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Moving files when offline, become inaccessible

When not connected to the internet, I recently discovered that moving files into a dropbox folder, render them unusable while offline. It appears to be trying to sync them, but obviously can't, while offline. However I then can not open the files or subsequently move them elsewhere. I just get an infinite "copying" progress bar.

When computer is back on the internet, then files then sync as normal, but this is a huge show stopper, and resulted in a days work lost, as I couldn't open the files I needed. Please remember that not everywhere has 24 hour access to the internet!

I am now transitioning to using a NAS. This just can't happen again.

This never used to be a problem, however this seems to now be a problem after updating the mac desktop app and it moving my Dropbox folder to the library folder.

Also, now the app seems to continuously sync, even when closed (by choosing quit from the menu). I need to control bandwidth use, and will use the "pause sync" instead, but this is another change I discovered the bad way!

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Hannah

Hey @lucidlight, thanks for reaching out to the Dropbox Community about this.

We do appreciate your feedback here, but I'd really like us to look into this.

Can you let us know which version of the Dropbox app you're using, by hovering over the Dropbox icon in your menu bar?

Also, please send us a screenshot showing what you see, when you try to open a file in your Dropbox folder while offline.

And another screenshot showing how the app is trying to sync, even if you quit it.

Once we have this info, we'll be able to look further into this.

Cheers.

lucidlight

This continues to be an issue. At this point Dropbox is basically broken for me, since I spend extended periods of time offline without internet.

Please note that this is only an issue on Mac. The windows dropbox app doesn't have this issue.

Running v170.4.5895

Added screenshots showing green ticks on previously synced documents that open fine when the dropbox app is closed. However when moving a new document to a dropbox folder when dropbox is closed/offline, results in the exclamation cloud icon. On trying to open the document I get the other screenshot "Sync paused", and I'm unable to open the file until I go online.

The dropbox app doesn't quit like it used to. I seems to be still running after choosing "quit dropbox"

Screenshot 2023-03-24 at 12.43.50.jpg

Screenshot 2023-03-24 at 12.44.01.jpg

Jay

Hi @lucidlight, what is the current location of the Dropbox folder?

Is the Dropbox desktop application still running when you view the Force Quit options?

lucidlight

No, it doesn't show up in force quit. But there is clearly still some process running in the background.

Hannah

Hey @lucidlight, thanks for this info and apologies for the delay here.

Can we reach out to you via email, so we can investigate this further?

lucidlight

Sure

Walter

Hey @lucidlight, sorry to jump in here, but I wanted to mention that I've just sent you an email, so please take a look at your inbox and we'll take it from there.

Thanks!