reinstalling app, and nothing works. It starts syncing, and then completely stops mid-sync. On top of all this, it doesn't have the finder features anymore. Finder dropbox features completely disappeared after updating.
- Ilariavanni2 years agoNew member | Level 2
I have the same problem.
- bosssdr2 years agoExplorer | Level 3
Yo tengo exactamente el mismo problema y he intentado lo mismo.
No tienen ninguna solución?
- cloudres2 years agoExperienced | Level 12
With pleasure, I announce that I have finally resolved the issue.
After postponing it for weeks and weeks, I ultimately decided to follow the procedure that was recommended to me (to be honest) from the very first day through Dropbox support, and that, after about a month, was suggested to me again, also through Dropbox support. With some of you having tested it, not without complications at times, I finally decided to attempt a solution to the problem.
I will now explain step by step what I did, complete with screenshots, hoping this can be a genuine guide for those who, like I was, are still hesitant.
To begin, I logged out of my Dropbox account through the application preferences. In essence, I performed a logout. At the end of which, a few seconds later, Dropbox itself prompts you to log back in. So far, nothing could be simpler.
Right after logging in, I experienced several moments of uncertainty because I quickly realized that Dropbox had reverted to the old mode, the one for which "online-only" viewing hadn't worked on MacOS Ventura for several months. This surprised and even worried me, but in the meantime, I noticed that Dropbox had already begun indexing the files and synchronizing them.
At a certain point, Dropbox asks you which folders you want to synchronize. Since I remembered that Dropbox could download all the online content, I chose not to synchronize any folders. This made the process very quick. In reality, no files were downloaded, but only the paths were synchronized.
At the same time, Dropbox already starts asking if you want to switch to the new version with File Provider (compatible from a certain version of MacOS Ventura onwards, and also Sonoma). I didn't accept it immediately but waited for the synchronization with the old method to finish. Then I initiated the transition.
Having done this, the indexing and synchronization process started from the beginning. For the second time. I should note that in this second case, the duration was longer than the first time, and I haven't quite figured out why yet. Perhaps because Dropbox remembered which folders I had chosen to view as "online-only" and which as "offline." To be honest, I'm not sure, and I haven't figured it out yet.
So far, about an hour and a half has passed, considering that I have approximately 1.5 TB and 130,000 files on my Dropbox. Finally, the synchronization was completed, and the problem was resolved.
At this point, I began to check the folders, and while doing so, I couldn't help but notice 29 conflict copies. Fortunately, only 29. I will delete them one by one soon. Nothing serious.
However, I realized something not good at all. The files I had added to Dropbox in the last 30 days, which were not synchronized, have disappeared. Apparently lost. Of course, I had backed up all the files. Nevertheless, I noticed that the "previous" Dropbox remains available on the hard disk, but with a different folder name, like "DropBox (date)." So the "lost" files can potentially be recovered from there.
I'm not entirely clear whether I will have to delete this folder manually or if it will delete itself. I'll try to understand by asking Dropbox support again. In any case, it's good to know what happens to avoid "heart attacks" during the process.
As a confirmation of the functionality, I tried adding the "new" files to the newly synchronized Dropbox, and finally, they are added online as well. Everything seems to have returned to normal.
What can I say... it seems to be everything. I'm attaching some useful screenshots. If you have any questions, I'm, of course, available.
Last but not least, I carried out the entire procedure with MacOS Sonoma 14.1.1 and Dropbox 186.4.6207 installed.
- OceanSunrise2 years agoCollaborator | Level 8
Hey everyone sorry to say but the problem started up again today. The stuck on syncing problem is happening again. After one full week of no issues or problems and everything working fine now the stuck on sync problem happening again. Makes me think now its a Dropbox server or system issue on their end.
- OceanSunrise2 years agoCollaborator | Level 8
cloudres Thanks for posting this. Did you also do a uninstall/reinstall after you logged out?
- cloudres2 years agoExperienced | Level 12
OceanSunrise I didn't uninstall DropBox. Just unlink the account.
About Apps and Installations
Have a question about a Dropbox app or installation? Reach out to the Dropbox Community and get solutions, help, and advice from members.
Need more support
If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X or Facebook.
For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.
If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!