Child Item

Can't import or preview "Available Offline" files on Mac

Hi, I recently upgraded my Macbook Pro and Dropbox is not working for me in the way it has on my previous computer. I set my files to "Available Offline" since I usually need my files without internet access. I'm now having 2 consistent issues with image files specifically:

- When I am in Finder, I can't see a preview image of any of my files - I have to double click and open my files in order to see them. Only after I open them in Preview or Photoshop can I then see a preview of the file in Finder.

- I am having trouble linking files in InDesign; virtually all of my links need to be updated and every time I try to update or import a new link, I have to first open the file in Preview or Photoshop like above, otherwise I get a "Import Failed" message in InDesign.

There are no reported syncing issues when I check in the Dropbox app. I'm running macOS Ventura 13.3.1. Any advice much appreciated!

Find more posts tagged with

Desktop

Preview

Mac

Insightful

Comments

Megan

Hi @SuperetteStudio, let's jump right into this!

Now, based on the first issue you mentioned about the previews of these files when they are available offline: it'll sound trivial, but have you tried rebooting your device?

Feel free to also let me know the version of the app that you're using on your end. You can find this by hovering your mouse over the little Dropbox icon, on your menu bar, next to your WiFi.

When you make these files available locally, do you notice the same behavior? The same thing applies to your second issue with InDesign: do you notice the same error when files are synced locally?

It's important to also note, that we're still working actively for the Dropbox new macOS full support on our end, which might affect how third-party apps open your files. You can see more about this here.

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

SuperetteStudio

I did try rebooting and it does not solve the issue. I can see previews of files that are available locally on my computer (i.e. in Document, Downloads, etc), but not in the Dropbox app in Finder. In InDesign, I have the "always save preview images" checked in preferences, yet I am still not able to see a preview in the Dropbox app. The app version I am using is 173.4.6706 which says it is up to date.

Rich

@SuperetteStudio wrote:
When I am in Finder, I can't see a preview image of any of my files - I have to double click and open my files in order to see them. Only after I open them in Preview or Photoshop can I then see a preview of the file in Finder.

Are you sure the file has been marked as Available Offline? I ask because the behavior you've described sounds like the file is marked as Online-only; the preview isn't available because the file isn't local. Right-click one of the files that you can't preview and select Make available offline. Make sure you see a solid green circle with a white check mark on the file, then try the preview again.

SuperetteStudio

I have the sync settings to "Available Offline" for all my files; however yes it seems that all my files are acting as online only. When I right click them and click make available offline, the preview appears. My issue is that I have thousands and thousands of files, I can't manually go through them all and either open them up or click 'make available offline'. Why wouldn't my files just be available if I have them set to 'offline' in my sync settings?

Rich

@SuperetteStudio wrote:
I have the sync settings to "Available Offline" for all my files; however yes it seems that all my files are acting as online only.

If that was a setting you changed in the Preferences of the Dropbox app (when that setting was still available) then note that that setting doesn't apply to existing files, only new files that are synced down to the computer. Also, if you're low on disk space or your files weren't explicitly set to Available Offline, they could become Online-only.

https://help.dropbox.com/en-us/installs/macos-support-for-expected-changes

You likely need to select all of your files and mark them as Available Offline.