Dropbox stuck indexing 1,694 files on my Mac.

Hey @Dropbloke, sorry to jump in here, but could you try fixing your hardlinks and permissions as outlined here and let us know if syncing gets stuck at the exact same number of files again?

All comments

Jay

Hi @Dropbloke, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Could you confirm the version number of the Dropbox desktop application by hovering over the icon in the menu bar?

This will help me to assist further!

172.4.7555

Jay

Can you see which files are indexing according to the Dropbox desktop application? Are there any sync issues showing in the the options under the avatar on the top right?

No sync issues reported. It's been stuck at "1,694 files" for the last week. I don't think any new content syncs.

Hey @Dropbloke, sorry to jump in here, but could you try fixing your hardlinks and permissions as outlined here and let us know if syncing gets stuck at the exact same number of files again?

Followed that procedure, logged out, and logged in. Files synced but now I have 2 Dropbox locations on my computer - one in my favorites bar, but the Dropbox under locations is now gone. I can go to it manually, but it has different content.

Jay

If the Dropbox folder is in the CloudStorage location in Locations, when it should be visible. Could you attach a screenshot showing what you're seeing in Finder?

The desktop app prompted an update, which I did. Dropbox once again migrated over to the cloud storage location. Everything seems synced up and working properly now. I'm guessing it was the "Fix Hardlinks" or "Fix permissions" suggestion that did the trick, followed by the update. Thanks.

Hannah

Thanks for keeping us updated, @Dropbloke and I'm glad to see that the issue is now resolved.

If you come across this again, please let us know.

Have a great day!

cemilto71

Hi! I have an issue with syncing on one of my computers. Already more than a month my Dropbox app has been trying to sync 9 files but cannot. The app icon has a blue circle on it, when to tick, it shows "Syncing 9 files". Nothing is shown in "View sync issues" or could't find any file that is being synced in folders. Noway to find the problem and solve it. Please help!

Hey there, @cemilto71, I'd be happy to help!

Could you confirm both your OS and the version number of the Dropbox desktop application by hovering over the icon in the menu bar?

Have you tried fixing your hardlinks and permissions as outlined here? And if so, does syncing get stuck at the exact same number of files again?

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!

Mike G

My files will not sync to dropbox. They seem stuck when I click on the icon it just 6 files syncing. But this has beed going on for almost 24 hours now. I closed the excel file on my computer after I saved to dropbox, but then I went to open it and all I have is a 2 day old version. How do I get the correct copy to sync so I can access it. I saved a few times and I am concerned that even when the correct file syncs then it make sync another old one over the top of it. How do I get help with this?

Hi @Mike G, let's jump right into this!

Could you let me know the app's exact status and Dropbox version as shown in your system tray/menu bar?

Also, what is the OS that you're using? Can you click on your avatar in the app's preferences and then on the 'View sync issues' option?

Are there any files listed there?

Let me know what you find!

Benefiction

Hello - I'm having the same issue as Dropbloke (and it seems many others), but the "hardlinks and permissions" advice seems (if I'm reading it correctly) to be specific to Windows. I'm running Mac OS 13.6.3 (Ventura), and it was with the OS update that my Dropbox syncing failed (on my desktop with the new OS, not on my laptop which has not been updated). The computer moved my Dropbox files into a "Location", after which files I update on my desktop no longer sync to the dropbox cloud (and my laptop no longer has access to them). Files I update on my laptop **do** sync to the cloud - but are no longer automatically updated on my desktop.

Please help! The desktop has been stuck "indexing" its 1235 dropbox files for several days, and while I can open the files locally, I need to access them on my laptop as well.

EDIT: I reread the hardlinks and permissions instructions and was able to do it on the Mac. Then restarted the computer - and now... the little cloud icons no longer appear next to the names of my files in the desktop folder, so that's something, but the indexing remains stuck at 1235 files.

What's next?

Hey @Benefiction, I'd be happy to help!

If I understand the issue correctly, it seems that your Mac moved to the File Provider for macOS structure, moving your Dropbox path in ~/Library/CloudStorage, right?

If so, then please keep in mind that following a migration to the new Dropbox for macOS on File Provider, your files need to be re-synced. Depending on the amount of files you have in your Dropbox, this may take some time to complete.

How long has this been happening for?

It might be worth checking out the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article .

Let me know more, and we'll take it from there!

Benefiction

Hi Megan - that's correct, yes - Library/CloudStorage is where the files are now (and showing as such when I open the Sync tab of my preferences.

The files have been stuck indexing since Monday at least (on 1236 files - interesting to note that it was 1235 files, but then I added a file on my laptop. I can't see the new file on my desktop, it doesn't show up in my folder, but it's there on the web browser version of Dropbox because my laptop is still syncing with the cloud - and the desktop at least recognizes that the file exists in the cloud, but it doesn't make any progress on indexing/syncing it) - I've since quit/relaunched, then reinstalled Dropbox, fixed hardlinks and permissions, and restarted my computer at every stage.

No sync issues are reported - just indexing indefinitely. I'll take a look at the troubleshooting steps in the article you linked.

Hey @Benefiction, thanks for the rapid response!

Yes, please if you could also check the article, that'd be amazing although you did a great job troubleshooting this on your end too.

If you could also follow these steps to unlink and relink your computer:

-Right-click the Dropbox icon in the system tray, or menu bar, by the clock.
-Click on your profile picture or initials to the right of the search bar, and select "Preferences".
-Select the Account tab.
-Click the "Sign Out" button in the Account tab.
-Your Dropbox will then prompt you to re-enter your account information.

Benefiction

Well - this is fascinating. It seems to be working! Unlinking and relinking the computer has initiated a new sync, which is finally moving along. I can now see, on my desktop, the files that I updated this morning on my laptop (which I was not able to do before).

But... relinking the computer has synced all these files right back where they were before the ill-fated FileProvider / CloudStorage update! They're back in MacHD/Users/[username]/Dropbox. As far as I'm concerned, that's exactly where I want them (so long as the sync is working again), but... what was all this hullabaloo about this version of MacOS requiring me to relocate the files in Library/CloudStorage?

EDIT: Now, when I go into the Sync tab of my dropbox preferences, it states that I am not eligible for the File Provider update (which a week ago it insisted I undergo!). Again - completely fine, as it's syncing again. When I unlinked and relinked the computer it abandoned the Library/CloudStorage location. But the issue seems to have been resolved - I can update a file on my computer and the updated version will sync to my laptop, and vice versa. Thank you for your help, Megan!

Hey @Benefiction, sometimes upon unlinking, and re-linking the app this can happen.

It is a bit odd that it now states you're not eligible, however I'd be happy to look a bit into this, if that's something that you'd like.

All you have to do is let me know, and we'll jump right into this. In any case, I'm thrilled to know everything syncing-wise is back on track! 😎

Ralph Boustany

Hello, i have a problem in Dropbox and it's not syncing. The problem is that it's stuck in indexing plus syncing files for almost more than 24 hours without any change. How can i solve this issue?

Hannah

Hey @Ralph Boustany, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

I moved your post to a thread that's relevant to your issue.

Can you check the troubleshooting steps and the solution here and let me know if it helps?

I'm going to jump in here with a similar problem that I haven't been able to fix following the guideance in this thread.

- Windows 11

- Dropbox v193.4.5594

- I've tried the Fix Hardlines and Fix Permissons.

- I've uninstalled and reinstalled Dropbox

- I've rebooted multiple times.

Here are various snapshots of what I see for stats...

Indexing 633 568 755

Uploading 18 31 33

Downloading 2 2 2

(Each column represents a different snapshot in time after trying to reboot, reinstall, Fix Hardlinks, etc.) Downloading never changes whereas Indexing on its own will start counting down and eventually stop decreasing (and in fact cycle back and forth between increasing +1 or +2, then going back down the same amount, and then go back up)

Hey @gbonawitz - sorry to hear about this.

Could you try un-linking and re-linking your account through the app's preferences under the Account tab and let me know if syncing gets stuck at the same number of files again?

Hi Walter - when you refer to unlink and relink, are you referring to disassociating my computer from the account and then relinking to the computer? What I see under Account is "Unlink these accounts in Settings on Web". On the webpage I only see an item for linking Team accounts (which I don't think applies).

To un-link your account from the app's preferences, you'd need to click on the Sign out button in the 'Accounts' tab @gbonawitz

From there, you simply log in to your account anew.

Let me know how it goes!

Sorry if this is a duplicate - my response that I provided earlier is now showing here..

I tried what you suggested last night... but as of today I'm seeing:

Indexing: jumping from 6xx to 7xx and then back (and I'm not doing any file updates)

Uploading 12 (stuck there all morning)

Downloading 641 (stuck there all morning)

If I look at Sync History on my laptop I just see tons of files "Waiting to sync"... and nothing showing a progress bar like there's current sync activity for the file

Both at home and at work I have a very good connection. Furthermore, when I've had to swap laptops at work before (and reinstall DB + sync everything) it never takes this long.

Another data point: I just edited a file that had synced down to my computer. After editing and saving, I do see the updated copy avaialble on the cloud... but when I look at the clients metrics its now reading:

Indexing (jumping around 6xx to 7xx to 9xx and back to 6xx)

Uploading: 16 files (somehow that has grown even though I only edited one file AND confirmed that update is available on the cloud???!!!)

Downloading: 629

Thanks for the updates on this @gbonawitz

Could you maybe send us a screenshot of the app's status as shown in your system tray at the moment so that we can have a visual too?