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Slow opening of Dropbox files on a new Chromebook

I switched to a chromebook this month from a pc. I use dropbox for all my storage. I have setup dropbox in my folders and get to my dropbx files. but they open very slowly. I have also used google drive as a test and those files open almost instantly.

Does chromebook not like to work with Dropbox

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Sir_Reginald_III

I know this is an old post but I was having the same problem on my ASUS Chromebook (2022 version) and found a way to make the files load faster and appear with thumbnails. First, I deleted and reloaded the Dropbox App in order to assure I had the most recent version. I then went into the App Info Settings and set it to open in Dropbox instead of the default Chrome Browser setting. These simple steps seemed to have solved the problem for me and I hope it does for you or anyone else who stumbles across this post as I did.

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Hannah

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

Dropbox on a Chromebook doesn't really work as the desktop client does on a PC or Mac computer, it basically acts more like our mobile app.

Are you having this issue only with Dropbox? Are you having trouble opening other files on your Chromebox (apart from Google Drive)?

Can you access your files using our website as normal?

Keep me posted.

pamchromebook

The issue is with Dropbox only.

Google drive files open quickly

Jay

Hi @pamchromebook, are the files in Dropbox stored locally on the device, or are they online-only, meaning they have to be downloaded each time?

pamchromebook

Online only

Jay

Are you able to mark them as offline, so that the files are locally stored and thus faster to open?

pamchromebook

Sorry, no

This is a chromebook it has limited memory and is meant to use cloud only

Nancy

@pamchromebook, is it possible to make just a few files offline (that are small in size), and then try to access them again? This will help us isolate the issue more.

Thanks!

pamchromebook

we will try wednesday morning

pamchromebook

I cannot find that option to make the file available off line on the chromebook.

The slow opening is now sporadic and not consistent on all files.

I also note that the chromebook does not show a thumbnail for Dropbox files but does for Google drive files. Are you aware of that issue and are they working with you to fix the issue?

Megan

Hi @pamchromebook, I hope you enjoyed your weekend!

Keep in mind, that as Hannah mentioned, Chromebooks can't handle our desktop app, and the app installed there is mostly similar to the mobile app. Did you install the app via the Playstore on your device?

I'd also appreciate a screenshot showing me how the files are showing on your computer, in order for me to have a visual of this.

UberRat

I too are having this issue with slow opening.

When checking with the file option, google drive is there but no sign of Dropbox

If I open the Dropbox app, then the drive will appear. But while the file “header” is present, trying to load the file into a CNC (web-based) system, the file sticks on download (forever).

Sometimes, the system boots and loads Dropbox correctly, and then everything works as it should.

I’m guessing that the Chromebook tries to load Dropbox on startup - but doesn’t hang about, timeouts, and skips over it.

Walter

Hi there @UberRat - can you clarify the version of the Dropbox app you're using on your Chromebook?

Have you try reinstalling it by any chance? Also, is your browser up to date with its latest version?

Any additional information is more than welcome!

Sir_Reginald_III