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Dropbox Folders in Windows Explorer very slow

Hi,

my windows 11 system, my dropbox folder became super slow.

When I try to open a (sub) folder, it takes around 30 seconds to open it.

I noticed it since a couple of days, I installed Bitdefender and a new graphics card/driver since then. My dropbox folder is on an external drive.

Other folders on the same drive are fast. Disabling Bitdefender did not change anything. Uninstalling dropbox made the folder access fast again.

I reinstalled dropbox without any effect. I also tried to fix hard links / permissions (via Account -> Support option) without any effect as well.

Dropbox Version: 172.3.7538

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wellenreitr

Final Update / Solution: The culprit was Apple iCloud for Windows. Process Explorer showed me iCloud Photos popping up on each folder action.

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Hannah

Hey @wellenreitr, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Since you're on the beta version of the Dropbox application, can you switch to the stable one, to see if that helps?

To do so, turn off the "early releases" option in your account settings and then reinstall the app.

Let me know how it goes.

wellenreitr

Hi Hannah, I was not aware, that I had this option switched on.

I reinstalled with the stable version (171.4.6182). Same issue persists. I tried also to use a folder in my Windows-User folder, but it is slow as well.

Update: In Safe-Mode the folders are fast, even when Dropbox is started. I also uninstalled Bitdefender and removed a lot of things from my autostart/services, but the issue is still there.

Update2: It seems the issue is related to Explorer or an Extension. Browsing the Dropbox Path via command line or some other explorer (e.g. Total Commander) it is snappy again.

Megan

HI @wellenreitr, since this happens in a different folder outside of your Dropbox folder, then this would most likely indicate that it has something to do with the device, or the Windows OS.

The fact that your Dropbox folder is located on an external drive is also not ideal.

Do you happen to have a lot of content, in your Dropbox folder too?

wellenreitr

Final Update / Solution: The culprit was Apple iCloud for Windows. Process Explorer showed me iCloud Photos popping up on each folder action.

Waldbaer

Yeah, I read several threads about that and finally you found it: iCloud seemed to be the problem. I could not identify what exactly was the problem (I don't use photos on iCloud at all and on Windows only use iCloud drive very sparingly), but uninstalling and even reinstalling iCloud for Windows did the job. Thanks a lot!