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Dropbox app android won't upload till app is opened

Paul K.11

Hello,

With my samsung S9 running on android 8.0.0 my dropbox app only uploads the pictures when I open the app.

Before it was uploading always.

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Walter

Sorry to hear this persists Paul.

This actually may be related to a feature on newer Samsung OS versions called App Optimization. It is designed to freeze applications that are deemed to be untouched by the user and may interfere with some background services. You may find this setting by:

Go to your system (not our app's ) settings.
Tap on Battery (found under System category)
Find App optimization section and tap on detail
Find Dropbox in the list and tap on it
Change the option to "Disabled for"
Your system should no longer freeze Dropbox now.

Let me know what you find please.

All comments

Walter

Hey there Paul ( @Paul K.11) - how are you today?

It sounds like you the issue you are experiencing my be due to a setting in your Dropbox app. To ensure that everything is optimally configured can you please follow these steps and let me know what you find? On Android:

Open the Dropbox app
Tap the menu
Tap Settings
Then under Camera uploads tap 'When to upload'
Check it is not set to 'Only while phone is charging'

If this does not resolve this issue please let me know Paul. Thanks!

PS: Also make sure you're running our latest version of the app ( currently 108.2.2 for Android users).

Paul K.11

Hello Walter,

Thanks for your quick reply!

This setting is set to higher then 10% of battery.

And the strange thing is I just have to open the app and then is starts uploading.

To me it looks like the power saving from samsung is killing the app. But I disabled this on my phone, but without succes.

The app version installed is 106.2.2, this is the last version I can find.

Walter

Sorry to hear this persists Paul.

Go to your system (not our app's ) settings.
Tap on Battery (found under System category)
Find App optimization section and tap on detail
Find Dropbox in the list and tap on it
Change the option to "Disabled for"
Your system should no longer freeze Dropbox now.

Let me know what you find please.

pr0llie

Waiter's answer here is correct for most instances of this issue. However, for many/most Samsung phones, you need to go through the "Device Maintenace" category to find battery and and other optimization settings. I figured this might be useful information for those not very familiar with Samsungs Android settings, or those whom do not enjoy trawling through settings, looking for the right one.

Paul K.11

I did find it. But thanks anyway.

Paul K.11

My phone still freezes the Dropbox app. I also had the same problem with my s7

Walter

Sorry to hear about this @Paul K.11!

Can you clarify if you're experiencing any crashes when our app freezes and confirm that you're on the latest version for Android users - currently 122.2?

NathDM

I am having the same issue with my Samsung S8. I already changed the settings so that Dropbox can use as much battery as it likes but still no difference. If you open the app and your phone is active (light on) than it syncs the files. As soon as the screen turns black or you close the app, it stops uploading the files. Very frustrating

Paul K.11

Yes, for me it is the same. It's not the app that crashes. But it just stops uploading till you activate it again. Also changed all the battery settings, but no difference.

Walter

Hey guys ( @NathDM & @Paul K.11 ) - sorry to hear about this.

Now, in regards to the matter at hand, kindly note that if you’re manually uploading files using the “+” (plus) button, uploads will only run while the app is in the foreground (in other words, it’s the app you’re actively looking at).

On the other hand, if you're using Camera Uploads to automatically upload photos from Camera Roll to Dropbox, you may need to turn on “Background Uploading " depending on your device. This allows your photos and videos to continue uploading even if you don’t have the app open. This is how:
1. Open the Dropbox app.
2. Tap the "Home" tab.
3. Tap the gear icon.
4. Select “Camera Uploads.”
5. Toggle "Background Uploading" to "on." (Or, if it's already set to "on," toggle the setting off and then on again.)

Please note: If you do not see the gear icon on this main page, first click on the icon on the bottom right of the app that says “Account”, “Personal” or your Dropbox Business name. You should see the gear icon on this account page.

Keep me posted with any updates please!

Paul K.11

It was set to auto upload when battery is above 10 percent. There is not an option to switch it on or off. You can only switch it to when telephone is charging. So I switched that option on and off again. I will see if this helps. Thanks.

Pannedout

I'm having the same issues as @Paul K.11

And I agree setting is for upload when battery is above...... No other option

Still having issues. Do you have a solution please?

Thanks

Walter

Have you tried turning it off and on again @Pannedout ?

If you did and still don't see any change, would it be OK if I reached out via email to your Dropbox associated address to have a better look into this with all of my tools available?

Pannedout

Hi Walter No problem, please go-ahead.

Yes I have tried On-Off

Camera only sync's when the App is physically opened.

Walter

Thanks for the additional information @Pannedout - much appreciated!

From what I gather so far, the issue you are seeing maybe due to a feature on newer Samsung OS versions called App Optimization. It is designed to freeze applications that are deemed to be untouched by the user and may interfere with some background services. You may find this setting following these steps:

Go to your system (not Dropbox's!) settings (most likely a gear icon on the notification shade)
Tap on "Battery" (found under System category) for Android 7.0/ "Apps & Notifications" on Android 8.0
Find "App optimization" section and tap on detail on Android 7.0/ "App Info" on Android 8.0
Find Dropbox in the list and tap on it - same for all OS.
Change the option to "Disabled for"/Tap on "Battery" , then "Battery Optimization" (if needed) and then "Background Activity". Toggle it off and on again.

Furthermore, if for any reason you accidentally set your mobile app to "Always Sleeping App" you should disable it. Here is how to check:

1. Go to Settings

2. Device Maintenance

3. Battery

4. Always Sleeping Apps.

Should our mobile app show up there then press and hold to delete from the list.

Let me know if this did the trick for you please.

Pannedout

Hi Walter

Thanks for the information. Had a look on the phone and regretfully the options you describe are not on the latest version of Android on Samsung.

I am running Android 9 Pie

I have changed the settings within Battery Usage to "High Performace Mode" In an attempt to resolve the issue. I cant seem to locate a setting where you are able to change individual apps to different performance settings.

Please let me know if you find a location for this.

Thanks.

Walter

Even though I'm not an expert on Android devices here's what I found after a web search on this @Pannedout:

This is how to check that battery optimization is on /off for each app:

Open your device's Settings app .
Tap Apps & notifications Advanced Special app access Battery optimization.
If an app is listed as “Not optimized,” tap the app Optimize Done and vice versa if needed.

Let me know how it goes!

808mic

I have this problem on Samsung Galaxy S10e phone. I have performed ALL of the recommended tasks and yet when I open Auto-Sync in settings, the Dropbox app says "Sync off for all items" .

Additionaly when I click on the 3 dots in the upper right corner (settings options) the "Sync Now" option is grayed out, meaning I cannot even activate a sync manually.

Oddly, some items are syncing.

Uploads are turned on in the Dropbox all as well. Dropbox is NOT set to sleep on the phone.

What now?

Walter

Hey there @808mic - sorry to ask but are you having an issue with the camera uploads feature on your Android device or on a computer when using our mobile app?

I'm only asking because you mentioned an "Auto-Sync" option and I'm not familiar with it; could you post a screenshot perhaps?

If you could include the steps you take to do this as well, that'd be very helpful.

It goes without saying that any additional information will be much appreciated too!

ScoutCommander

I have a Samsung Galaxy S9 and I think I just figured it out:

Settings

Device Care

Battery

Power Mode

Switched from "Medium Power Saving" to "Optimized" and it seems to work again. I took a photo and turned the screen off and it uploaded with no problem.

RichSmy

That worked for me, thanks it was the medium power saving mode which stopped it. Just another 180 photos to upload :-(

uscpsycho

I have the exact same problem and I am already in optimized mode and have checked all the above recommendations.

In my case, I tap the share icon from an app and then selected "add to dropbox". And then I select the location I want the file to save in dropbox. Then in my notifications panel I see a progress bar showing the uplaod status. Everything sounds good so far, right?

Well that's where it stalls. The progress bar never makes any progress and the files never get to Dropbox. This is intermittent. Sometimes the files are successfully uploaded but many times it just hangs.

Any other suggestions?

Walter

Sorry to hear about this @uscpsycho.

How large is the file in question and what app are you using to import it to Dropbox? Do you have the quota needed to accommodate the said file(s)?

Spoiler

You can view your current quota usage on the following page:

https://www.dropbox.com/account/plan

Can you try this out on a different network and/or over cellular data and let me know if the behavior is the same?

Could you also forward me a screenshot of the problem as shown on your device?

Any additional information will be much appreciated!

Jeremy M.10

Walter, in February you wrote:
"Now, in regards to the matter at hand, kindly note that if you’re manually uploading files using the “+” (plus) button, uploads will only run while the app is in the foreground (in other words, it’s the app you’re actively looking at)."

I've tried all the battery settings I can find (stock s9+ with updates turned on), but no change. The file I'm uploading (over wifi) is under 300mb and I have plenty of quota space.

Why is this? I cannot think of a scenario where I would *not* want files to sync in the background. Ive got a slow connection (only about 0.75mbps upstream). I don't want to wait around staring at the Dropbox app for an hour while I upload a video or a scanned document that I want to share.

Is there any way to fix this? It's really annoying.

Thanks,
Jeremy

Lusil

Hey @Jeremy M.10,

From what I understand, you're trying to manually upload a file through your mobile app, but it's being added slowly, is that right?

As a first step, could you please clarify if you've tried connecting to a different WiFi connection? Do you see a change in behavior when enabling cellular data by any chance?

Any additional info and screenshots (without any personal info) illustrating what you're seeing would be very helpful so as to have a better understanding of your concern.

Thanks in advance!

Clarence D.

I had this problem on a Samsung S8.
I think it started with the update to Android 9, but I'm not certain. It used to work.

I moved to a Pixel 3 with Android 10, and I'm not having the problem.

It might have started after I enabled the battery optimization, but I was careful to have it set to not affect Dropbox, even cycling it in and off for Dropbox.

I rarely open the app on Android, except to give photos a bump. I think it was uploading photos eventually, just not soon. Maybe it only uploaded while the phone was unlocked?

Lusil

Hey @Clarence D.

Welcome to the Dropbox Community - let's see what we can do here.

Initially, thanks for checking your battery optimization settings!

Could you also have a look and see if you experience the same behavior when you have cellular data on with and without a WiFi connection?

Could you give a different WiFi network a try too?

Let me know what you find!

Rick G.20

Galaxy note 10 having this issue both on wifi and data connection. Pictures seem to upload find but video and audio files start to upload and then within a few seconds it stops. this seem to have started after the most recent update.

Lusil

Hmm. :thinking: Could you try toggling the option for uploading videos? Maybe that will do the trick.

To do this:

Open the mobile app.
Tap the menu.
Select Settings.
Under Camera Uploads, toggle the option Upload video off and on again.

Let me know if this helps, @Rick G.20!

Rick G.20

Won't this automatically upload everything to the camera uploads folder then? I had this feature off for over a year so I can manually upload only the items I wanted in the folder that I chose. I do not want everything automatically uploaded but if that is the only fix for now then I guess I will turn it back on. Please advise if the recent app upload changed something here because automatic camera uploads has been off for a year and working fine by manually uploading what I want and where I want. Please advise. Thank you