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Dropbox Not Connecting With Files on iPadOS

I recently switched to an iPad for work but when using Dropbox accessed through the iPadOS Files app, I frequently (multiple times a day now) have to sit and wait for up to 15 minutes or so before Dropbox will load. After talking with Apple, they insist it’s a Dropbox issue (and granted I don’t have this issue with anything iCloud or Google related) but I’m not finding anything online either.

When you go to the Files app and select Dropbox the issue occurs either at that level or after a few more folders in. When you try to load anything from dropbox (where is always different so not related to just one folder or file) it doesn’t respond for several minutes. After several minutes go by (always a different amount of time as far as I can tell) the file or folder will finally load and be usable. On times that I have already loaded some of Dropbox first, all that information still appears to be available but Dropbox has become unusable until it catches up again.

There is more than enough space available in Dropbox and the internet speed is very fast.

Any ideas for how to fix this issue (other than “don’t use the Files app”?

Thanks!

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Hannah

Hey @colonialchurch, thanks for letting us know about this.

Do you have the most recent version of Dropbox installed on the iPad and do you also have the latest version of iPad OS on the device?

Have you tried restarting the device, to see if that helps?

Keep me posted!

colonialchurch

Thanks @Hannah!

Yes to all 3. I have auto-update turned on for both apps and iPadOS. It has been going on for most (if not all) of my time using Dropbox and Files together on this iPad Pro. Yes to restarting. Unfortunately there isn’t a consistent result after restarting the iPad so that doesn’t seem to resolve it. It didn’t seem to be an issue immediately but it wasn’t long before I just understood that was a hiccup I wasn’t able to fix yet. It also seems to be getting worse (happening more frequently if not almost every time, taking longer to “re-connect”).

Hannah

Hmm, I see, thanks for trying!

The thing is that accessing Dropbox through the files app is more Apple, than it is Dropbox.

But do you perhaps have a lot of files in your Dropbox or very large files? Maybe that's why the files app takes a long time to load them all.

Maybe clearing the cache of the files app might help.

colonialchurch

I do have a lot of files in dropbox, but sometimes like today, it works immediately and has no issue. Other times (like normally anymore) it takes a while for them to appear. But there is no progress bar or anything like that to let me know it’s actually doing something so as far as I can tell it’s just stuck.

I understand the “it’s more of an Apple thing” but unfortunately they say the same thing from their end.

I’m not sure deleting the cache is possible for the Files app. Is there a way I don’t know of?

Walter

Hey @colonialchurch, sorry to jump in, but could you try another wifi network or cellular data if possible and let us know if you notice any difference?

Also, have the folders that load right away been opened before or not? If they've been already accessed at some point, they must have been cached somehow and that's why they load faster.

Let us know of any updates!

colonialchurch

No worries! Glad for extra thoughts!

It has done the same on my home network as well. Not sure I’ve tried it anywhere else or through the cell network that I can think of off the top of my head.

The folders that I can see immediately seem like they have to be cached or something. It picks up from wherever I was last and not starting over at the very base level of the account. So wherever I was before, that’s what it appears like but going anywhere from there doesn’t happen whether going into a folder deeper or going back to the parent folders.

Walter

Thanks for the additional information @colonialchurch - much appreciated!

May we reach out via email to have a further look internally at this point?

colonialchurch

For sure

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Walter

Thanks for the cooperation @colonialchurch

I just sent you an email to the email address that's associated with your profile here, on our Community.

Whenever you get the chance, please take a look at your inbox and we'll take it from there.

colonialchurch

Done!

3x3x3

I’ve had an issue with Dropbox on my iPad for as long as I’ve used both. I’m currently running 16.1.1.

The issue is when selecting Dropbox from the sidebar to attach or open a file from another app, it does not connect. It will work briefly after a restart.

Anyone else have this issue or a solution?

Megan

Hi @3x3x3, how are you today?

Can you walk me through the steps you follow on your end when this happens? Also, which Dropbox version are you using on your iPad?

Also, is this screenshot from your iPad's Files app?

Keep me posted!

3x3x3

Hi Megan - this particular screenshot is from Mail. However this occurs routinely with other apps as well, notably Safari.

Dropbox has been added to the sidebar; in Mail the process is simply selecting the 'add file' button. In Safari on various sites when prompted to upload an image a similar file selection window opens.

Selecting the Dropbox icon in the sidebar does not connect to Dropbox. I have removed/re-added the service but that does not solve the issue. Restarting the iPad solves the issue temporarily.

Dropbox version is whatever is current from software update.

Jay

Hi @3x3x3, does your Dropbox mobile app have a passcode enabled on it for security purposes?

3x3x3

It does not. I’ve also tried making specific files available offline, but the problem persists.

Walter

Hey @3x3x3, sorry to jump in, but could you try toggling off Dropbox from your iPad's locations in the Files app and then back on?

Let us know if you see any improvements afterwards.

GliderGuy

Same exact problem.
Issue has existed for multiple versions of the Dropbox app, multiple versions of iPadOS. Each time a new dropbox app or version of iPadOS is released I HOPE the issue will be resolved only to be disappointed since I expected a different result 🙂
It’ll work after a restart of the device, until it ‘hangs’ and then it won’t work again until after another restart. Force quitting the dropbox app, files app, or the app trying to save or attach a file to does not resolve. Only ‘fix’ is to restart the device again. It can be days or weeks between these forced restarts or mere minutes to hours before it hiccups and one cannot view/save any dropbox files via Files. This is an annoying issue with not much to be found online regarding the issue. Hazard a guess something in data exchange between dropbox & iPadOS/iPhoneOS hangs, has no error messaging/logging/recovery leaving users in the dark as to cause, fix, workaround.