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What is cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url?

I recently had all my files in a shared folder deleted. I was able to go in and restore them all, but in the process found one suspicious file, which I did not restore which was "cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url". Does anyone know what that might be?

Next to all my deleted files was "Dale". One of my users is Dale, but he says it wasn't him?

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RichardDBX

Hi all, apologies for the confusion here — I can help provide some information.

Background: Dropbox allows you to save website URLs to Dropbox as individual files. For example, if you were to navigate to www.dropbox.com, then drag and drop the URL from the URL bar of your web browser into Dropbox, it would result in a file being created called "www.dropbox.com.url". If you were to click on that file, it will open a new browser window or tab and take you to that page.

Now, about the "cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url" files: we had a temporary issue with our new redesigned website where, in some cases, dragging and dropping a file in your Dropbox on the website (for example, to drag it into another folder, or by accident) would mistakenly add it to your Dropbox as a URL file.

We've since fixed this issue, so you shouldn't see it happen again; however, if you have any of these cfl files in your account, you can simply delete them – they're harmless!

All comments

Mari H.1

Hi there,

I had the same thing.

It appears when I was deleting my access to share folders.

I have deleted since but I don't know what it is.

Rich

It's likely just a file used by Dropbox. Open it in a text editor and view the content.

Charles D.23

Thanks. It turns out my user "Dale" did delete the files...he just didn't know he did. I'm still not sure what the .url file is...will look at it.

May May G.

I too have been getting lots of this URL showing up in my account:

cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url

I've seen this discussed in other threads, but Dropbox seems very reticent to explain what it is and/or whether we should be concerned. I'm unable to view the contents of this mystery URL. Whatever it is, it's taking up 101 bytes a crack. This only began appearing in my account just recently.

PLEASE DROPBOX: can someone explain what this is and why is it being added into my account?

cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url

Rich

I'm unable to view the contents of this mystery URL.

Why not? If you open it in a text editor (Notepad, Notepad++, Atom, etc.) you should be able to see the content of the file.

Stephen F.17

Clearly YES this is some artifact of dropbox processes, this file and variations of it:

cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url

WHY WILL SUPPORT NOT SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE?

I am seeing more and more of these files, and further, dropbox is advising me that they are being uploaded - despite the fact that I am obviously not the one creating them, at least not by choice or intentionally. Files for dropbox's use should NOT be identified as being my files, neither should they be appearing within my directory structures.

Please do the professional thing and speak to this issue. Dropbox support, I am speaking to you. I don't need to look at these or view their content - I know they're some artifact of the activities to upload or move files among my folders. WHY am I seeing them, and why is dropbox actually telling me that they are being created and uploaded, downloaded, etc... ??

It is a bug, plain and simple - best do the professional thing and admit it and address your customer's concerns. I doubt there's reason to panic, but it is still contrary to the way things should be working.

No offense intended. I'm a fan and perhaps at times an evangelist.

Cheers,

j_h

Just had one of these "cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url" files pop up in my account as I was moving a bunch of files around and would love to know where it came from.

The contents of the file are as follows:

[InternetShortcut]
URL=https://cfl.dropboxstatic.com/static/images/icons/icon_spacer-vflN3BYt2.gif

moronuser

I have the same issue. So, after reading all these comments, I'm not clear what to do. Should I just delete the file each time I find it? It sounds like most folks are pretty sure that it should not be there amongst my own files. I don't want to inadvertently delete some kind of functional file, especially not knowing what is does or not not do. Sorry if this is a very amateur question. I'm trying to take more ownership of my technology in terms of basic understanding of how it all works, and how I can maintain it myself. Your patience is greatly appreciated!

bhord

cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url

In my case no files were deleted but viewing a file resulted in a notification that says:

"cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url added

You added cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url

to your Dropbox"

I did no such thing. I will undo it if I can.

James H.84

Has anyone from dropbox ever replied on this?

Vicky

Hi Charles,

Thank you for reporting this issue. At the moment our team is investigating and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Rich

I've seen this before, and have done it myself a few times.

Dropbox has the ability to save URLs that you drag into its window. That's all that's happening here. You're intending to click on something, whether to view or select, while you're still moving your mouse. Your browser sees this as a click and drag, and Dropbox treats that as though you're dragging something into its window. Basically, you're dragging a link into the Dropbox window and Dropbox is saving it. In this case it just happens to be a link to a Dropbox file or folder.

If you edit that URL file in a text editor you'll see the link that you dragged.

Charred_Lee

Hi Vicky -

Same weird file in my folders. What is it ?

Thank you !

Rich

...taps the microphone...

Is this thing on?

Edit the file in a text editor and look at the content.

Sanchez

Hey guys,

As my colleague mentioned earlier, we are currently investigating the exact cause of this file. However, I can confirm that the file can be safely deleted, with no effect on your files or your account!

Thanks

Mark

Or @Sanchez you could read what @Rich said a fortnight ago (with no further posts since so not sure why the thread was bumped?) and look at the file which shows its a URL accidentally dragged in.

Rich

Once again...

Rich wrote:
I've seen this before, and have done it myself a few times.

Dropbox has the ability to save URLs that you drag into its window. That's all that's happening here. You're intending to click on something, whether to view or select, while you're still moving your mouse. Your browser sees this as a click and drag, and Dropbox treats that as though you're dragging something into its window. Basically, you're dragging a link into the Dropbox window and Dropbox is saving it. In this case it just happens to be a link to a Dropbox file or folder.

If you edit that URL file in a text editor you'll see the link that you dragged.

Niva

I am getting this same thing. What is this? I just deleted it. I am hoping it wont affect my files.

RichardDBX

Hi all, apologies for the confusion here — I can help provide some information.

We've since fixed this issue, so you shouldn't see it happen again; however, if you have any of these cfl files in your account, you can simply delete them – they're harmless!

camrob

your "temporary" issue has been happening in my business account for almost a year now, only it actually destroys the files I have dropped in as far as we can tell: it converts the files we have saved into a cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url file, and my files disappear compeltely when it does. The link goes nowhere.

We have contacted customer service several times over the past year about this, then it seems to go away for a while. A few of the files have been restored now, yet it continues to happen, as recently as Friday (3 days ago). This issue has never been resolved for us. This time it, unfortunaltely, deleted ("converted") files for a time sensitive project for over a week, and added about 10 hours of work (and expense). This is still not resolved. I just emailed dropbox Customer Service again sicne there was no reply to my past 3 emails with links to the affected Folders from Friday's problems. Is there something we are doing on our end that is causing this? If so, I am not sure why CS wouldn't tell us.

Then here is what happened today when i click on a Word doc file that showed as successfully loaded:

.lnk files can’t be previewed

New Here Page FW May 2017 Website - revision 2.lnk · 1.29 KB

This seems to be a new glitch.

Any suggestions?

Mark

.lnk files cannot be previewed because they are not files as you havent actually uploaded the file, you've uploaded the shortcut to the file (from Windows) instead of the file.

Also, please note sending multiple emails to support may slow down your reply as it can move you back to the back of the queue. Please remember that support does not work weekends so you need to give them time to reply. You can track tickets via http://dropbox.zendesk.com

camrob

The multiple emails were providing the information that was requested. CS insisted that I send the files and folders that were being converted. Since this happened several more times Friday, I sent each of these, again, as requested, even though it was more work on my part. But it is interesting that you would push customers to the end of the que if they have multiple concerns.

Never dealt with this before at DB, nor do I want to begin. I followed the same process as always:

.lnk files cannot be previewed because they are not files as you havent actually uploaded the file, you've uploaded the shortcut to the file (from Windows) instead of the file.

Mark

You may have followed the same procedure as always, however, that does not get around the fact that you've not actually uploaded the file. You've uploaded a shortcut to the file.

It will never open because there is no 'file' there - its simply a shortcut.

You need to follow the shortcut on your computer and upload the files.

YeahMe

This is happening with even more frequency and driving me absolutely nuts. I am not dragging or dropping anything. Sometimes it happens when I have Dropbox in a separate browser window or Dropbox is the only open tab in the only open browser. I'm not copying anything or dragging anything. I just don't get it. I wish this was fixed. I'm tired of deleting these stupid #cfl.dropboxstatic files as they pop up.

maverickmartin

This got un-fixed. I had a user create 3 of these cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url files yesterday.

Rich

@RichardDBX

Nashfreesmeyer

I did the same thing. tested and verified it over and over. It seems to be a creation when you are trying to click and drag the picture instead of just using the side bars to move

Jane

Hey @Nashfreesmeyer, we’d like to walk in your shoes for a while & see your perspective on the matter, thanks for posting on the Dropbox Community!

Could you include a step-by-step description of the steps you’re following? Incidentally, do you experience the same behavior across browsers? Any detail (& visuals) you could send over would be very helpful, so as to make sure to follow-up with you as closely as possible.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation & I’m looking forward to your next reply!

YeahMe

Is there a way to turn this feature off? This happens to me even when I have Dropbox minimized. I'm not purposely dragging and dropping anything. I'm deleting at least 4 to 5 of these cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url files a day. I see the purpose of this but I don't need it. It is driving me absolutely nuts and cluttering up my folders.

Jane

Hey @YeahMe, I understand that this may not be ideal to you, as you had initially posted on the matter in September, let me follow-up with you in more detail!

As a point of reference, please keep in mind that you can delete these files without harming your account, though in order to pursue a solution on your request, I’d like to reproduce on my end & see if we’re getting the same behavior. Have you been able to recreate the behavior on your end? If so please include the steps you’re following in your next post here.

Thanks & I’ll be awaiting your next reply!