How can I disable the status column on Windows?

Hi @Alfred01,

Thanks for reaching out! The Status column is now managed by Windows as part of recent changes to file sync behavior, hence, Dropbox cannot disable it. If you'd like to learn more about these updates and how they affect Dropbox, check out this article: Expected changes with Dropbox for Windows update.

Let us know if you have any other questions!

All comments

Jay

Hi @Alfred01, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

In order to understand what you're experiencing, could you attach or copy and paste a screenshot showing this information?

This will help me to assist further!

Alfred01 wrote:
Therefore, I choose in Explorer and Office for 'List View'. Since the latest Dropbox-update, however, a "status column" drops up and I cannot get rid of it.

The Status column in Explorer is a feature of Windows, not Dropbox. You can customize the columns that are visible by right-clicking on them and selecting or deselecting the columns of your choice.

Hi @Alfred01,

Let us know if you have any other questions!

vladgasan wrote:
The Status column is now managed by Windows as part of recent changes to file sync behavior, hence, Dropbox cannot disable it.

Dropbox cannot disable it, but it can still be hidden through the options in Explorer. Just right-click the column header and deselect it.

Hi Vladgasan,

Thanks for your kind reply.

I know that the Status column is a Windows feature. In Windows Explorer, however, you can choose for ‘List View’, which means that just the names of the files are visible and no columns at all. Bot somewhere Dropbox forces Explorer to show the Status column behind the file name, no matter which view is selected.

Dropbox also affects the way to deselect the Status option in Detailed view, because after deselecting the Status column comes back immediately.

These changes are caused by Dropbox, not by Windows. So, my question is: where in the system does Dropbox store the commands to overrule any chosen Explorer setting by a Status Column with the Dropbox sync icons?

Alfred01 wrote:
Bot somewhere Dropbox forces Explorer to show the Status column behind the file name, no matter which view is selected.

If you're referring to the sync status icon, this is controlled by Windows, not Dropbox, and is one of the requirements of Microsoft's Cloud Files API. Dropbox cannot control this.

Alfred01 wrote:
Dropbox also affects the way to deselect the Status option in Detailed view, because after deselecting the Status column comes back immediately.

This doesn't appear to be accurate. The method used to deselect the column in the Details view has remained the same; right-click any column header and uncheck the desired column name to hide it. I've disabled the Status column on multiple computers and it hasn't come back. Again, Dropbox has no control over which columns are visible in Details view.

You convinced me that the status column is controlled by Windows Cloud Files API, not Dropbox.

As far as deselecting Status in Detailed View: I can uncheck Status and it does hide. However, when I move to another file and go back to where I was, the Status column is back again. Never mind, I am always using List View anyway. With a not-wanted Sync column behind the file names, but I can live with that. Much more important is: since using Dropbox, I never lost a file and syncing always works smoothly.

Thanks for your answer.

dm1231

Yes I have exactly the same issue - you can hide the column but when you go back into that folder it keeps reappearing - its very annoying - it may not be dropboxes fault but its defaintely an issue with windows explorer and the cloud files api.

dm1231 wrote:
you can hide the column but when you go back into that folder it keeps reappearing

This is a Windows issue and not related to Dropbox. Look into setting your default columns and applying them to all folders. It's a Windows setting.

BBSAustinMeme

There is a way to disable it. The status column takes up valuable real estate in file explorer, and we needed it gone (permanently). I contacted Dropbox directly and they sent me instructions.

Per Dropbox: if you don’t want to use the Dropbox for Windows update at this time, you can opt-out through your Advanced settings page. To do this:

1. Log out of the Dropbox desktop app.
2. Log back into the Dropbox desktop app.
3. Click Open Dropbox.
4. Make your selections on the onboarding screens.
5. When setup is finished, click Advanced settings from the final screen.
6. Click Opt out under Dropbox for Windows updates.

This will revert your Dropbox experience to the previous version WITHOUT the new status column in Windows File Explorer.

Note: To be safe and clean with file syncing, I recommend to fully uninstall the application. then, when you reinstall, go into advanced settings and "opt-out of the new Windows experience" BEFORE syncing.

worked for us. hope it works for you. we love dropbox! but hated that column.

This seems to be the solution, thank you!

I would like to know, however: does reverting to the old version and opting out for ‘Windows for Dropbox updates’, affect the way Dropbox is syncing or functioning? Does Dropbox in that case sync without the Windows API? And is there any risk to that?

DBoxTips

The “Dropbox for Windows update” only affects the way the online-only feature (formerly known as Smart Sync) is implemented in Dropbox. Before the Cloud Files API was developed by Microsoft to be used by cloud storage providers, the online-only feature was implemented by Dropbox using a custom kernel module and is now reimplemented using the Cloud Files API.

So no, the syncing should not be affected in any way because Dropbox was already working just fine before the Cloud Files API became available.

Opting out of the "Dropbox for Windows update" is safe.

Hope this helps.
Andrew (DBoxTips)

P.S. I am a volunteer on the Dropbox forums, freely and happily sharing know-how with other users, not affiliated with Dropbox in any way.

Thank you so much, BBSAustinMeme and Andrew. I opted out for the Dropbox for Windows updates. Everything works fine and the status column is gone. You made my day.

Thanks for the solution!!!

My 2c :

A) It's a stupid answer "it's not Dropbox fault" because of , C)

When you uninstall Dropbox, the pesky "Status column" doesn't keep reappearing.

C) Managing a "unknown" side-effects option [undocumented] but present in Dropbox Install, solve the issue

You post as a "solution" A) instead of C)

( the software i GOOD, support is bleah ! )

My 3C:

Open FileExplore > Go to "My PC"
> View > Options > "Change folder and View"

Close FileExplorer

Reopen going to any folder.....

And that pesky column is not there anymore 🤷

( the trick is to do it on the "NonFolder" ROOT > MyPC 😂 )

PS: AS A BONUS you're able to remove the green dot you can see in previous pic
:-) that was breaking my eyes ...

As an added note:
I've used WinSetViews in the past to reorder and sort globally my files in "last modified" by default.

On the same screen, it manage perfectly also the Status Columns as any others,
making it disappear forever
[ BEWARE: there are TWO status columns, with different meanings. MS only knows why ]

This page is from the User Guide

Hi @Alain Church,

Thanks for brining this up! Uninstalling Dropbox can indeed help - if the Status column doesn't appear after you've reinstalled Dropbox it's likely that the newly reinstalled version doesn't include the Cloud Files update. Unfortunately, it will only provide a temporary fix since your Dropbox will eventually update to Windows Cloud Files sync engine, and the Status column will be managed by Windows.

Boxjay

I agree with Alain Church. I didn't want this status icon and other sync companies allow you to get rid of this without the hassle. I've already complained about this to dropbox support.

Boxjay

Well yes and no. Dropbox made a deliberate architectural shift: they abandoned their custom sync icon overlays (the green checkmarks, blue sync arrows, etc.) and instead adopted Microsoft’s Cloud Files API to handle sync status. That API is part of Windows' native cloud integration framework, and it injects the “Status” column directly into File Explorer for any folder using Files On Demand.

Therefore, it IS Dropbox's fault for this stupid addition that no user that actually uses the product wanted.

Wrong!

You can choose for .. ONLY this session and ONLY this Explorer window

Note: I've never worked in magnified "full screen" mode for any program on my screen, so I have multiple Explore windows open while I'm working on Folders or Files.

Close Explorer, restart it and that "sheet" is again taking precious Real Estate on your screen.

Reboot and you have them back <right in the middle> in all Explore windows you left open, even if you pushed it at the end ... in all of them!!!!!

( no way to avoid MS so far ! )

Boxjay

Alain, it is INCREDIBLY frustrating to have this stupid status icon in explorer that we don't have the ability to turn off. And what's even more frustrating is answers on here acting as if it has nothing to do with dropbox and IT DEFINITELY has EVERYTHING TO DO WITH DROPBOX AND the choices they made. As I said above:

Dropbox made a deliberate architectural shift: they abandoned their custom sync icon overlays (the green checkmarks, blue sync arrows, etc.) and instead adopted Microsoft’s Cloud Files API to handle sync status. That API is part of Windows' native cloud integration framework, and it injects the “Status” column directly into File Explorer for any folder using Files On Demand.

Therefore, it IS Dropbox's fault for this stupid addition that no user that actually uses the product wanted.

Hey @Alfred01 @Alain Church @Boxjay

I might have another solution for you. Can you try right clicking on the column and then disabling the Status column from there?