Option to make files online-only is missing from Dropbox folder on Windows 11

Question

Just updated my newish Windows 11 computer for the first time in months and new Dropbox files were added. Oddly, they're available offline even though I believe I set them to not download automatically but oh well. I assumed I could manually set them to online only. But I see no option for offline folders or files to be thus modified, only the option to make online files available offline. The only options for offline files are: Copy Dropbox link, transfer a copy, view on Dropbox.com, share, version history, send for signature, and file info.

How can I make individual offline files or folders online only? I believe this entire particular folder is supposed to be online only, all the older pre-update files are online only already. And I'm unsure how I'll handle new files I create on this computer if I wish to afterward make them online only yet there's no option. :/

Windows 11, Dropbox version 250.4.3245, I opted out of the redesigned system tray.

EDIT, I believe I may be experiencing the same issue as this user, I have the same error message ("Dropbox is experiencing some issues…") showing in my Dropbox tray, but didn't know if it was related. Rest of the thread is gibberish to me.

https://community.dropbox.com/en/discussion/656684/the-online-only-option-has-disappeared-from-the-context-menu-on-windows-11

Megan · Answer

Hey @Rachel L.

If the context menu item is still missing after restarting your device, there may be a device-specific issue affecting its appearance. Note that all options should be available if the Dropbox desktop application is installed with admin privileges.

In the meantime, if you notice the same behavior, please try quitting and relaunching the Dropbox app.

Also, could you please locate the Dropbox icon in your taskbar, next to your WiFi, hover your mouse over it, and let me know its syncing status? Finally, could you attach a screenshot showing the full options you see when right-clicking a file or folder in the Dropbox folder?

Rachel L. · Answer

Admin privileges...oh dear. Windows 11 has known issues with those, even when enabled as they are on my computer, they don't always grant you full privileges. 😞

I'll see what happens when I turn the computer back on though I assume it'll still occur, it wasn't initially like this (last autumn), it appears to be an update behavior.

Hannah · Answer

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, @Rachel L..

If you haven't already, can you restart your computer to see if it helps?

If that doesn't help, please follow these steps to install the Dropbox app with admin privileges.

Let me know how it goes!