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Dropbox won't show me the option to make content "available offline".

have installed Dropbox on two MacBooks. On the first one, I can download folders and make them available offline. However, this isn't working on this MacBook Air. I've already uninstalled and reinstalled Dropbox. Dropbox has full disk access on this laptop.

What is going wrong, and how can I resolve this?

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jor2

I've payed hundreds of euros to DropBox over the years...

Now I got a new macbook and the files won't online-only sync. The options don't show up, like they do on my old mac.

I've re-installed, gave acces and everything.

I cannot believe DropBox offers this as the only support form.. I didn't choose this software when there was no support, feels like such a ginormous let down.

Megan

Hey @jor2, thanks for posting here today!

What is the app's version that you're using, along with its syncing status at the moment?

Also, can you send us a screenshot of the options you see, when you right click on a file in your Dropbox folder? Does syncing work otherwise? If you add a file to your Dropbox folder, does it sync to your account on dropbox.com?

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

jor2

https://ibb.co/Gsy7C6P, https://ibb.co/w7tXjF7, here are links to the screenshots. There is nothing in the cue and the options don't show any dropbox related options, eventhough the dropbox folders are right there.

Megan

Hey @jor2, unfortunately we can't access the links due to privacy and security reasons.

Can you try to attach them here either by using the camera-like icon, or by pressing Command-V on your keyboard?

While you're at it, feel free to also try out these steps, to see if they make any difference.

mrjw

Issue: Right-click options menu missing in Mac OS Finder

Hey there, I am having this exact same issue on my 2024 Macbook Pro M4 Max after migrating from a 2019 Macbook last week. It was working before for years. I rely on it HEAVILY and makes my design process much more streamlined. I'm sure millions of other users agree.

Both systems are running the very latest OS (Sequoia 15.1.1). Support told me to delete Dropbox and reinstall the latest stable version from /download. I did this, then let my files sync for 48hrs, have restarted my computer, relaunched Finder, and still cannot right-click on a Dropbox file from the Finder for access to the options like 'Make available offline' etc.

What am I doing wrong? Any help is appreciated. I'll report if it starts working again.

Hannah

Sorry to hear that you're having this issue, @mrjw.

Do you see other Dropbox options when right-clicking on files in your Dropbox folder?

Does syncing work otherwise? Meaning, if you add a file to your Dropbox folder, will it sync to your account online?

And what do you see when hovering over your Dropbox icon?

LAist

Was this issue ever solved? I've been experiencing this same issue for months now.

Nancy

Hi @LAist! Can you provide a few more details on what you’re seeing exactly on your end? Are you only not seeing the option to make your files available offline or all Dropbox options, in general?

Feel free to send over a screenshot, as well.

LAist

Previously I had several files in my Dropbox "folder" within the Finder window. Those files were at the time both available online and offline. Since then I right clicked on some of those files and made available online only. The files disappeared from my local finder window but remained visible within the dropbox website.

What I'm trying to do now and not able to do is the opposite. I want to take some of the files currently set to online-only and make them available offline again. I cannot do that from my Finder window as the files are not visible there. On the dropbox website, the files are visible, but when I right click on the files there is no option to make the files available.

Below is the list of the options available:

Folder Info
Share
Copy
Manage permissions
Open in
Download
Add Automation
Delete
Rename
Move
Copy
Star
Pin to
Show Pinned Items
Activity
Folder activity

Megan

Hey @LAist let me also jump in here!

It sounds like you're possibly referring to a different feature, which would be selective sync.

If you change your files from available offline, to online-only they should remain visible inside your Dropbox folder, but they'd count as 0kB.

However, when you use selective sync, the folders are removed from your Dropbox folder, and visible only on the web. Can you follow these steps in order to change your settings, and let me know if this works out for you?

mrjw

I do not see the dropdown options inside finder within Dropbox folders that are synced. I have to use the menu bar icon to search for a file name and then click the link icon to share it whereas before I used to have lots of awesome options simply by right-clicking on a folder or file inside Mac's native finder. That was ideal. How can I get it back?

Hannah

Hi again, @mrjw!

Can you please follow these steps and let me know if they help?

mrjw

Thank you @Hannah , I tried and nothing has changed. Same basic dropdown options in finder. Not seeing extended dropbox options I used to before upgrading my computer to M3 Max and latest OS. Example below of my current finder, files hosted on dropbox showing up in mac finder... and the feature I'd like to get back (the darkmode shot from google images).

Walter

Thanks for the additional information and the screenshots too @mrjw - most appreciated.

Can you please send us a screenshot of the Dropbox desktop app's exact status and version as shown in your menu bar?

Also, can you confirm that you're trying to do this on files or folders that are inside your Dropbox folder? I'm only asking because I'm not seeing any syncing icons on your files in your screenshot.

mrjw

says v220.4.4126

Trying to do on folders AND/OR files in my mac native finder app which has dropbox synched. Well, my dropbox files show up there but are missing the options as mentioned above. That is interesting they don't have the green checkmark or empty check like the before time. A different example below. This client folder is on our shared dropbox, showing up in finder. Files say 'Zero bytes' if not local. I have to either double click them to open in their default program (my work around to make them local to my mac), or use the dropbox menu bar search to do other things, like copy a link to the file for a client. This all used to be so easy when it was integrated into finder. What am I doing wrong? What changed?

Nancy

Hey @mrjw! You had mentioned in your original post (a few months back) that you were in touch with our support team; can you perhaps find your ticket number from your convo with them, so that I can also have a look at it?

mrjw

Ticket #24478421: Dropbox Support Chat

Jay

Thanks for the ticket ID, @mrjw. I can see that in the last message the support agent advised you to install the stable version of the Dropbox desktop application, as you were running the beta version, and there was no response to that message they sent.

In your screenshot, as there aren't any syncing icons, it does imply that the Dropbox desktop application isn't running. Are you certain that the app is visible and syncing in the menu bar?

Is the app installed with admin privileges in order to enable sync icons and context menu items?

mrjw

I'm pretty sure he told me to watch out for that when I reinsalled the stable version. Is there any way to check if admin privileges are on or off without reinstalling from scratch? I have the db icon/app in my menu bar. I have two folders

(one personal) on the left-hand column of my finder for Dropbox specifically. What else besides the folder icons would tell us that or is there a way to switch it on?

mrjw

I am using a Team acct with my work for the main use and a personal/Plus account for myself. I have admin privileges with my Team acct and have been able to make changes to folders online and make new ones, etc.

Hannah

Hey @mrjw, did you use these steps, when you previously installed the stable version of the app?

Also, are your accounts (your team account and your personal one) paired with one another? Are you accessing both Dropbox folders from this particular computer?

mrjw

I am accessing both from the same computer, yes. I believe they are paired.

Jay

Thanks for the info, in order to look into this matter in more detail, I'd recommend contacting the support team directly for them to investigate further.

mrjw

The re-install worked y'all!!!!!!! I'm in heaven now. Thanks for your help.

Hannah

Glad to hear that, @mrjw!

If the issue comes back, let us know.

Theresa

Hey there @mrjw , and welcome to the Dropbox Community! It’s great to see that your issue got resolved with an advanced reinstall, big shoutout to Jay for their awesome help 🙌.

I’m Theresa, and you’ll probably see me around the Community 👩‍💻. I love connecting with our members and learning all about the creative ways they use Dropbox every day 💙.

If you’re up for sharing, I’d love to hear how you use Dropbox💡. You might even inspire some handy tips for others or spark ideas we can pass along to our internal team. 🤗

See you around,

T 😺 (Dropbox Community Manager)