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Unable to access Dropbox via Files App on Apple iPad

My husband is unable to access Dropbox via the 'Files' App on his Apple iPad. This appears to be since the latest Dropbox app update on 6 April to Version 230.2.2 I have the same Dropbox account on my iPad and haven't updated the Dropbox app and I can still open and edit Dropbox files via the Files App. Any suggestions as to how I can get it working again? Thank you

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Megan

Hey @TracyMB, I hope you're doing well this Monday!

Does your husband get any errors when trying to access his content through the Files' tab on his iPad? Let me know the steps your husband takes when trying to access his content.

Is he able to view the content under "Photos" but not under "Files"?

Thank you for gathering this info, and letting me know!

TracyMB

Hi @Megan,

Thanks for the comment. When he clicks on the Apple ‘Files’ app, he gets a list of ‘locations’ which are iCloud Drive, Dropbox, ‘On my iPad’, Adobe Document Cloud, and Recently Deleted. When he clicks onto the Dropbox tab, he now gets the error message ‘Content Unavailable. The folder contents could not be displayed because of an unknown error. Try again’.

Nothing happens when you click the ‘try again’ link.

This problem has only recently occurred and it seems it is since his iPad automatically updated the Dropbox app on 6 April. I haven’t updated my app and have the same Dropbox account on my iPad and I can still open Dropbox files through the Files app.

I’ve been on a chat with Apple Support and everything is set up correctly for the Files app and they were of the view that the problem was with Dropbox.

I have deleted and then reinstalled the Files app but that didn’t rectify the problem.

I’d appreciate any help in getting this working again or if you know whether this is a problem with the latest Dropbox update.

I’ve attached a screenshot of the error below.

Megan

Hey @TracyMB, thank you for the details you have provided!

I have to admit this seems more like a Files' app issue, rather than Dropbox. But let's try something first.

Can you clear Dropbox's cache, then uninstall and re-install the app, to see if the issue remains?

To clear the cache on your Dropbox app.

Tap the hamburger icon (three horizontal lines) in the upper-left corner of the screen
Tap the gear icon labeled "Settings" at the botton of the menu list
Scroll to “Privacy” & select “Clear cache"

Let me know of any updates!

Dreaming_4_research

Hello,

I have the very same problem as @TracyMB. Furthermore, the same problem exists with Goodnotes, that is trying to "Import"

files from Dropbox within the Goodnote App. I can still "Export" from the Dropbox app to Goodnotes, but that is much less convenient.

As @TracyMB states, this problem is "recent" (say, past ~2 weeks). However, I have to say that the same problem arose sometime in the Fall 2020 (I forget when), stayed for a few weeks, and then disappeared (presumably when an update was made to Dropbox -- I am assuming the problem is with Dropbox since the "Content Unavailable ..The folder contents .. unknown error. Try Again" occurs with both the File App and the unrelated GoodNotes app. I do not understand what Lori Dropboxer says to address the problem. I have no hamburger on the top left of my screen, etc. Any further suggestion, advice Lori? To: @TracyMB; has your husband been able to solver the problem? Thank you. Dropbox_4_research.

Hannah

Sorry to jump in here, @Dreaming_4_research. Happy Monday!

If you want to clear the cache on the iOS Dropbox app, you should be able to find the option if you navigate to the "Personal" tab, then tap the gear icon in the upper-left corner of the screen and then select “Clear Cache”.

Let me know how that works out for you.

Dreaming_4_research

Thank you for the suggestions.

To be clear, I have an Ipad runing OS 14.4.2 right now.

I cleared the cache on the Ipad:

- Going to the Dropbox app.

- Going to the top left gear icon and tapping on it. No personal tab there.

- Under the (boldface) "Privacy" item (below Passcode lock, Support, Dropbox), third item is "Clear cache".

- I clicked on "Clear cache".

- I restarted the device.

No go; it still displays the same "Content Unavailable".

Hannah

Thanks for keeping me updated, @Dreaming_4_research!

Other than clearing the Dropbox cache, have you tried uninstalling the Dropbox app, restarting the device and then reinstalling it, to see if it helps?

Let me know how it goes!

Dreaming_4_research

Hi Hannah,

Deleting the Dropbox app, turning off the Ipad device, restarting it and reinstalling Dropbox worked.

I can now directly access Dropbox directly from the "File app" and "GoodNotes" (via a left dropbox menu that pops up when trying to import a file from Dropbox). Thank you! That worked!

Any idea of what may have caused this to happen?

As I wrote, it happened once, but it "cured itself" just by itself when a new update of the OS was done.

This time, it did not.

I suspect it's a problem with Dropbox that it's not able to "get through" with its current app on Ipad whenever the OS gets automatically updated.

Thanks again.

TracyMB

I have tried all the suggestions and it still doesn’t work. I’ve now transferred my files from Dropbox and onto iCloud Drive which is working perfectly. I am still strongly of the opinion that the problem lies with the last Dropbox app update.

Dreaming_4_research

I would tend to agree with TraceyMB.

A colleague of mine had similar issues with Dropbox and interfacing with the Ipad Files app. Switching to ICloud solved his problem.

Also, the fact that the same error message is returned from Goodnotes (unrelated to Dropbox or Ipad os) and the Apple File app does suggest the issue is inherent to Dropbox. My previous comments about how the problem arose, "disappeared just like a miracle", and resurfaced does suggest also a relationship between compatibility of the Dropbox app on Ipad and updates of the Ipad os).

I would prefer to see Dropbox work smoothly than using ICloud since I share files on Dropbox with dozens of colleagues worldwide.

In short: the problem is a pain and I sure hope I don't have to uninstall & reinstall Dropbox routinely, this is also is a concern given what TraceyMB says that this approach did not work for her.

guylaine

I'm having the same issue on iPad with iOS 14.7.1.

This is frustrating, I am wasting a lot of time trying to access files that should be right there. I also access files from iCloud drive, Google drive, OneDrive and DEVONthink to go. I have zero problem with those other services. Only Dropbox is not working.

I've reinstalled Dropbox which fixed the issue, but as other users mentioned, surely hope I don't have to do this periodically. We'll see a long the fix lasts...

Dreaming_4_research

I agree with Guylaine. It's definitely an issue with Dropbox. The fact that Goodnotes and Apple Files experience the same problem does indicate that it's a Dropbox issue. [PS: Are they going to fix it???]. Two things I noted:

1. I think I noticed that the problem arises when one tries to import files "directly" within the app (e.g. Goodnotes or Apple Files) -- where the files do not show being listed). However, if you go straight to the Dropbox App, then the files do show and one can bring in the file on the device (e.g. IPad) through the Dropbox App and not from the secondary App (e.g. Apple Files) wanted to be used. Perhaps that speak to an interfacing problem between Dropbox and various Apps and the ability to Dropbox "to pass" the file(s) internally from Dropbox to the App.

2. On the following, I am much less sure: Just today, I was downloading some files that were on Dropbox straight into Goodnotes. Did it 3-4 times; no problem. Try a 5th time for another file. No file showing into the "Browse" mode. Nothing shows up (nevermind that the file I was trying to download was in a subfolder of Dropbox with other four files, two of which I had just 30 seconds earlier downloaded no problem!!?). Now here is the magic that I have, I think, noticed 3-4 times thus far. If I keep messing around; nothing happens and I'm stuck (as Guylaine comments) having to remove Dropbox, reinstall, reboot the Ipad and ... now it works. HOWEVER, I found that if the very first time/instance things stuff working, I just shut down (Turn Off Slide Bar on Ipad) the device, and restart 5 seconds later, when I go back to Goodnotes, the App reconstructs its library and now ... the files that were mysteriously not showing 20 seconds earlier (as I wrote above), NOW show up and I can download them. This may work for the next 2-3 days, or the next 7-14 days -- who knows?! Somehow, as files get downloaded and passed onto the App from Dropbox, something/sometimes get's messed up and all files on Dropbox stop showing. Rebooting (not just pushing the "ON/OFF" button, but truly shutting down the device with the "Power Off Slide Bar" (pushing the "ON/OFF" button WITH the volume control) seems to fix it... Crazy!?! It's still a pain, but at least, one has to contend with this remedy for 20-30 seconds pain -- as opposed to uninstall Dropbox and/or the App and reinstall everything (5+ minutes). Lots of my colleagues are moving away from Dropbox because of this Issue and going to ICloud, etc...

guylaine

Very nice find Dreaming!
I just tried what you mentioned above, and pressed the on/off button (without turning off the iPad), logged back in, and low and behold, everything was working!! I didn’t even close and restart any apps (Dropbox, Files, Liquidtext, which is what I’m having trouble with). Took literally 3 seconds.
Oh and I agree with everything else you explained: this is exactly what I’m experiencing with LiquidText.
Anyways, big thanks! I can finally stop wasting time on this 🙂

guylaine

OK scratch that previous post above. It doesn’t work. This problem is recurrent and just won’t go away. Every dam* week I lose about an hour trying to fix this: close Dropbox app, close Files app, redownload, rename, move, restart iPad… Eventually it works, but I have no clue what makes it work, other than « time ».

I pay for Dropbox. I don’t have time for this. I just want to be able to access basic PDFs through the Files app. I have an hour of reading to do and what happens? I spend it on troubleshooting something that should just work. It shouldn’t be that complicated. Please fix this. Or I’ll move everything over to iCloud. I’m sure Apple will be happy to take my money.