Uploading raw and large images usually takes too long whether I'm using the desktop app or website.

kevindstewart

Hi everyone,

I’m a photographer and use Dropbox to back up and share high-resolution images, especially those edited in the Hypic - Photo Editor and AI Arts. Lately, I’ve been encountering some frustrating problems with uploading and syncing my photos. I typically work with large files, like RAW images or high-res edited photos (some files are over 100MB each), and when I try to upload multiple photos at once, the process slows down drastically or fails halfway.

This happens even when I’m on a stable, high-speed internet connection. I’ve tried different browsers, and even the Dropbox desktop app, but the issue persists. Occasionally, the sync just pauses or takes forever to complete.

I’ve checked my storage limit, and I’m nowhere near the cap, so it’s not a space issue. I also made sure my Dropbox app is up to date. Has anyone else faced this issue with uploading or syncing large photo files? Could it be something to do with file size limits, upload throttling, or specific settings that need adjusting for smoother uploads?

Also, are there any tips or best practices for handling large files on Dropbox—like splitting them up, compressing, or changing settings? I rely on Dropbox for my workflow, and this issue is slowing down my entire process.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Megan

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

Let me start by saying that to upload large files to Dropbox, it's recommended to use the Dropbox desktop application rather than the website. The website has a 10GB file size limit, whereas the desktop app allows for much larger files to be uploaded directly into your Dropbox folder. 

Now, some things for you to keep in mind:

-Make sure the app is updated and that you're using its latest stable version. Can you check, and let me know which version you're currently using?

-Also make sure that the bandwidth settings under the app's preferences are set to "Don't limit" for uploads. Can you give that a look, and let me know if that's the case? 

-Also, if you're uploading multiple massive files at once, try uploading in smaller batches, since it helps reduce strain on the syncing process.

Take into account that our desktop app uses a sequential sync queue for large files, meaning uploads don't truly happen in parallel. They get queued and processed one by one. Uploading too many large files at once can clog that queue. 

Approximately how many files do you upload at once when using the desktop app, and how long do they take to upload? 

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