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Incorrect Timestamp shown to uploaded files

I noticed yesterday that the timestamp on my uploaded and edited files are anywhere between 6 and 9 hours earlier. My Time zone settings are set correctly.

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Frank_S

Hi all,

The issue of incorrect modified dates showing on files uploaded via our website should now be fixed for all users. If anyone is still seeing files showing an incorrect modified time versus the timezone setting on their account please let me know!

Regards,

Frank

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Rusty3

It is not an OS problem. It happens to me on windows 10, an old 7 that I have and 8

apraetor

This really sounds like an Office365-related issue. The timestamp on the file is reflecting the time zone of the Microsoft server you are accessing at the time, is my guess. That would explain why the wrong time zone is only occurring on 365 documents.

Have you opened a support ticket with Dropbox? Dropbox.com/support

Btw, there are two issues here. The original poster of this question had a problem due to the use of Windows XP. The subsequent comments are actually a symptomatically-similar but causally different issue, related to the use of Office365. I wanted to clear that up, before it causes confusion. Incorrect timestamps in web browsers under Windows XP are a known issue and not related to Dropbox.

Rich

What platform and what applications is this occurring in? What Dropbox version are you running? The more details you can provide, the easier it will be to assist you.

Jane

Hey @SusanR, welcome aboard & thanks for reaching out here regarding this matter, I hope you’re doing well today!

So as to further investigate & assist you on this matter (as we’d need to work on a specific example), I’d recommend writing in to us here: https://www.dropbox.com/support?ref=dropboxsupport, in order to check your account-specific details internally on our tools. Once you get in touch with us, please let me know a ticket ID in your reply, so that I make sure this request is handled as soon as possible.

Thanks again for your cooperation & I’m looking forward to hearing back from you!

SusanR

My issue still had not been resolved by Dropbox after 5 days. My uploaded and modified files in Excel online are showing the wrong times, about 7 hours in the past, and I cannot fix it. I am using Windows 8.1, Excel 2016 in Office 365, and all other times are set properly. CST in what my Dropbox needs to be set on, but that no longer appears in the Settings, and only UTC shows.

SusanR

And GMT at times. It was working just fine for the past couple of Months, and suddenly started displaying the incorrect times. I have received numerous emails from Dropbox that it is being looked into, but it's been 5 days!

Johnsonlimkl

I just uploaded a file.. The time of my location (5.35pm) doesnt showed correct on updated time (1.05am) on DB. How can I correct this ? Even my setting on "time zone" both DB and my computer are correct.

Mark

All I can suggest is recontacting support at http://dropbox.zendesk.com, but, as Excel is actually provided by Microsoft it maybe that they need to work with them to resolve the issue. Also, i know you said it was 5 days but please remember they only work Mon-Fri so weekends do not count.

Also, if you are not a paying user initial replies are usually three days or so as priority is (rightly) given to paid subscribers.

Rich

How are you uploading the file; using the Dropbox client on your computer, the Dropbox website, or a mobile device? What version of Dropbox are you running? If a mobile device, what platform and version?

SusanR

I worked with Office yesterday and there aren't any issues on their end. It's only when I use Excel online in Dropbox. My Excel files themselves in Office have the correct times.

SusanR

My timestamp issue in Dropbox isn't only Office 365. I uploaded some files yesterday unrelated to Office and those showed the times as 7 hours in the past.

apraetor

Can you please briefly describe the steps you took which produced the issue? Also, are you using the Dropbox client or web interface? And what operating system/device?

SusanR

I'm using Windows 8.1. I uploaded Excel files into Dropbox and they are now displaying incorrect times these files were modified. There hasn't been a problem until 5 days ago and I can't get it resolved.

Rich

You haven't described the process you're using. Are you placing the files in your local Dropbox folder and allowing the Dropbox client to sync them, are you using the Dropbox website to upload them? The more information you can provide about the process, the easier it will be to help you troubleshoot.

Kevin M.33

This isn't happening for me anymore, but when it was happening for me:

Noted the date/time of an Excel file in the Dropbox web interface
In the Dropbox web interface, click on file to view, then click on "Open" button to open the file in Excel online
change a couple of cells
Click "Save and Exit to Dropbox" in Excel Online
Note that the file time in now 7 hours off of my current date/time (which was the exact offset of my timezone from GMT).
Note that the same file time (7 hours off) was reflected in the synced copy on my desktop.
Open the synced file from my desktop. Changed a few cells. Saved.
Noted the synced copy file time was now "correct".
Noted that the file time on the Dropbox web interface was also "correct".

I think this was corrected when the Dropbox web interface changed.

SusanR

I don't know how to explain this any better. I "Open" a file using Excel online that has for the past 6 weeks been edited and modified, from my Dropbox folders; work on it awhile, save my changes, and the file almost immediately dipslays the time 7 hours off. This was not happening until 5 days ago. I have not changed any settings or anything else, so you tell me.

SusanR

Thank you Kevin. I'm going to try again. It still showed the time 7 hours off when I tried a few minutes ago but I will try again. I'm glad you got it resolved.

Johnsonlimkl

Hi.....i upload direct into dropbox websites. All the while is working perfectly, the error only started last friday. Even i tried to clear all browsing history/cookies, change log in password, removed the files and start upload new files. It still same error.

SusanR

Same problem here, and mine started Friday also, or maybe Thursday evening. Let me know if you get this resolved, and how please. I am not getting much help on here, and being asked questions to my questions that I can't answer for lack of understanding talking in codes.

SusanR

Rich. I see you are asking everyone that has this issue the same questions. If you want to help, please explain your questions a little better? I am just seeing that your reply is on every post about the timestamp issue, and I am not seeing it answered nor resolved.

apraetor

@SusanR Those files are opened in Excel online, which is part of Microsoft Office Online, which is similar to Office 365.

How about the non-Office files you have timestamp problem with? How are those uploaded?

apraetor

Thanks, @Kevin. That definitely sounds like an issue with the Office Online integration. Just to double check, when you said the time was set correctly in Dropbox (many posts ago), did you mean you have the correct time zone selected in your Dropbox.com account preferences? There's a setting section on the website where you can set your timezone.

Johnsonlimkl

Will do.....you too let me know if you have the answer.

SusanR

@apraetorThe files, being pictures I uploaded? Those were taken from my phone which have zero to do with Office?!?

SusanR

I wish I did, but this is Day 5. I will let you know if I get it resolved though.

SusanR

@ apraetor. What? That would be very easy, but what if your Timezone is now gone in Dropbox.com preferences?

apraetor

Are the photos being uploaded by your phone directly to Camera Uploads? Or are you importing them to your computer and the Dropbox client syncing them? Or are you uploading them via dropbox.com? Without knowing how the files are being imported it is hard to offer solutions.

As far as the timezone, follow the instructions in this post to set your timezone: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Manage-account/Trouble-with-setting-time-zone/td-p/207699

If your timezone is incorrect then turn off automatic and set it manually.

SusanR

The photos were imported to my computer and uploaded in Dropbox while I was chatting online with Office so they could see the time issues. I also tried your link above to reset the timezone, as I have done numerous times, and I toggled the automatic timezone on and off etc, and it does not work. It still shows 7 hours off.

apraetor

@SusanR

If auto time zone isn't working, try setting it manually.

After changing time zones did you upload a brand new document or try editing an existing one? In both cases it should work; however, existing documents won't start showing the correct timestamp until they are edited.

As for the photos, were they uploaded to Dropbox using the client, or through Dropbox.com, though?

Frank_S

Hi @SusanR,

My name is Frank and I’m a member of the Dropbox specialist team. We'd love to investigate this further to figure out if this is an issue on our side, or with Office 365.

To help us investigate this one further, can you open a ticket with our support team so we can look into this further? What would really help us to dig in to problems here would be to include screenshots of the following when opening the ticket:

The local timezone on your computer
The timezone setting in use on your account (can be seen by logging in to our website and navigating to https://www.dropbox.com/account)
The name of a sample affected file, plus a screenshot of what modified time is appearing for that file on http://www.dropbox.com

This should help us to determine where the issue lies. Once you've created a ticket feel free to post the ticket number in this thread and I can follow up directly.

Thank you in advance (and thank you to @apraetor for the troubleshooting steps thus far)!

Frank