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I can't open an Excel document stored in Dropbox through my iPad Pro.

Through the ‘Recents’ folder in Excel, I try to open an Excel doc stored in Dropbox, on my iPad Pro, I get a request or which asks if I want to link Microsoft Office Mobile with Dropbox. It asks which account I want to link with; I tell it. (I have a Personal Plus account). It briefly tells me, ‘working on it’ then jumps back to the ‘Recents’ files, without opening the doc. If I try to open it from Dropbox, via the App, the same thing happens. The App Center in Dropbox is no help at all, it indicates that MS Mobile is linked, and as far as I can see offers no way of linking a new App anyway. Dropbox Support is worse than useless; as a Plus account, I should have access to live chat, but I cannot find any reference to or way of accessing this. I have already wasted several hours with this run-around, and am stunned by the poor design of this whole site.

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Rich

@PPagan wrote:
Through the ‘Recents’ folder in Excel, I try to open an Excel doc stored in Dropbox, on my iPad Pro, I get a request or which asks if I want to link Microsoft Office ...

Just use the Files app and connect it to your Dropbox, then access the Files app within Microsoft Office or any other application. It's a much better experience, for any cloud storage service.

PPagan

Do you mean File Manager? I rarely use it; and I don’t understand how that will help me open an Excel file stored in Dropbox? I also don’t know how to link File Manger with Dropbox, I had a lot of trouble even finding the App Center on the Dropbox website. Why doesn’t it show up on any of the menus? Or search bars?

Megan

Hey @PPagan, let's jump right into this!

Does this happen with a specific Excel document, or all of them?

Have you tried uninstalling the apps, and then re-installing them again, by any chance?

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

Cori17

I’ve been having the exact same issue in the last few months. I’d always been able to go to Dropbox, recents, open my existing excel file in excel, and it would work. Now it goes through multiple pages . . . Eventually leading to an error opening your file. It’s been more than annoying. I will try some of these suggestions and see.

Walter

Hey @Cori17 - thanks for bringing this to our attention.

If you find that the issue persists, please send us a screenshot of the exact error you're getting so that we can have a visual too.

Hawkeye00

I did a screen video of the problem, but due to privacy concerns, I don’t want to post it here. Let me know how to get it to you. I can’t open from Dropbox into Excel. I can’t open from Excel navigating to the Dropbox file. I CAN open when, from Excel, I open the File program and go to cloud locations and choose the file there. You’ll notice the first time I try to open Dropbox from within Excel, it pops up a login window and then immediately closes it and says it fails. This only happens on the first time. I’ve tried uninstalling both apps and reinstalling fresh and signing in.

Megan

Hi @Hawkeye00, thanks for walking me through this.

Would you mind clarifying when did this first start?

Also, what is your exact OS and plan that you're currently using?

Keep me posted!

Cori17

My problem started sometime around October and I’ve basically had to avoid using Dropbox with excel. Unfortunately I manage my partners business with a spreadsheet that we share so I have to use all sorts of work around a to keep us using the same document. It’s absurd. I will send screenshots…I use a iPadOS 18.1.1. I believe I have Dropbox Plus. It’s worked smoothly for years! Then, horrible.

Cori17

I just went to Dropbox app, selected an excel file, hit open in excel and this time it takes me to my OneDrive (which I’ve resorted to using because Dropbox wasn’t working). But this file isn’t even in my one drive. It doesn’t show in the list of documents in my one drive. This is a new situation for me. I’m trying to attach the screenshot but the attach command won’t work.

Mark

Cori17 wrote:
But this file isn’t even in my one drive. It doesn’t show in the list of documents in my one drive

Have you checked what the default opening setting is within the iPad?

Hawkeye00

About the same for me as for @Cori17 . Seems like about a couple months back. I usually wait a few for updates to catch up as usually bugs are discovered and worked out but this one is persisting. How do I send you the screen recording?

Cori17

I don’t know where to find that. Please advise. But I’m in Dropbox. I select an excel file, I say open in excel. It used to show an error message that it couldn’t open the excel file. Now it takes me to my one drive where the document doesn’t reside. I haven’t changed any default settings.

Cori17

It happens to all excel files.

Hannah

Hey @Cori17 and @Hawkeye00, can you follow the below steps and let us know if they help?

Navigate to Excel/Microsoft app
Tap on person icon in top left corner
Tap 'Storage Accounts'
Tap 'Edit'
Remove desired accounts to ensure only 1 is connected
Retry opening MS Excel file from Dropbox app

Cori17

Someone posted this and it works for me.

Just use the Files app and connect it to your Dropbox, then access the Files app within Microsoft Office or any other application. It's a much better experience, for any cloud storage service.

Hawkeye00

I removed Dropbox from Excel "Storage Accounts" and then retried opening the file directly from Dropbox into Excel. It still almost works and then at the last it pops up anther login box for Dropbox and automatically dismisses it half a second later before you can even do anything and then says it fails. It's almost like Dropbox is requiring/requesting that Excel log in twice and the credentials don't persist after the first time.

AGAIN, I have a video (screen capture) of all of this and you can see with your own eyes what's happening if you'll just tell me how to get you a link to download it. Can you email/message me directly? I don't want to post the link on here for the whole world to see. I'm trying to help you help me! 😃

Megan

No worries @Hawkeye00! 😀

You've got a 📩 from me, I'll see you there!

Hawkeye00

Checked this morning. My inbox (here on dropboxforum.com) is still empty. Is that where I'm supposed to find your DM?

Nancy

Hi from me as well, @Hawkeye00! Megan has basically sent you an email, so you should be able to see her message when opening the inbox of your email address (the same email address that you see here).

If you still can’t see her email after that, please also check your spam folder.