Child Item

How can I make my Backup files available offline?

I am running Dropbox Backup on Sonoma 14.5 and in the past few days, suddenly none of my files are available offline.

ALL of my files have a green checkmark icon next to them.

SOME of my files have BOTH a green checkmark icon AND a cloud with an arrow next to them.

However NONE of these files are available offline. If I shut my wifi off, I can't access any of my files locally, regardless of icon.

I have been using Dropbox Backup since 2021 and all of my files have always been available offline. This is new behavior. I have already selected my Dropbox folder and clicked "Make available offline." All that did was add a green checkmark to all the files, but didn't actually make any of them available offline.

Any idea how to fix it? Thanks!!

Find more posts tagged with

Desktop

Sync

Mac

Dropbox Backup

Insightful

Closed - Partially Delivered

Accepted answers

dropitlikeitshot1

Well, it's a tale as old as time.

I restarted my computer this morning.

That jumpstarted the app to start syncing again, all of the cloud icons went away, and now everything has a green check icon and is available offline, just like I wanted.

All comments

Hannah

Hi there, @dropitlikeitshot1, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

What is the current sync status and version of the Dropbox app on your computer, please?

You can check that by hovering over the Dropbox icon in your menu bar.

Also, if instead of the Dropbox folder itself, you right-click and choose "make available offline" for the files themselves, do you see any difference?

Or if you just double-click them?

Let me know what you find.

dropitlikeitshot1

Dropbox 199.4.6287

Sync status is "Everything is up to date."

Files with a green checkmark do not have the option to make available offline, and double clicking them will only open them when I am online. Double clicking them does not open them offline.

Files with a green checkmark AND a cloud with an arrow icon do have the option to right click and make available offline, but that doesn't change the file's behavior. Still can't open them offline.

Hannah

I see, thanks for the update, @dropitlikeitshot1.

Can you also make sure that Dropbox has full disk access on the computer, to see if that helps?

dropitlikeitshot1

Full disc access was already enabled.

Hannah

That's pretty strange behavior, indeed.

Would you mind sending us a screenshot of the files in your backup folder, so we can take a look?

Please edit out any personal/sensitive info/file names from the screenshot, before uploading it.

dropitlikeitshot1

Nancy

Sorry to jump in here, @dropitlikeitshot1. Can you also upload a screenshot of what you see when trying to access one of your offline files? I'd like to have a visual and investigate further.

Also, can you provide the filepath of said file? You mention that these are backup files, but are they located within a folder that you've backed up this way to Dropbox?

dropitlikeitshot1

Here is the pathway to one of the files that has both a green icon and a cloud with an arrow.

If I shut my wifi off, I cannot open it. The cloud with an arrow turns into a pie chart.

The file opens automatically once I reconnect to wifi.

I will also note that there has been a change in behavior since this morning. Now files that ONLY have a green icon are in fact available offline. Earlier today those files weren't opening offline either. Now it seems the issue is only occurring with files that have both a green icon and a cloud with an arrow (which includes thousands of files).

dropitlikeitshot1

Well, it's a tale as old as time.

I restarted my computer this morning.

That jumpstarted the app to start syncing again, all of the cloud icons went away, and now everything has a green check icon and is available offline, just like I wanted.