These files are cluttering up my folders. There seems to be one for every real file that I have. I'd like to delete them.
What are they and where did they come from? And how can I stop them?
Hi,
The issue you're seeing is a Mac issue that occurs when copying files with extended attributes metadata into a file system that doesn't support them.
Depending on the information stored in the metadata, you may or may not need these files.
These files are called AppleDouble files and more information on how to handle them can be found by searching for: "apple double files"
To avoid this issue if you have your Dropbox folder on an external drive, we recommend ensuring that the drive is formatted in the default file system format for the Operating System that is installed.
A quick fix to remove those files: from the website you can search "attributes" in the search bar.
You can select all the results and delete them all together.
Thank you!
I encountered this recently on my MacBook Pro, when I decided to create an exFAT partition for common files between OSX and Windows, such as the Dropbox folder. I thought I was being clever. Little did I know... Now I've got numerous recursive com.dropbox.attributes files overrunning my file system and clogging my resources. This is not acceptable. But is Dropbox completely to blame? Not 100%, I would say. More like 98%... Dropbox may not be liable for the very first .com.dropbox.attributes file that appears on a filesystem (like FAT or ExFAT) that does not natively support tags and extended attributes, but they sure as heck are responsible for all the recursion!So, Dropbox, there are FEW things you need to do:(1) WARN a user who is trying to link to an unsupported filesystem (an FS other than HFS and NTFS) that it is not advised and the user will experience side effects, such as all these extra tag/attribute files, (SHAME on Dropbox for not already having this simple mechanism in place!)(2) SUPPRESS the recursion of these attribute files on the Dropbox server (and thus on the unsupported filesystem), and(3) CREATE a server-based tool that will automatically clean up these extraneous files on the server, which should then percolate down to the clients.
Actually, I think that Dropbox needs to go further than this. They need to create an option that effectively kills these files if the user so wishes. Dropbox is heavily promoting dropbox for business to facilitate collaboration - but frankly this is an issue that would prevent me from using dropbox in a business setting. In fact, my collaborators and I have been transitioning to google drive - which does not have this issue.
Just to flesh this out a little bit... It's fine that the Dropbox system creates the first .com.dropbox.attributes file on the unsupported file system as a way to preserve info. But these extra files should never appear on the Dropbox server. The Dropbox software should use them for read/write purposes on the unsupported FS alone, but they should never appear on the Dropbox server or be propagated to another supported FS (like HFS or NTFS). Also, Dropbox should give the user an option as to whether he wishes to have this extra file attribute info preserved in such files on the unsupported filesystems or whether to forgo the extra files and sacrifice the loss of that file information everywhere, both on the server and all supported and unsupported filesystems.
Guys...You have given so much suggestions to Dropbox. I do not think they realise and will solve the problem. I say the problem will not be solved in a year time. Go find another cloud drive.
Hi all
Sorry for the delay - This should be fixed now. More info here https://www.dropboxforum.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/201986045-com-dropbox-attributes-
You can download Blueharvest from the Apple store to clean these files. Program works great. Any Mac users should be using this service as it cleans up a huge number of these files and can be customized to keep files that are wanted - such as custom file icons or other such customizations.
Locate in Apple Store or Here: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/20036/blueharvest
BTW - I don't work for or have any affiliation with Blueharvest - it just works for me.
Thx
Hi all, have only just discovered this problem so am playing catch up and hope you all can help. I'm running Vista and as far as I know, no fat32 drives have been involved. Found these files when I ran a rootkit scan with Spybot and was obviously concerned as to what they are. Will it cause any problems if I just delete them? Thankfully I don't have too many of them right now but I'm trying to clean up my system. Thanks!
I have the exact same problem.No matter how many times i delete the attribute files, they always reappear.I think this problem appeared when i started using both MAC OS and Windows for the same user.
I have been suffering from this for about a year now, my folders are filled with such trash files.And dropbox are still ignoring this
To clarify, "._" files are MacOS X system files. The reason you see them is because the Mac Dropbox folder has been placed on a disk volume formatted with a non-Mac filesystem which doesn't respect the hidden attribute of those files. You can delete them, but they'll be recreated by your Mac every time you access those files.
The effect would have been mitigated by ensuring the target volume was first formatted to the native MacOS filesystem. However, I would also note that Dropbox are pretty clear that they don't support removable drives or network volumes.
And dropbox are still ignoring this
Dropbox has not ignored this. They explained the issue in this very thread back in May 2015.
My response to their explanation is the same now as it was then...
I've identified the device as Andrea instructed, but for me to contact someone, I don't know, in our company in a different state, and division, and ask them move their dropbox somewhere on their computer is not a good solution. Is there another way to do this?
Is there another way to do this?
No, there isn't. It's their computer creating these files. To Dropbox, they're just files like any other that need to be synced, so it syncs them.
Are you on Windows? If so, run a recursive attrib command on your Dropbox folder to set those files to hidden, then disable the display of hidden files. Create a batch file with an easily accessible icon and you can run it any time you see more of those files appear. There's likely a similar solution for other operating systems as well.
So i looked in file previous versions - the PC that made all this .identifiers is my work-PC (Windows10). I checked just now (im at work atm) - the dropbox folder is on drive, that formated in NTFS. What am i doing wrong?
P.S. All this .attribute and .identifier files are just ruining my mobile expirience with dropbox - as im not seeing this files at PC, only at mobile phone app, ipad app and web interface. Makes very hard to work when i have 109 000 files and at least half of that is that attributes wich i dont even care about.
I wish we had an option to disable syncing of this .identifier etc. files cos i dont care for extra atributes, im ok with basic attributes +files contents.
did you managed to find a solution to this problem. I am having same issue running dropbox on windows 10. lots of these atrributes files
yeah, that select-and-delete fix doesn't work. First, when you search for all "attribute" file name, you noly get 100 on the first aoge and have to apn down to see more. about 100 more per pan move. If you have over 6000 of those, you can iamgine how long it takes. When you do get to the end of this super long list by panning, you can't evel select them all. Fail #2. Going thru folder and selecting them sith "shift" will take you about a day if you don't want to wipe out all your pictures.
Get you act together, dropbox, or you can forget about me ever upgrading to any of your premium service. you suck.
stanislavsheyn wrote: Get you act together, dropbox
Get you act together, dropbox
This has nothing to do with Dropbox. Your operating system is creating the files, not Dropbox, because you've stored your Dropbox folder on a non-native hard drive partition, or the Dropbox folder on one of your linked devices is on a non-native hard drive partition. Dropbox is doing what it's supposed to do; sync the files that are in your Dropbox folder.
If you want to stop this form happening, then read the entire thread and follow the recommendations, or Google for AppleDouble files, dot underscore files, or mac com attributes files and you'll see why they appear and what you need to do to prevent it from happening.
.Blaming an operating system for flaws of yor service when servicing computers using that operating system is cavalier and condescneding. I am done wit this overpriced, superiority-complex-ifused service. Going to Amazon cloud.
hey [removed by moderator], how about you read what I actually wrote? Then maybe you'lls ee that i don't have a problem with spawning of these files, rather than dealing with thousands and thousands that were created in short period and effectively selecting and deleting them without it becoming a time hog?
thanks,
I've edited your post. Please conduct yourself in a civil manner on this public forum, or your posts could be deleted or your account suspended. Thank you.
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