Child Item

Files are waiting to be uploaded on Android but never do

Question or Issue

I typically send files from my Android phone to my Windows PC using Dropbox, sending them to the Sent folder. I do this by using the Share feature on file manager app. Today, it’s not working. Dropbox says “Uploading to Dropbox . . . 3 files will upload in the background,” but it never uploads. When I open the Sent folder in Dropbox, I see the files, the names greyed out, with each one saying “Waiting to Upload.” I tried clearing the cache in the Dropbox app, restarting my phone, and trying again with fewer files (3, instead of 7), but the same thing happens. I checked the system status on Dropbox’s website, and it shows no current issues. Web searches on the topic list lots of possibilities, but are no help in determining which one is my issue (most of them, I can tell, are definitely not). Anyone know what’s going on, or how I can debug this?

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Walter

Hi @gfnov - sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Just to clarify, did you log out from your account and then back in after clearing the app's cache?

If you did and this persists, can you completely uninstall the app and reinstall it anew and let us know how it goes?

Thanks so much!

gfnov

Walter, I did not log out after clearing the cache, so I tried again, first logging out and then clearing the cache. When I tried to sign back in, it says "Sign-in Failed. Can't connect to Dropbox. Make sure you're online, or try again later." I'm definitely online, as I can connect to websites through Chrome. I don't see the point in uninstalling, as I tried accessing my Dropbox files on my tablet, and it says "Couldn't load file. Check your internet connection." So that's not working either. I last updated a Dropbox file on January 25, at 4:14 pm, from my PC, but I just noticed that it has been several weeks since Dropbox files on my tablet have been updated (of course, I can't check the status on my phone, as I can not log in there). It's a mess.

Walter

I see, thanks for the additional details @gfnov. Can you check if there's an update for the Dropbox mobile app in the App store of your devices and let me know what you find?

If you've ensured that the app is updated, please send us a screenshot of the exact error(s) you're getting so that we can have a visual too.

gfnov

P.S. I ran a test and determined that I can still add files to Dropbox from my PC. Not that I can access them from anywhere, of course.

Walter

Thanks for clarifying that @gfnov - can you forward us the screenshot I requested now?

gfnov

Mea Culpa! I didn't see this post before my last reply; I didn't realize that only part of the discussion was showing. And I forgot about the obvious: checking for an app update. That was indeed the problem, as I just updated the app on my phone and I was able to log in, my files are synched, and I was able to upload. I intentionally have automatic updates turned off and check periodically to see what apps have been updated, but I guess this was too long a period. Thanks for your help.

MaxwellRogue

This usually happens because Android is blocking Dropbox from running properly in the background, even though the app looks fine. On newer Android versions, battery optimization and background data limits often stop uploads from finishing. Check that Dropbox is allowed to use background data, unrestricted battery, and background activity. Also make sure uploads are allowed on your current network (Wi-Fi vs mobile data) inside Dropbox settings. Another common cause is Android’s scoped storage or permission issues, so confirm Dropbox still has full access to files and media. If the files show as “Waiting to upload” in grey, it means Dropbox created placeholders but the upload task is paused or blocked by the system. Removing the files from the Sent folder, force-stopping Dropbox, reopening it, and re-sharing the files after fixing these settings usually resolves it.

Hannah

Hey @gfnov, thanks for keeping us in the loop about your issue!

I'm glad to see that you managed to resolve it.

If you need help with anything else, don't hesitate to let us know.

Have a great day!