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Extremely slow file moves and deletion using File Explorer

stolan2

I have DB locally, with most files set to on-line only, but the recently used ones local. When trying to move files between DB folders using File Explorer, it is excruciatingly slow. I do not see this behavior using the Web, just Explorer. Occasionally, the files move at normal speed, but mostly, the slow behavior occurs. This can happen with one small file or a group of document files. Deleting or renaming a file(s) has the same issue. I have plenty of CPU, space available locally and on DB. I've restarted, uninstalled and reinstalled DB with no success.

It is making me literally unable to work and I don't want to constantly go to the web as it defeats the purpose of having a local folder. Any ideas?

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Hannah

Hey @stolan2, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Are you seeing this behavior with other processes as well, like uploading or downloading files? Or just the ones you mentioned?

Also what's the sync status of your Dropbox app? You can see that if you hover your mouse over the Dropbox icon in your system tray.

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

stolan2

Thanks for your help! I'm only seeing this behavior with dropbox and there hasn't been any synch issues when it occurs

Megan

Hi @stolan2!

Do you mind clarifying the version of the Dropbox app you have installed on your device?

It should look something like this: ******.3.****** or ******.4.******.

Also, does this happen with all of your files, no matter what their size is?

stolan2

the version is 139.4.4896

This happens with all DB files, regardless of size. While this is occurring, I can move-copy-rename files that are on my computer and outside of the DB folder with no problem.

I am actually dealing with this right now. I just moved a small Word file already in DB to a different DB folder using Explorer. It moved quickly, with no problem. A minute later, I tried to rename the file and 5 minutes later, it just finished (they usually finish eventually, but it can take hours and cancelling doesn't always work or takes just as long). While waiting I moved and renamed two other files that are local, but not in DB, with no problem. This behavior only occurs with moving-copying-renaming and deleting files that are already in DB. Copying an external file into the local DB folder using explorer is fine, the behavior only occurs with files in DB.

Megan

Let me ask one more thing, @stolan2!

Do you keep all of your files locally synced? Do you use selective or Smart Sync, for example?

I'm mentioning this in case you have a high amount of files synced locally, as this could significantly slow down the program.

stolan2

the files are set to be online only using smart sync. I also try to go in once a month and reset everything to online only to limit the files I've accessed that are now local

Hannah

Do things improve, if you use selective sync to remove some folders from your Dropbox folder?

stolan2

I'm hesitant to even try this. The point of using smart sync is so that I can see all of my files and access them from one location, even if the files are set to "online only". I can't imagine that I have so many files, compared to large businesses, that this would be an issue. If smart sync does improve the situation, will that be your solution? Because that's not going to work for me

Hannah

Sorry for the delay here!

I was actually referring to selective sync, which will help lessen the app's load and basically help it perform better.

Would you mind trying to see if that will help? And we'll go from there.

stolan2

Sorry, I mistyped. I am already using Smart Sync.

I was referring to your suggestion to switch to Selective Sync as this is not a viable option for me. Our company has a relatively small number of files, so I can't imagine this would be the issue. Having to test this means spending the time to have DB remove all of the files it is no longer syncing, then I will need to re-add them. My computer will essentially be unusable during this. Is there anything else that can be tried or logs looked at to determine what the issue is?

Jay

Hi @stolan2, do you have any third party apps that might monitor the Dropbox folder in some way, which could be causing this delay?

Have you tried temporarily quitting the desktop app, moving one file to a different location, and then seeing if the issue persists which the app isn't running?