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Dropbox changing settings and files created in Word.

When I save or put Word files in Dropbox, when I go back to work on them, I am getting the message that they are Read Only, even though that's not my setting in Word. I then can't save the work that I've just done. In addition, sometimes Word files end up having their names changed to a long string of letters and digits, and I get the message that they are saved into a folder titled old.files--but no search reveals that file, nor can Word access the file once that has happened. I'm losing my mind here!

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Megan

Hi @persprof, thanks for posting here!

Can you clarify the platform you're using, in order to edit your Word files? Do you use our desktop, or mobile app?

Have you made sure that both Word and your Dropbox app are up to date, and that you're using their latest versions in case you're using your mobile?

Does that happen with all of your files, or a specific file type? Can you also send me a few screenshots of the steps you follow, and the error you receive on your end, along with the file names changing in order for me to have a clear visual?

Keep me posted!

persprof

Hi Megan,

-I use the desktop app.

-I'm using the latest version

-so far it has only happened with Word files. It has happened on 2 computers, one I know has the most up to date version of Word; the other one I'll have to check (one is at home and one is at work).

-Confusingly, it doesn't happen every time, but I will take screen shots the next time it happens and post those.

Thanks! Julie

persprof

I've attached screenshots below, showing what happens when a Word file I've been working on (that lives in a folder in Dropbox) becomes uneditable. Screen Shot 2023-04-26 at 1.38.40 PM.png

Jay

HI @persprof, I can see that the file is located in the Dropbox cache folder, which isn't meant to be the place to open, edit or save files. Most likely, you're trying to edit a cache copy, hence all the permission issues.

Could you try locating the real file in your Dropbox folder and try editing it from there instead?

persprof

Hi Jay,

I hope you're feeling patient, because this gets complicated. . The problem is that sometimes I can go into the real file and open the doc and edit. But sometimes when I try to do this, I am told that the real file (original file I was working on) is "Read only," and it won't allow me to make edits. Other time, the caching to old.files happens while I've still got the Word doc open (just haven't worked on it for awhile), and when I go back, I can't save or do any editing because it's become Read Only. I know it would be easier to diagnose if it happened all the time in a consistent way, but it doesn't.

THanks!

Jay

Could you clarify exactly how you 'open' the file?

Are you going into Recents in Finder, and you opening it directly from the Dropbox folder, or by opening Word and navigating to the file?

persprof

I don't go to Recents in Dropbox, but I do go to the folder for a document and double-click to open it from there.

Hannah

Thanks for the additional info, @persprof.

If you just quit the Dropbox app, do these issues you're having still persist?

S-Etherea

Same happening to me. Since the recent update, when using the Android App, all Word files are 'read only' when opened through dropbox, yet fine on my desktop app. This is the same folder and files that I've used no problems before. I can't even save a word file on my Android to dropbox. I tried uninstalling the app and reinstalling, now it tells me I have to update the app to open word files. Sadly, the app is up to date

Hannah

Hey @S-Etherea, sorry to see you're having this issue.

Have you reached out to Microsoft about this at all?

persprof

really sorry you're having the same problem, but appreciate you posting so I know I'm not along and losing my mind! 🙂

S-Etherea

No I haven't because I can open the files if I save it to my device or in the Microsoft Onedrive, I just have this issue when the file is in Dropbox. And since uninstalling and reinstalling yesterday, I can't even open word files from Dropbox because I get a message that I need to update Dropbox. I note another person just posted this same issue in the forum.

Megan

Hi @S-Etherea, can you clarify the OS your device uses, and make sure both the Dropbox app, and Microsoft are up-to-date there?

Can you also attach here, some screenshots of the error message you get when trying to preview your files using the Dropbox app?