Changes I make to files on my PC do not reflect on Dropbox

Question

I thought the idea of Dropbox was that if I change the file on my PC then the changes appear on Dropbox?

So in other words, I edit the original copy of the file on my PC, the copy of that file that I have put in my Dropbox folder on my PC gets automatically updated and then the updated copy appears on Dropbox and on all my other devices that can access that Dropbox account.

So in other words, I do not have to manually copy and paste files into the Dropbox folder after I edit them every time. This should happen automatically after I edit and save a file in it's original folder on my PC.

If this is correct, my Dropbox does not do this and hasn't for years. I have looked at it from time to time and I have never been able to figure out WTF is going on. I am not PC illiterate. There must be something very simple that I am missing.

I have all updated apps and new devices. I just reinstalled Dropbox on my PC and deleted the file (an excel file) I'm using to test. Then I added the file back to the Dropbox folder. It appears on Dropbox and my devices. It is not in a folder on the dropbox site it just sits in the root directory. However, I made a change to the file on my PC and saved it and the copy of the file in the Dropbox folder remains unchanged and therefore it is unchanged on my other devices.

What am I missing?

Thanks for your help

Hannah · Answer

Not a problem, @Jiefoo!

Indeed, if you want your changes to sync to your account online and your other devices, the changes need to be made within the Dropbox folder.

I hope this helps, but if you come across any issues, let us know!

Jiefoo · Answer

Thanks for your reply Hannah.

I thought when I update a file outside of the dropbox folder, the copy of that file in the dropbox folder should automatically update as well.

The copy of my file in the dropbox folder does not change when I change the original file that is outside the dropbox folder.

Thanks again for your help.

Hannah · Answer

Hey @Jiefoo, thanks for posting to our Community.

When updating a file on your computer, in order for the changes to sync to your Dropbox account, the changes need to made within the Dropbox folder.

Is this the process you're following?

If you update a file outside the Dropbox folder, even if the same file exists in the Dropbox folder as well, the changes you make won't sync; only the ones made in the Dropbox folder.

Let me know if this is not happening in your case, or if you have any questions.