Child Item

Images can't be restored to a previous version, right after overwriting them.

Dropbox App Version (if using the app): N/A

Question or Issue

Good morning. I discovered a bug in Dropbox related to restoring image file version history. Today, I accidentally overwrote an image stored in Dropbox and tried to restore a previous version. I was very surprised to see the file version field was blank and the "Restore" button was disabled (Attachment 1). I overwrote the same file again, and to my surprise, the correct version history appeared! (Attachment 2)

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Comments

Nancy

Welcome back to our Community, @cachaito! Hope you’re doing well.

Have you also tested this with another type of file and the same thing happened?

Apart from that, how did you overwrite the image the first time? Can you clarify what steps you took exactly and it wasn’t possible to restore the file to its previous version? Did you follow the exact same steps before the "Restore" button became available again after that?

Let me know once you have more info.

Mark

This isnt a bug I'm afraid, your image really helps, thank you!

Because your last edit was 20th Feb 2024 it is over the recovery window (30 days free, 180 days paid). Therefore no previous version is available. This is how previous versions work even though logical process would state that as you only edited it today there should be one available.

This is proven because you re-save again and can get the second edit restored back - because it is within that recovery window now.

It didnt used to work like this, but, it has done for many years now.

cachaito

Hi Mark, what you write sounds logical, but how do you explain that after the second overwrite I could restore the oldest version of the image?

cachaito

Hi Nancy, your question is entirely valid, as the overwriting occurred "unexpectedly." I use the Dropbox app for iOS, and sometimes when I try to upload an image with the same name, Dropbox asks if it wants to overwrite the old file. The problem is that for some time now, randomly, selecting "Cancel" still overwrites the image. I've already reported this bug to Dropbox through the app. Perhaps this affects the image's version history?

Mobile app version: 436.2.2 (but I've been experiencing this issue for a while).
iOS version: 16.7.11

Megan

Hey @cachaito!

How do you overwrite the files? Can you walk us through the process, step by step?

Do you drag-and-drop the files from your desktop to the Dropbox folder, for example? If you use the Dropbox app, it would also be great to know what happens when you overwrite the files from the web.

If you could provide us with a shared link to a short video, showing the exact steps that you follow to reproduce this behavior, we'd appreciate it. It'll help us get the full visual of what you're referring to. It's not a problem if you can't do this, just let me know the process that you follow.

cachaito

Hi Megan. I managed to record a short clip of the error canceling the operation and overwriting the file. I succeeded on the fourth attempt. The first three times, Dropbox terminated the process correctly. On the fourth attempt, despite selecting "Cancel," the operation proceeded and the file was overwritten.

The video clip: https://i.imgur.com/UkKKdj0.mp4

Nancy

Hi again, @cachaito! Is it possible to upload your video recording to your Dropbox account and send us a shared link to it instead?

Due to security reasons, we’re unable to access other external links unfortunately.

cachaito

Hi Nancy, is this link enough? [removed to protect your daily limit of data sharing]

Nancy

Thanks for that! I appreciate it.

I‘m currently looking into this with our team, so I’ll let you know once we have more updates.

Nancy

Hey again, @cachaito, and thanks for your patience! Do you mind sharing one more screen recording with us that clearly shows what you see on your web Dropbox account (when checking the version history of a specific file you’ve overwritten a couple of times)?

I’m also curious whether you’re seeing the same thing after overwriting a file via www.dropbox.com instead of the iOS mobile app.

cachaito

Hi Nancy. I made a video where I:
- use desktop computer to overwrite file
- original file is old 2021

As you will see in attached clip, all is good with this case. After entering file version history I see correct data. I will try to recreate the bug with empty file history version next.

Megan

Hey @cachaito!

I just sent you an email, in order for us to have a closer look into this, and investigate further.

Feel free to reply back to me, and send me your findings there. Thanks!