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Unable to access HDD saved files that are in Dropbox. Stuck spinning icon and then gives up.

I my Dropbox sync to a dedicated HDD and save my files, photo, etc on that drive which is then syned to Dropbox. Since about July25, I haven't been able to access even the folders on the drive. The little blue ring just spins for a long time and then just gives up. Everything is still accessable through the app and website but not locally.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled Dropbox (27/08/25). Sync says no issues (although folder 'My PC' has a grey cloud icon and others have green ticks). Available offline is selecetd and folder path is correct. Drive still visible in explorer. Only using 43.84% of 2TB (Drive says 2.85TB free of 3.63TB). Windows 10 (up-to-date).

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Megan

Hey @atan87, let's have a look into this together!

When you say that Dropbox is syncing to a dedicated HDD, would you be able to give me more info about this?

Is it an external backup that you've enabled, or a different configuration? As a test, if you add a file to your HDD can you check if it syncs to your account online?

Would you mind clarifying which app version you currently have installed, along with the app's syncing status? You can find both by hovering your mouse over the little Dropbox icon in your taskbar next to your WiFi.

If you have any step-by-step screenshots of what you described -and especially the icons you see next to your content- feel free to send them over, in order for me to have a visual too.

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

atan87

Hi Megan,

If i saved any document on this drive it is visible on Dropbox, so yeah I guess it is an external backup (I think (altough internal as its not removable like a USB)).

Version 231.4.5770 was installed last night and problem remains and syncing status is 'Up to Date'.

If I click on the either of these folders I get the spinning ring.

Same with these folders including if I right click to go to the properties option.

Megan

Hey @atan87, thanks for the added info!

Do you get the spinning wheel for both the cloud icon folders, and the green check ones, right?

Can you try quitting the app and accessing these folders? Do you notice the same behavior then?

You also mentioned that everything is accessible through the app. Are you referring to the Dropbox folder? Can you open your "My PC" files in their default location?

atan87

Same behaviour when Dropbox is shut down. But only to these folders.

Yeah, so everything I know that is on the drive I can access on the Dropbox app or website. Just can't access the local copies through explorer or "My PC".

Hannah

I hope it's okay to jump in here, @atan87.

The fact that the issue persists with the Dropbox app closed, leads me to believe it's not really related to Dropbox, but we'll try our best to get to the bottom of this.

Can you let us know what happens if you right-click on the "My PC" folder and choose to "make it available offline"? Are you able to access it after that?

Megan

Hey @atan87!

Still stuck with this, or did you work some magic and fix it? Either way, we'd love to know what fixed it for you, or if you still need some help.