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Duplicating files locks the file name (Mac Desktop App)

Since updating to Ventura 13.4.1 whenever I duplicate a file, I'm unable to change the name of the file. I can open it and make edits, and I can edit the original file's name, but not the duplicate. When I duplicate to local files, the issue doesn't persist. When I duplicate to dropbox, it won't let me move the file to local.

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MissDylan

Problem went away after I changed which folders were selectively synced (unrelated to the folders I was working in).

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Walter

Hey there @MissDylan, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Could you clarify the desktop app's status and version as shown in your menu bar at the moment and also let us know your Dropbox folder's location as shown in the app's preferences under the sync tab?

Also, may I ask if you're working in your Dropbox folder when duplicating and editing your files?

Can you please let us know if this persists when you close the Dropbox app completely?

Any additional information or screenshots are more than welcome!

MissDylan

Status: "Your files are up to date" No sync issues.

v177.4.5399
Location ("This version of macOS requires Dropbox be stored here:") .../Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox

I am working inside of Dropbox while duplicating/editing; If I duplicate from local to Dropbox, problem still persists. No problem when just moving items around.

When I quit the Dropbox app, the problem still occurs, although it looks like some background processes might still be running since I still have all of the options when I right-click, even though I don't see anything with Dropbox in the name in my processes list.

Some other troubleshooting I've done: restarting the computer, switching new files default from "Online-only" to "Available offline"

Megan

Hi @MissDylan, sorry to jump in here!

Does that happen with files that are both online-only and available offline?

Do you see any specific errors when trying to rename the duplicate file? Also, just to clarify did you quit the app using these steps?

MissDylan

Yes, I've tried with both online-only and available offline files.

No error messages pop up with renaming; Option to rename isn't available when right-clicking, editing the info window. I get an error "bonk" when pressing enter or double-clicking. I was getting an error message when trying to move the problem files saying I don't have permission.

Yes I followed those steps to close.

No idea what happened, but as of this morning it's working perfectly fine. I didn't restart my computer, same version of Dropbox, no changes since last troubleshoot. This was going on for over a week, and now I guess it's done...

Edit: Just kidding! I was in my Box folder not Dropbox, problem is the same. (Sorry I haven't had coffee yet)

Walter

Could you maybe send us a couple of screenshots of how it looks on your end so that we can have a visual too @MissDylan?

MissDylan

Problem went away after I changed which folders were selectively synced (unrelated to the folders I was working in).

Megan

Awesome news @MissDylan!

If you need anything else, let me know! 😊

stefanoluz

I've been having exactly the same problem and, to be honest, i don't understand the proposed solution. My whole dropbox folder is marked to be available offline, although some subfolders have the green ticks next to each name whereas others don't. Also, when I control-click on a file or folder it still gives me the option to "make available offline" even though it should already be like that since that's the setting for the entire dropbox folder. Very confusing.

Megan

Hi @stefanoluz, welcome to our Community!

From what I understand, it sounds like duplicate files within your Dropbox folder can't be renamed, am I on the right track?

If not, feel free to clarify. Also, can you let me know the app's current syncing status, along with the version you're using on your end?

As for the available offline situation, and your syncing icons, could you send me a few screenshots, in order for me to also have a visual too?

Keep me posted!

TrickyD

I have exactly , the same problem - and it can lead to data loss , if you duplicate a word doc for example , you can't rename the copy in Finder , but Word will let you do a save as to a new name and word is happy its been saved , but it hasn't the new name will show as 0 bytes, so if you delete the copy you have no version on disk.

Dropbox just seems to be badly broken on Macos now - GoogleDrive and MS OneDrive on the same machine have no such issues but they still support removable disks - the removal of that was when the problems started for me, so I'm migrating my files over to GoogleDrive and OneDrive and ending my dropbox subscription