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Persistent Dropbox pop-up notifications about files being online-only on Win11

frnkc-6

My Win11 Dropbox continues to hammer me with Popups that say:

"Sync Status These files are online-only. To Open them, first move them into your Drop box folder."

I traced some of these files to my \Dropbox\dropbox.cache folder. I deleted it.

The Popups just kept Popping.

I deleted Dropbox App on Win11 and Reinstalled it. That did not help.

The Popups just kept Popping.

I cloned my Dropbox folder to my OneDrive ... it continues always say it is uploading 89 files.

It makes no progress uploading the 89 Files.

The Dropbox Popups Just Keep Popping.

Is there a fix? Thank you ....

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Hannah

Hi there, @frnkc-6, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Which version of the Dropbox app do you currently have installed?

You can see that by hovering over the Dropbox icon in your system tray.

Keep me posted and we'll go from there.

frnkc-6

I'm using Dropbox version 2.38.165 on my current / clean Win11 PC.

My PC is vanilla. The only unsual thing I do is clone Dropbox from time

to time as a subdirectory in my MS OpenDrive so I can see it any ANY device.

As soon as I boot and log on, the Dropbox Popups start to Pop Up. Bing!@!!!

Incessantly. Interminably. Inexorably. Insanely.

Sync status

These files are online-only.

To Open them, first move them into your Dropbox folder.

The only relieve I have is to go Task Manager and END all things Dropbox.

Clearing the cache & Deleting Dropbox+Reinstalling Dropbox didn't help.

Nancy

Hi from me too, @frnkc-6! Can you please hover over the Dropbox icon in your system tray and send me a screenshot of what appears there?

I’d also like one more screenshot of the pop-up message you keep getting, so that I can investigate further.

frnkc-6

Hi Nancy

Hmm... I just booted my PC this am (there was a Win11 update late yesterday), and I don't see Pop Ups starting (Yet). Here are the Dropbox pics (and the 89 empty files OneDrive can't upload ... I think that's from my OneDrive Dropbox clone directory):

thanks!

Hannah

Thanks for the additional info and screenshots, @frnkc-6.

I'm happy to see that you're no longer receiving these pop-up notifications.

The sync status of the Dropbox app seem to be "up to date" as well, so hopefully, that will be the end of it.

If the issue does return, though, let us know!

frnkc-6

Hi Hannah

I was only "on" the computer a few minutes yesterday morning (when the PopUps stopped), and away from home the rest of the day. Today, 3/14/24, when I turned on the PC the Dropbox PopUps returned like hot popcorn. Same messages on the Popups AND same message on OneDrive: 89 files remaining.....

I'm almost sure it's related to the Dropbox Cache that

has a very similar number of files (and coded subdirectories that clearly

Dropbox creates on it's own):

Does this help?

Thanks!

Hannah

Hmm, can you go to your Dropbox preferences, @frnkc-6, in the "Sync" tab and send me a screenshot of the folder path of the Dropbox folder?

frnkc-6

Hi Hanna

I have no idea what you mean or how to locate:

"Dropbox preferences, @frnkc-6, in the "Sync" tab"

However, this JPG shows some of the repetitive temp files that I

strongly suspect are identical with Popup Events:

I do use the excellent 'backup program' SYNCBACK PRO to clone/update the native DROPBOX folder to my ONEDRIVE DROPBOX clone. Using the 'mirror' function, ir adds/deletes files on a 'most current file' criteria to mirror the source to the destination folders. Could that be part of the issue with my popups?

Thanks

Hannah

Thanks for that, @frnkc-6, it's really helpful as well.

As for the Dropbox desktop app preferences, you'll find the steps on how to access them in the hyperlink in my previous response and also here:

https://help.dropbox.com/account-settings/view-preferences

frnkc-6

Thanks, Hannah ....

I do think the problem is 'synch' of the directory "dropbox.cache" from Dropbox to my OneDrive.

I there fore used the file-name utility "SwiftSearch' (great tool) to locate all places where "dropbox.cache" existed on my PC. I deleted all of them, and then I re-set my SynBack Pro "mirror" backup utility to ignore the "dropbox.cache" in my main Dropbox folder. I CCLEANED leftover debris on the PC, rebooted, and so far .... no popups ... so far.

The answer?? Do NOT Synch "dropbox.cache" from Dropbox to any cloud account.

Maybe I stomped on this bug.

I'll let you know if they come back.

Thanks!

Megan

Thanks for the heads up @frnkc-6!

Definitely keep an eye on it, and update us if you notice the pop-up returning!

VesaJuvonen

I have exactly the same popups and Onedrive syncing messages (syncing 89 files), all the time!
It is time for you to resolve this.

This problem does not exist on any other computers but one

UptownPulp

@VesaJuvonen

Upon checking in for updates, I've noticed they locked the main thread with no final update, resolution, or response. So, it appears they don't care to fix it. We narrowed down the issue and it seems to me like it should be an easy fix, yet their stance is that Dropbox is not meant to be backed up by another cloud service. Sorry...