Child Item

Dropbox desktop app is syncing to cloud but not to local Dropbox folder

Application Affected
Dropbox App
Device
Macbook Air
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)

Sequoia 15.6.1 (24G90)
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)
231.4.5770

Question or Issue

I use dropbox app on my macbook to sync files between dropbox and local folders. In the last couple of days i noticed that the app will show files synced to the cloud and says 'everything is up to date' but will not then sync those same files to my local folder on the macbook. to make this happen i either have to wait a long time (several minutes) or force close dropbox and then reopen it. i have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the app, and it is not a selective sync problem since i didn't change anything there and this was working before. What could be going on here? Thanks.

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Comments

Hannah

Hey @nraihani, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

I think I'm not 100% clear on what the issue is, so can you please clarify the following?

the app will show files synced to the cloud and says 'everything is up to date' but will not then sync those same files to my local folder on the macbook

Do you mean that you can see your files when you log in to your account on dropobox.com, but they don't show up in your local Dropbox folder?

If that's the case, can you check out this article to make sure that the names of your files don't contain any incompatible characters that wouldn't allow your files to sync to your Dropbox folder?

Of course, if I misunderstood the issue, please provide some clarifications and screenshots that would help us better understand the issue, so we can assist you further.

Thanks!

nraihani

Hi Hannah, thanks for the reply. I do not think that is the issue because this file syncs normally on my other computer (an iMac). It is just on the macbook air that it has suddenly stopped syncing to the local folder. i am attaching a screenshot of where dropbox says it is synced. it then does not sync automatically to my local Mac folder.

Hannah

Thanks for the update, @nraihani!

Just to clarify again, are you updating the files in question from dropbox.com or your iMac, but then they don't sync to your MacBook, even though the app says that it's "up to date"?

Also, regarding the file in the screenshot, what happened exactly? Was it edited on another device and although it appears as synced on the MacBook, the updates haven't synced?

Sorry to ask all these questions, I just want to make sure I haven't misunderstood anything.

nraihani

Hi Hannah

I have an iMac at work and i also have a macbook air. I am working on the same document on the imac, which is updating to the cloud but then NOT syncing to my macbook. It appears as synced on the macbook but it is not synced. This issue does not arise in reverse: when editing on the macbook and saving to the cloud, the iMac local version updates immediately as soon as i log on. Weird.

Cheers

Walter

So, you see the updates on the document on both devices if you navigate your account through the website but your edits aren't syncing across your devices - is that right @nraihani? How are you working on the file exactly?

Is the Dropbox desktop app 'up to date' in your menu bar on both of your devices?

nraihani

the dropbox app says it is up to date but it doesn't then sync locally. the only way to make it sync is to quit dropbox and restart it - which is a bit annoying if i have to do that every time.

i work on the file in word and when i save it saves directly to dropbox.

Walter

I see, thanks for the additional information @nraihani - much appreciated.

Have you tried reinstalling the app since you first noticed this?

nraihani

Yes, as mentioned in the first comment of this thread. I will repost it here.

Hannah

Thanks for your continuous efforts here, @nraihani.

Can you take a look at this and check those parameters, to make sure everything is setup correctly?

That whole article has some very useful info in general, so you might want to take a look at everything there to make sure everything is covered.

Nancy

Hi @nraihani! Did you have the chance to go through Hannah’s previous steps?

Let us know if they helped.