Child Item

The Dropbox desktop app on Mac lost file content and isn't syncing

I just reinstalled the Dropbox app yesterday because it disappeared from my computer (I did not delete or uninstall it). I needed to upload some new files to sync across my 3 devices (MacBook, Android phone, browser).

Today my Dropbox folder on my computer shows the file names and folders that exist on my Dropbox, but there is no content attached to them ("zero bytes" and no image previews). But, the content of the files DOES show on my browser Dropbox account (Chrome).

I have always had access to my files on my computer no matter what the login or syncing status is of my Dropbox account. I did not have to have Dropbox active in order to see or open files on/from my computer (not logged in on a browser).

The chatbot is completely useless and is going in a circle of not answering questions or providing solutions.

Anybody know how to get my files to actually show up on my computer where they are supposed to be?

Find more posts tagged with

Desktop

Sync

Mac

Insightful

Closed - Partially Delivered

Accepted answers

Megan

Hi @DB_LisaV, let me also jump in here!

It looks like these files are fully synced as online-only. Would you mind trying out these steps to make them available offline, and let me know if that does the trick for you?

All comments

Walter

Hey @DB_LisaV - I just got back to you on the other Community thread you posted.

As mentioned there as well, I'd appreciate a screenshot of how the file looks on your end so that we can check its syncing icon too.

Did you try rebooting your computer and quitting/relaunching the app since you first noticed this?

If you did and this persists, you can try copying or moving the files outside your Dropbox folder and then back in.

In any case, please keep me posted with any updates, Lisa.

DB_LisaV

@Walter - thank you for the responses.

Here is a screenshot from my computer. All files show icons of the app (Acrobat icon for PDF, etc) but no file or image content and list zero bytes for file size.

I have quit/relaunched everything and that doesn't make a difference.

I'll try rebooting and the directions to copy outside the folder and move back

NOTE: When I had to re-download the Dropbox app it was trying to add a new Dropbox folder onto my computer. It gave no information about my files already ON Dropbox (where they are or how they'll be saved/synced) and it logged me into a secondary account instead of the primary one with all my files (which I did log into the primary one but then saw it displayed a different email address in the dropdown of the menu bar). I did get it logged into the primary account and it seems to have all my files, it's just not synced and the content isn't there when I want to access files on my computer the same way I have for a decade or more.

Megan

Hi @DB_LisaV, let me also jump in here!

It looks like these files are fully synced as online-only. Would you mind trying out these steps to make them available offline, and let me know if that does the trick for you?

DB_LisaV

Thank you @Megan - that setting for "offline" was off. Thank you! It's been YEARS since I had my settings adjusted to what I want; having them changed on you and then having to figure out how to get them back is such a frustration.

@Walter your suggestion to move files out of the Dropbox folder and back into the D. folder did work to bring back the file content. Thank you!

Megan

Awesome news @DB_LisaV!

Happy to see that everything is back on track.

If you need something else, please let me know and I will be more than happy to help every step of the way! 😇

thetwinpeaksmenu

It sounds like Dropbox Smart Sync may be set to online for your files. Right click a file or folder in Finder and select Make Available Offline to force download. Also check Dropbox settings under Preferences Sync Selective Sync to ensure folders are actually set to sync locally