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Files stuck "downloading", PC not syncing, CPU overloading!

A couple of days ago I noticed that my Dropbox sync was "downloading 11 files" for a long time. I could not figure out which files (because there's apparently no direct way to do so) but I went looking for blue or red sync icons. I couldn't really find anything because the icons would not all appear; windows explorer kept hanging while displaying the icons.

Today I noticed that nothing was syncing from this computer, and it was still stuck on "downloading 11 files". Exasperated, I removed a large mixed-state folder from local sync that I suspected was the problem. I ended up with "downloading 20 files" and still nothing syncing properly. (The folder I removed is still there, although Dropbox was very busy just after I removed it from local sync.)

There's now a huge drag on my system as Dropbox monopolizes my CPU. I can't even see the sync icons any more because Windows Explorer hangs indefinitely if I go to any icon view. I've had to turn off Dropbox just to use my PC.

I have: restarted Dropbox. Updated Dropbox to 91.4.548. Restarted my PC. I am on Windows 10. Thanks for any help!

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Karl H.4

In case someone in the future is having this problem: the Dropbox team helped me pinpoint the cause. Yahoo Groups recently offered to send a zip file of files from Groups that they were closing down, and I had unzipped this on my PC. However, these files had names ending with spaces, and once those get onto your system, Windows can't delete/move/rename them. Once I deleted them with a shell command, Dropbox stopped trying to sync them.

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Daphne

Hey @Karl H.4, I hope you're well today!

It seems that the app is trying to sync the files due to the high CPU usage, but is unable to process this. Can you try the following to see if this does the trick:

Click the Dropbox icon in your system tray.
Click the profile pic/initials icon in the top right of the window.
Choose "Preferences..."
Go to the "Account" tab.
While holding the Space bar key, click "Fix Permissions".

If this doesn't resolve the issue, please follow the steps again and instead click "Fix Hardlinks".

You'll get a little prompt when the action has been completed, and the app might need a short time just to apply the change and continue syncing so please allow a short period of time to see if there is progress in the sync status.

Let me know how it goes!

Karl H.4

Hi Daphne,

When I got to my other PC later, I was feeling optimistic because all of my file changes had synced. However, this morning I am "uploading 22 files, downloading 33 files" and Dropbox is still grinding the CPU. I'm relieved that it's at least syncing again, but something's still wrong. thanks!

Karl H.4

Another thing -- I downloaded a file on my other PC last night. I could see it on this PC this morning, but when I tried to open it, I got a pop-up in the lower right saying something about "Smart Sync download." The notification briefly showed that I was downloading 34 files instead of 33, and then it finished and I'm back to 33. What's up with that? I've never used Smart Sync.

Daphne

Thanks for the updates @Karl H.4!

Can you just clarify for me, did the syncing on your desktop app progress and finally show "up to date", or is it stuck again syncing a number of files?

Regarding the Smart Sync notification, it sounds like the file that you tried to open was synced to your device as "online only" rather than locally. Did you happen to see the sync icon before opening the file?

Can you check in the following location if the default for syncing new files on that device is set to "Local" or "Online only":

Click the Dropbox icon in your system tray.
Click the profile pic/initials icon in the top right of the window.
Choose "Preferences..."
Go to the "Sync" tab.
Check the settings "Sync new files as".

Keep me posted on your findings!

Karl H.4

Daphne,

I am still stuck at "uploading 22 files, downloading 33 files". It helpfully also tells me "(2+days)".

thanks

Daphne

Thanks for clarifying @Karl H.4!

I'd like to look into this in more detail with you, so I've reached out to the email linked with your profile here.

If you'd like to, please check your inbox when you have the chance and we'll take if from there.

Thanks!

Karl H.4

Daphne

Hey again @Karl H.4!

Thanks for taking the time to get back to me here with the details on what resolved this for you. I'm sure that this will be helpful for others having the same issue as you.

If you need anything else, please feel free to give me a shout here anytime.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your week!

rpbergman

I have the same problem, but your solution does not help.

When I go to the Account Tab, there is no "Fix Permissions" or "Fix Hardlinks" button to click at all. Only and option to unlink the Dropbox from my computer.

Daphne

Thanks for joining us @rpbergman!

Just to double check with you, when you go to the "Account" tab can you try clicking in the blank space in that window and then hold the space bar key to see if the options appear?

You may need to hold down the space bar key for a short amount of time before you see the option. Please be careful not to mistakenly unlink your account.

Can you let me know what the sync status is showing you exactly? Do you not see the number of syncing files decreasing at all?

Also, which version of the desktop app do you currently have installed?

Let me know what you find!

PKM

Daphne,

Same problem here. Status icon rollover showed:

Dropbox 95.4.441

Uploading 1 file...

Downloading 12 files (0.0 Kb/sec, 2+ days)

I could not get Dropbox to upload the 1 file or download the 12 files and my CPU was going crazy. I could never find any 'fix links' button under Account.

Here is how I solved it:

Found two folders without green check marks that are part of a higher-level subfolder that is shared. These subfolders were created by the other person I shared with. First, I unshared the higher-level folder that includes the two unsynched folders (I let the other person keep a copy). I then closed DropBox and moved the higher level folder to my Desktop (outside of DropBox). I then re-opened DropBox and after a fairly lengthy process of syncing, it now shows "Up to date" and my CPU is no longer going crazy. Dropbox re-downloaded the folder I had moved to my Desktop. I deleted the folder that Dropbox had downloaded and moved my copy of that folder from Desktop back to where it was in DropBox. After DropBox indexing and re-uploading the contents (about 70 files and subfolders), Dropbox is now "Up to date". I will now re-share the same subfolder and hopefully the problem will not happen again.

perdomini

I am still with the problems after trying every thing on this post. It´s worst now, I unchecked the folders on selective sync and when I checked then back, they just say "downloading 3000 files" and does not do anything.

It´s only on one of my synced devices, the others works just fine...

Please help.

Brandy S.4

I am also having this problem. I have smart sync enabled. There is nothing that appears when I try to hold down the space bar. (Could that be a Mac vs Windows problem??? I'm running Windows 10 on my PC) I'm stuck with Dropbox saying it is downloading 49.853 files, and my CPU is so overwhelmed that it is slowing everything down exponentially and/or making it where the program shows as Not Responding. I've attempted to change the settings and basically make everything Online Only so it would stop attempting to sync files across devices.... That isn't working either.

PLEASE HELP.

Brandy S.4

And could someone PLEASE update this thread so it no longer says "SOLVED" because obviously, there's multiple people who are having issues and the posted solution hasn't worked.

PKM

Try this: Stop all syncing. Go to File Explorer and see which folders that are in Dropbox do not have a green checkmark (not synced). Move the unsynced content to a place on your hard drive that has no DropBox shared folders. Simply unselecting the folder in selective sync does not seem to work. Then restart DropBox syning again. Do not use Selective Sync setting. Actually move the files. If that still does not work, look for more files/folders without the green check mark that should be synced but are not. Move those. Eventually, you should be able to run DropBox sync and it should say Up to Date. If copies redownload from others' shared folders, see if that works. If not, delete those files/folders (make sure you are deleting only files/folders you previously copied). Then DropBox should work again. Then start copying back the previously moved files/folders to their original place, which should reset them in DropBox. I found that this hack worked. The only other issue you might check is if a file name used by you or others is too long. Or, if you place a shared folder at the end of a long list of senior subfolders. If I shortened the offending file name or moved the shared folder to a more senior level folder position, that seemed to solve the sync problem. Hope this helps.