Dropbox no longer syncs automatically on my Windows 7 computers

@Hannah

Problem resolved? Let me restate the problem:

After replying to Hannah's question about the information shown when hovering over the dropbox icon, I brought up a file from my local dropbox files, stored locally on my Windows 7 computer. I made an edit on that local file, then hit the Save button, and exited the file. Then I logged into my dropbox account online, went to the file which I had edited locally, and saw that the file had been appropriately updated.

So, it looks like dropbox has been actually syncing Ok.

Apparently, for some (Windows) reason, the icon in the taskbar was not bringing up the list of my local dropbox files. I then created a new desktop icon for dropbox, and that worked fine. I then deleted the non-working taskbar icon.

So I think now all is good (fingers crossed). Many thanks to Hannah and to all the Dropbox community for pitching in and helping me with my perceived (non)problem. I see now I was just misunderstanding the problem, which was actually a Windows problem

Best wishes to all!!

All comments

Welcome to the Community, @stephenroberts999!

Just to clarify, does Dropbox not start automatically once you turn your computers on, or does the Dropbox icon randomly disappear while you work on your devices?

What happens if you manually launch the Dropbox app from your Programs? Does it randomly crash at some point, or does it seem to sync properly then?

Finally, have you made sure that the "Start Dropbox on system startup" setting is enabled on both your computers?

Keep me posted for any updates.

Hi Nancy! Thank you for replying. In both computers Dropbox is set to start up power up. When I left click on the DB icon in my taskbar I just see the "wait circle" going for maybe 5 -10 seconds, but then nothing happens.

Hi Nancy! I'm kind of panicking here, thus my somewhat garbled replies. Let me try and clarify.

In msconfig I see that Dropbox is set to start up on system startup (checkmark is present in the checkbox). I have the DB ico in my taskbar. when I left-click the DB icon I see the "wait circle" spinning for 5-10 seconds. Then the desktop should open, but nothing happens.

When log into my Dropbox online, I see that the most recent changes I made to a couple of my files do not appear in the online files. The changes are only updated locally in my local DB folder. In msconfig under General/Startup Selection I have Normal Startup "Load all device drivers and services". In msconfig Startup tab Dropbox is also set to start up (checkbox checked) at system startup

Needless to say, any help/suggestions you can provide would be Most Appreciated.

Thank you so much!

Also, in answer to your question, my Dropbox in the taskbar stays steady on, does not randomly disappear.

Hannah

Hi from me as well, @stephenroberts999!

If you simply hover over the Dropbox icon in your system tray, what's the sync status and version of the app there?

Do you see any error messages?

Hi Hannah!

Thanks for responding. In answer to your question, when I hover over the DB icon in the taskbar I just get the little indicator saying [Dropbox]. Nothing else. Nothing regarding sync status or app version.

And, speaking of app version, I started with DB back in ~2014. I don't recall ever actively updating the app, unless DB auto-updates as a background process. Do you think the behavior I'm seeing could be related to using an old un-updated version? Should I update or reinstall the app? If so, what is the best way to correctly do that in my situation?

I just think it's odd that both instances of Dropbox on my two computers (PC, Windows 7) Dropbox have stopped running/syncing/connecting in the same way at the same time, despite the computers being in different locations (home, work) and on different connectivity (different networks, different ISPs, etc ). My DB files are no longer getting updated when I go to look at them online on the DB website. It's as though syncing/communicating has gotten turned off on my Dropbox account.

Thanks again for your response. I would greatly appreciate any comments/suggestions you may have.

Best,

-Steve

Hi again, Steve! Can you send me a screenshot of what you see, when hovering over the Dropbox icon in your taskbar, just so that we can have a visual?

Regarding what you mention next, the Dropbox app generally gets automatically updated to the latest version, so you shouldn’t need to manually update it each time.

Hello everyone!

I'm still stuck with my dropbox not syncing or connecting when clicking on my dropbox icon. What happens if I re-install my dropbox? Do you think that would help?

Suggestions anyone?

Many thanks!

That may help. Please try it, and let us know how it goes.

Same problem here in The Netherlands.
Sync doesn't work well after 10 years 😞

Wilma, thanks for your comment! I guess it's just another global problem, among many!! 😧😧

@Nancy: I'll try a re-install and let you know. Thanks.

No problem, @stephenroberts999!

@WilmaE, can you send me more info on the issue you're having, so that I can further help (e.g. what's your OS version, what's happening exactly etc)?

@Nancy @Hannah, others,

Before I charge off and do a delete/reinstall on dropbox, I'd like to air my basic concern (again). The error I am experiencing happened at the same time on two separate Windows 7 computers. One computer is located at my home, the other is located at work. They are on two totally separate networks, separate connectivity, etc. Each computer has the same installation of Dropbox.

Since the same error occurred at the same time on both computers, it makes me think something (the same thing) happened to the Dropbox on both computers basically at the same time. What could account for this? I'm thinking maybe something happened to my Dropbox account at Dropbox which affected both instances of Dropbox on both my computers. Like maybe a disable switch got set on my account at Dropbox. I don't mean this is literally what happened, but I'm thinking what could account for the behavior I'm seeing simultaneously on two separate computers ???

For what it's worth, on both computers the Dropbox folders and files all show the green circle with white checkmarks. No error indicators. It simply seems like my Dropbox access is shut off.

All comments much appreciated!! Thanks!

Jay

Hi @stephenroberts999, could you clarify what is the exact version of Windows 7 you're running on both devices?

Do you have any proxy, VPN, firewall, security software, or even ISP/router settings that could be restricting traffic to the following Dropbox domains?

Hi Jay, thanks for jumping in on this. Version is Windows 7 Ultimate, service pack 1.

I have no proxy, VPN, or firewall. Security software is Windows Defender, and no ISP or router settings that I made or am aware of that might get in the way of syncing with Dropbox.

Whatever the source of the problem is, it's affecting both computers simultaneously, even though each of my two computers are running on different networks, different ISPs, and are located physically distant (1 at home and 1 at work).

Any ideas you may have would be most appreciated. Thanks!

Hi Nancy, it's quite simple; I didn't change anything, but some documents aren't uploaded on both my laptops, and others are uploaded...

This is what I copied 4 you:

Editie Windows 10 Home
Versie 22H2
Installatiedatum ‎31-‎7-‎2020
Build van besturingssysteem 19045.3803
Ervaring Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19053.1000.0

Walter

Hey @WilmaE & @stephenroberts999 sorry to jump in, but could you send us a screenshot of the app's exact status and version as shown in your system tray?

Are you able to see your files on the website from both devices by the way?

Hi Walter, and Others,

Thanks for joining in. It turns out all 3 of my Windows 7 computers no longer connect/sync to Dropbox. This problem showed up on all 3 computers at the same time, approximately 2 weeks ago. When I hover over the icon in the task tray all I see is the word "Dropbox". When I click on the Dropbox icon I just see the "Loading circle" revolving for 5-6 seconds looking like Dropbox is getting ready to start, but then Dropbox does not open.

Since the same error shows on all 3 computers, and since the problem started on all 3 computers at the same time, I'm thinking the problem is related to something wrong with my account at the Dropbox server, not with my individual computers. The probability that this problem would develop on 3 different computers running on different networks with different connectivity I believe would be very small. The problem is common to all 3 machines.

Is there any way the tech people running/maintaining the Dropbox servers could check the status of my Dropbox functionality/status at Dropbox?

Thanks to all in this thread! Your help is very much appreciated!!

Yes Walter, here's both of them
Dropbox versie.jpg

And I must say the last synced photoos were all uploaded automaticly about 27 minutes ago ! 🙂
(a week old)

Hannah

Hey @stephenroberts999, there are a few things we can still check, while we're on this thread, so could you please also send us a screenshot of the sync status of the app?

I know you said hovering over the Dropbox icon just shows "Dropbox", but are you hovering over the icon shown in @WilmaE 's screenshot?

That's the icon we're looking for, the small one by the clock.

@WilmaE, thanks for the screenshot, however, since you're not hovering over the Dropbox icon, or haven't clicked on it, the sync status doesn't appear.

Can you please try one more time?

You did say that the files got synced, though, so is the issue resolved at the moment?

Yes Hannah, it's resolved now

Hi Hannah,

Ok, so hovering over the Dropbox icon at the lower right-hand corner of the desktop screen I see:

"Dropbox 188.4.6302"

"Your files are up to date"

and a little red square with the number "2" in it.

Does this suggest anything about my Dropbox ?

Thanks!

Walter

Hey @stephenroberts999, could you click on the Dropbox icon in your system tray and then on your account's profile pic to see if you have any unread notifications?

You can also try the latest stable version of the app from this page directly.