Over a thousand (Selective Sync Conflict) folders have appeared after a recent Windows update

Question

Hello,

I have a couple machines on my work Drobox account. One of them needed to get updated from Windows 10 to Windows 11 so I had a reputable computer shop do a full install. They backed up my Dropbox data but when i got the machine back I had to install the Dropbox app.

* The new install seemed to work fine and I saw a new Dropbox folder next to the old backed up folder
* The new Dropbox folder was full my folders and they all had blue "sync" icons  
* Dropbox told me it couldn't sync as many files as I had (which seemed odd because it was no more files than I had previously) so I should use Selective Sync to limit the files synced
* I did exactly this, setting Selective Sync to download only the files I need for an urgent deadline (this is a backup machine I use mainly for rendering and processing files)
* I left the Dropbox sync process running over the weekend

This morning, Monday, I found hundreds of new "Selective Sync Conflict" folders, some times dozens for a single folder. They've synced to my Dropbox account and to my other machine. I can delete them but I they seem like they'll keep reproducing.

It seems a bit like this issue:

https://community.dropbox.com/en/discussion/842312/multiple-selective-sync-conflict-folders-after-a-hard-drive-repair

The sync process is hugely bogged down, saying it's going to take HUNDREDS of days to finish. This is on an ethernet connection to high speed fiber internet.

In other threads I've seen Dropbox support link to this post:

https://help.dropbox.com/sync/selective-sync-conflict

But that doesn't cover it. The problem isn't one conflicted folder. It's a process that's taken over Dropbox and the sync process and fills the directory with hundreds of new Selective Sync Conflict folders, with no end in sight, and to a degree to where the Dropbox and sync process are unusable.

If it didn't seem to be a know bug in Dropbox I'd suspect it was a virus, so effectively has its endless supply of unwanted folders shut down my production pipeline at a very inconvenient time.

Clear solutions on how to stop these folders reproducing would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Spencer

Jay · Answer

Thanks for the details. I think it would be best to contact the support team since they have more tools and steps available to troubleshoot this matter for you.

You can contact the team via this link while logged into your Dropbox account.

SpencerPDX · Answer

Hi Megan,

The problem is that these Selective Sync Conflict folders are being continuously generated and I need to get them to stop.

For instance, here's a screen capture of my Dropbox folder and what's happened with just a single folder, one called, "Video."

So, it's not, "I need to get rid of these folders," so much as it's: "I need to stop these folders from being created."

Your suggestion to wait for the sync to complete isn't feasible because, as I mentioned, it says syncing will take hundreds of days. Again, this is on a computer with an ethernet connection to high-speed fiber internet. Here's a screen capture:

So, a whole lot like what I understand viruses do: Endlessly reproducing files to bring a system crashing down.

The computer techs who did the windows update are reinstalling Dropbox now.

If you have any thoughts that might help I'm happy to hear them!

Thanks,

Spencer

Megan · Answer

Hey there, @SpencerPDX!

As my colleague @Hannah pointed out in this relevant thread, there's no automatic way to resolve these conflicts. You will need to compare the original and conflicted folders, consolidate any differing files manually, and then delete the empty conflicted folder.

Have these conflicts synced to your online account? If not, you can sign out of the Dropbox desktop app, uninstall it, and delete your local Dropbox files. Afterward, reinstall the app, choose which folders you would like to sync, and start fresh.

Alternatively, if you choose to let the syncing process complete—and if you are on a paid plan—you can use our Dropbox Rewind feature to return your account to a specific point in time, though I understand you are looking to avoid syncing these files altogether.

I'm here if you have any questions!