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Why do I keep seeing a 'Waiting to upload' message when trying to upload files to Dropbox?

All day i have been trying to upload photos, however there is no upload activity. All i keep seeing on the photos i want to upload is "Waiting to upload". I have tried to upload the photos through my wifi and mobile data but wouldnt work. I have tried to upload different photos but wont work. I am using my iphone to download to dropbox and have turned my phone off/on but wont work. I have deleted my app and downloaded it again but it wont work. I have signed out/in again but wont work.

Can someone please tell me how to make it work!!!!

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Walter

Hey Stephen - sorry to hear about this.

As a last step, could you please try to clear the cache on your app and then sign out and back into your Dropbox account?

To clear your cache, please follow the steps listed below:

1. Navigate to the “Account” tab
2. Tap the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the screen
3. Select “Clear Cache”

Once this is done then please ensure you log out of the Dropbox application one last time and then restart your device and log back in again.

Let me know ifLet me know if you're still stuck with the "waiting to upload" message and I'll reach out via email to your Dropbox associated address so we can work on it together.

Thanks!

PS: I'm assuming that you've already updated your mobile's OS and our mobile application to their latest versions, right?

Mod note: edited to update the instructions [last updated 2022]

All comments

Walter

Hey Stephen - sorry to hear about this.

As a last step, could you please try to clear the cache on your app and then sign out and back into your Dropbox account?

To clear your cache, please follow the steps listed below:

1. Navigate to the “Account” tab
2. Tap the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the screen
3. Select “Clear Cache”

Once this is done then please ensure you log out of the Dropbox application one last time and then restart your device and log back in again.

Let me know ifLet me know if you're still stuck with the "waiting to upload" message and I'll reach out via email to your Dropbox associated address so we can work on it together.

Thanks!

PS: I'm assuming that you've already updated your mobile's OS and our mobile application to their latest versions, right?

Mod note: edited to update the instructions [last updated 2022]

stephengrace

Everything is back working now. Thank you Walter

Walter

Glad to hear this worked Stephen!

If you ever stumble upon a Dropbox question or any issue arises, please let us know.

In the meantime, thanks for using Dropbox and enjoy the rest of your day!

mr8675309

This solution did not work for me. I still have the "waiting to upload" message on my three uploads. This is quite frustrating.

Walter

Ah, I think I just replied to you on another thread @mr8675309 - could you confirm if you've already cleared your cache?

While we're at it, could you try another network other than the one you used so far?

Keep me posted please!

Sam-htg

Hello Walter,

I had the same problem as Stephen but for a video.

I tried the 3 steps listed above but problem persist.

The video is only 16 Mo, exported with Resolve in AAC 192 Kb/s audio and H.264 codec (5000 Kb/s).

When exporting, it's loading endlessly.

Looks like a deadend, I need help to solve this.

Wouldn't expect that exporting a 25 sec video to instagram would be so difficult !

Walter

Hi @Sam-htg - how are you today?

I'm sorry to hear you're having issues with exporting this specific file to Instagram; have you tried renaming it and exporting anew or exporting it through your Offline Files tab within our mobile app?

Can you also restart your mobile device and/or try another network or over cellular data if no wifi is available and let me know if you're still getting the same results?

Another thing to check here is if you're running the most up to date version of our mobile app and your mobile's OS so please check for any pending updates (and apply them) too.

Let me know what you find and we'll take it from there.

quhinlweknrthw

I keep having to do this. Do I really have to delete the cache, log out, restart my phone, log back in every time I want to upload something? Makes this app pretty worthless.

Haruspex

My iPhone does the same. Until now clearing the cache (which is very frustrating to do 10 times a day) solved it, now nothing works. From Photos app I can upload instantly, but only one by one. When I select more than one picture the option to save to dropbox disappears.

lolabarri

@walter

Having this same issue. I've tried all the steps mentioned in the thread. Vidoes will upload but pictures just sit there doing nothing. Definitely very frustrating. Been using dropbox for years and have never had this problem before. It's been like this for 2 days now.

Walter

Hi @Haruspex & @lolabarri - thanks for your reports.

Could you confirm with me that you're running the most updated version of your mobile's OS and our app's most recent build (found within your mobile's app store)?

Also, does it happen when on wifi or cellular data or maybe both?

Any additional information you think might help our investigation is more than welcome!

Thank you and happy Monday!

lolabarri

Yup, everything is updated. Cache is cleared. Logged out and and in. Even deleted and re uploaded app. Turned phone on and off. Have tried WiFi and data. Still won’t upload photos, they just sit there. Video will upload though.

Kay19

Hi! I am experiencing the same problem at the moment (since yesterday). I have tried clearing my cache, signing out of dropbox, and restarting my iphone, again and again. I have good internet connection at home. Still, not working. I am unable to upload my photos now. Please help.

Haruspex

Except reinstalling the app I tried everything as @lolabarri .

Maybe something with the heic-jpeg conversion? The Photos app does it automatically in the background.

ED2020

Issue just started for me on 1/21/2020. Tried clearing cache, logging out, back in, ensured version is current, iOS is up to date, deleted app, logged in again, tried two different wifi connections as well as cellular and even renamed file. Issue appears to be when I open Dropbox and attempt to upload photo from app - it will never upload (“Waiting to Upload.”) However, when I go to iPhone and select photo, and option to upload to Dropbox - it works. Upload from app appears to be broken, for me.

Walter

Hi All!

I wanted to give you an update on this and let you know that the team is aware and we're actively looking into this.

It might take a while until the fix is pushed server-side so you may expect to see it in the next version of the app.

Apologies for any inconvenience and thank you all for your reports. It's you after all who's making Dropbox better day by day!

test1234567

please fix this, it's making my paid plan worthless. thanks.

Walter

Hi @test1234567; are you still having issues with this?

If so, what version of our mobile app are you running on your device?

amzk

Same problem.. two days with a simple video stuck in “waiting to upload.” I have tried all troubleshooting and I have one of the more expensive monthly plans that I am now starting to look for alternatives to because uploading to Dropbox should not be this hard. I have never had trouble doing this before or had to troubleshoot doing one of db’s main functions. Very very unhappy.

fletchermail

Has Dropbox responded with a solution yet? This problem persists, yet it doesn't look like Dropbox staff have touched this issue in months, meanwhile users can't upload certain files that they need to save and send. Dropbox, can you send us any updates on this?

Walter

Hi @fletchermail; I'm sorry for the late reply.

If you're still having issues with this, could you provide a screenshot of the error you get and let me know the exact OS and build of the device you're noticing this on?

Thanks a bunch!

AylaLive

This seemed to have fixed the issue, but please flag that it will remove all of the items in your waiting to upload queue. I lost 145 items waiting to upload!

Christopher1020

Clearing the cache and signing out helped, but only temporarily. Now I have to continually do this. Why?

Thanks!

Jay

Hi @Christopher1020, if you're not on a Dropbox Basic plan with more than 3 devices connected, could you try uninstalling the app, rebooting the device, and then reinstalling it to see if this helps?