These files are cluttering up my folders. There seems to be one for every real file that I have. I'd like to delete them.
What are they and where did they come from? And how can I stop them?
Hi,
The issue you're seeing is a Mac issue that occurs when copying files with extended attributes metadata into a file system that doesn't support them.
Depending on the information stored in the metadata, you may or may not need these files.
These files are called AppleDouble files and more information on how to handle them can be found by searching for: "apple double files"
To avoid this issue if you have your Dropbox folder on an external drive, we recommend ensuring that the drive is formatted in the default file system format for the Operating System that is installed.
A quick fix to remove those files: from the website you can search "attributes" in the search bar.
You can select all the results and delete them all together.
Thank you!
I'd like to get rid of these files either...It seems they have been introduced in the recent terms
Anybody else see these? Quite a few of my folders are completely full of them - basically duplicating all my files with these attributes files.
I'm having exactly the same problem. Folders are filled up with attributes files. Is anybody from the support team willing to answer?
I've heard from support and basically these are caused by some operating system adding "extended attributes" to the file. Most likely MAC OS. Extended attributes are things beyond the basic "file creation date" etc. These attributes are not supported on other OS so dropbox creates a little file to store them - at least that's what I think is happening. Although it might be the other way around that MAC is creating the file.
I ran the xattr -cr mydropboxfolder to recursively remove these attributes and then deleted all the extended files, but they came back.
Bottom line is that I don't think dropbox thinks that this is their fault. I think they are wrong and they need to at least make these files hidden.
I'm not happy nor am I impressed with this.
Thanks for your update.
Indeed, it looks like a superficial answer: (1) I never interacted through Dropbox with a MAC OS in the last few days; (2) noone but Dropbox can have added these new files into MY folders.
This looks like a bad bug: I already posted it in the bug's section of Dropbox's support, and anyone with the same problem should do the same; the more messages, the better.
Interesting. Another data point: When I talked to a friend who has shared dropbox folders, only the ones shared with me have this problem. His other ones are fine. There is something going on that doesn't affect everyone.
Once again, exactly the same. Let's see if we find other analogies whcih may help understanding the bug's origin: I'm syncing between different Windows OS (XP, 7, and 8.1) and I have recently installed Dropbox on my Android 4.4.2 smartphone.
Yes the same happens to me. Files are only on the web, they are not copied on my PCs (Windows 7 and 8). But they affect the syncing that now is very slow. I would like to get rid of them. If I try to remove them from the web interface I can only do a search and delete them 100 at time. I have more than 200,000 of them now... A clear answer from Dropbox team about how to deal with this issue would be really useful.
I made a few experiments: it seems that com.dropbox.attributes files are created by my Windows 8.1 workstation whenever a file is moved/created/modified (also by other workstations). Again, no MacOS around. Support?
We may have an answer in this thread: https://www.dropboxforum.com/hc/communities/public/questions/201278969-Why-does-Dropbox-add-an-xattr-to-my-files-?locale=en-us
Seems like one of the connected devices filesystem may be FAT32.
Allright after some investigation, it seems like I had malware on my computer that was copying my Dropbox folder to another device. I found this out by logging into my Dropbox account on the web, going to the security tab, and verifying the list of connected PCs and apps. I found one unrecognized computer called "GenGEE" and another unrecognized app from Wooji Juice.
I'm not 100% sure that this was the cause of the com.dropbox.attributes files, but it does seem plausible, if the malware was connecting my Dropbox account to a FAT32 filesystem.
Malware is not the source of the problem. After other investigation I can confirm that windows 8.1 is the source of these files. Likely they encode the new "extended attributes" feature of windows 8.1... The problem is that they should be hidden and not propagated to OSX machines or included in the zip files generated while downloading folders from the Web interfaces. My feeling is that while they are useful (or even mandatory), the actual way in which DropBox handle them can be greatly improved...
I don't think it is win8.1 My errors came from a win 7 machine. Basically dropbox is somehow not processing these files properly. This needs to be fixed. Syncing with google drive for example doesn't have these issues.
I 've also asked something similar of support and I have been given the response that it is my issue and that the systems I use are the cause of the issue.( synced devices include: Windows8.1 with LaCie 5big TB hfs+ drive - using paragon hfs+ driver & Mac drive to mount the raid0 TB drive, win8.1 w. Ntfs drive, and a MacBook Pro w.hfs+)My last email from support:"As I mentioned previously, Dropbox does not create .xattr files. Your operating system does, and Dropbox can have difficulty syncing them. The solution to the problem requires making changes to your OS or software, not Dropbox. Please let me know if you have any other questions.Regards,"It's kind of silly to say Dropbox has no play in the creation of the ".dropbox.attributes" files. Since this only happens In conjunction with the use of Dropbox. It Does make sense Dropbox is having issues dealing with the files.I understood an extended attribute file would be created but my problem goes further.After every 5-10min when syncing, there's a new attribute file of the previous attribute file is created. An infinite creation loop.ie: For EXAMPLE:FILEA.EXTFILEA.EXT:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributesFILEA.EXT:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributesFILEA.EXT:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributesFILEA.EXT:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributesFILEA.EXT:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributes:com.dropbox.attributesThat's over the hole drive every file. I figured it must have been a problem between the multiple software I used to get the LaCie thunderbolt working on my Windows install.So I removed the Dropbox partition from the hfs+ volumes to sync between two windows 8.1 machines. Deleted the attribute files on both ends, pc and dropbox. Let it sit over night and the attribute files came back.Can't have this I need it to sync between work. Since googledrive offers versioning on all files as well same as pricing, and wide support, I guess I' ll switch over to them and not renew my subscription with Dropbox. Hopefully they can get this worked out.
A solution!! Make them hidden in OSX
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
chflags hidden /Users/yourname/your folder/*.dropbox.attributes
This only hides *.dropbox.attributes from one folder. Can anyone figure out a way of hiding all *.dropbox.attributes files in all folders?
I tried using hazel to run a script - couldn't quite get it to work though. I don't know if there is a way to run chflags in a recursive manner.
Figured it out.
Code:find /users -name "*.attributes" -exec chflags hidden {} \;
Just input that in terminal. com.dropbox.attribute Files will be hidden.
I tried it - but for some reason one file didn't hide.
Hello Dropbox team, has there been any progress in eliminating this attribute file problem? I've tolerated it for about a year now (as I'm sure most users have) and I've looked periodically on the web, but no solution is posted. Could you please fix this? It's definitely detracting from the user experience.
I still have the same problem since months and i hate it already. I already wrote 2 times to the support team of Dropbox and they are not willing to change anything or to answer on that problem.
I think i have to switch to an other cloud storage because i really hate already that problem with such files.
I have also only the problem, when i have a shared folder, i upload something, the other one modifactes the files, upload them to the shared folder and i download them after that from the shared folder. Then i have in every folder a fu** attr. file!!
I have windows 7, 64bit, ultime.
Greets
Hi everyone!
The files you are seeing being added are "resource forks" or "extended attributes" (xattrs).These attributes consist of additional information about a file and shouldn't normally be seen.Usually, those com.dropbox.attributes files are generated by Dropbox or your computer when a file with a specific type of extended attribute is added to a computer with File System that doesn't support them.
The main two situations where you can encounter those files:- You have installed/move Dropbox on a drive with a FAT32/ exFAT/ other unsupported File Systems that do not support certain types of extended attributes. In that case, all your files would be "duplicated".- You are sharing a folder with someone who has Dropbox installed on one of those File Systems. In that case, you'll find resources forks only in that particular folder.
To resolve this, you have to:- Locate which user/computer added those files by checking "Previous Versions".- Once you've identified the device that is generating those xattrs, ask its owner to move Dropbox back to a drive formatted with HFS (Mac OS) or NTFS (Windows) or one that supports extended attributes (Linux).
To read more about extended attributes, please click on this link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_file_attributes
I hope this helps!
Welcome Dropbox Agent,
your answer does not help me. Reason: since months, my Dropbox is only using NTFS drives. Nevertheless, the issue persists: e.g., right now I'm seeing 22.063 (attributes) files being downloaded.
I hope we won't have to wait another six months for a support reply.
Hi Lorenzo,
Could you confirm those files are added for all file sin your Dropbox and not only for some shared folders?
Many thanks in advance!
I confirm. Each file has its own attribute. I do not see attribute files on my drives (I see them only on the web interface) but Dropbox keeps trying to syncronize them (both shared and unshared ones). Very often at reboot, and from time to time (say twice a week) without apparent reason, Dropbox starts trying to download them all from scratch (exhausting cpu)..
Wow just got an email of responce, 5 months and still the same answer, horrible. Just horrible.Same garbage they spat back then.Personally, I guess My question was not clear, Ie: Why is my account creating new "com.dropbox.attributes" for every "com.dropbox.attributes" attribute. NOT ie: what's a "com.dropbox.attributes" attribute file? Or why's a single "com.dropbox.attributes" attributes file created?(or i am the only one experiencing this, so it was garrned, a "Non Issue")Eitherway i fixed my issue by cancelling my payed subscription to dropbox, and moved back to manual means. 5 months no hiccups. I'd like to thank the dropbox team for helping me resolve the issue by finally breaking my interest in your service.Achak B. a few seconds ago Share Delete
Hi Dropbox...
Your answer does NOT help at all.
It is not possible that we format our drive to accommodate your service. It is your product defect. You should think about a way of upgrading your software and delete those rubbish files. It really make people feel sick about your software. Just a tip for you. Hope this helps.
Hi
easiest way to solve the problem is to switch to copy.com - i have there now no problems and works well :-)
Dropbox's response to me is that my collaborator needs to file a support ticket as it is his computer that might be causing the issue. But he doesn't see the problem - only I do. What if I collaborate with someone else in the future and they happen to use FAT32? Do they have to file a support ticket as well - for a problem that won't affect them.
Hey dropbox - this issue basically renders your service useless for power users who collaborate a lot. Fix it.
I've identified the device as Andrea instructed, but for me to contact someone, I don't know, in our company in a different state, and division and ask them move their dropbox somewhere on their computer is not a good solution. Is there another way to do this?
