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I see an older version of my Excel files - how can I get the latest one?

I have 2 excel files that I had saved on my dropbox account. This week I received a new laptop from work and when I opened the files they are a version from several months ago. Is there a way to get those newer versions? What did I do wrong that the files were not updated in my dropbox account?

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Nancy

Hi again, @Dzulkiewski! If you check again the syncing status of your new device, does it say “Up to date”?

If yes, please open your local Dropbox folder there to make sure you see the correct and updated files.

If the old computer has synced everything to www.dropbox.com, then your new computer should be reflecting that, as well.

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Nancy

Hey @Dzulkiewski! Welcome to our forum.

To clarify, are you seeing the correct versions of your files on www.dropbox.com or are those the outdated versions, as well?

When was the last time you could access the correct versions on www.dropbox.com? Can you see more details with these steps?

Let me know what you find.

Dzulkiewski

My old laptop had all the correct files.

Dropbox.com and my new laptop have files that are an older version.

I'm waiting on my IT department to see if my laptop is still in their office, we traded them out last week. So, I started going through files that I have worked on in the last 2 months and none of them are updated on dropbox.com or the new laptop

Dzulkiewski

I followed the steps for version history and one of the files says April of 2023. I have updated that file 2 times this year.

Megan

Hey @Dzulkiewski, let me also jump in here!

It sounds like you were using the app in order to update your files, right?

Based on the version history of these files, there's a chance that the files haven't been updated. The app might have closed unexpectedly, ran out of space or something different might have happened that prevented these files to sync from the device to your account online.

In this case you'd need to somehow reach the old device, and retrieve them from there.

Dzulkiewski

A few more questions while I try to find my old computer. I have a windows machine

On the new computer I downloaded Dropbox and installed it. Dropbox appears in the start menu, but when I click on I see a blue scroll wheel for 10-15sec and then nothing. Any ideas why it won't open?

I want to manually sync to make sure everything is all set, would that option be in the start menu that I cannot open right now?

Jay

Hi @Dzulkiewski, there isn't an option to manually sync, since when the app opens, it should automatically sync the files.

Does the Dropbox desktop application icon appear in the system tray near the clock when you start up the app?

Dzulkiewski

It does not

I've had the new laptop for 4-5 days now and today was the first time a popup menu appeared when I updated a file on dropbox.com that told me the change was made. I'm working with a few other files to see if they update from my laptop to the website and my phone

Jay

Could you check the system tray again and see if there is an up arrow that could be hiding the Dropbox icon?

Dzulkiewski

Nothing

Jay

Could you reinstall the Dropbox desktop application, without uninstalling it first, by using this link, and then reboot your machine?

Dzulkiewski

I tried that. Same result

I click the app icon, blue circle spins for 10 sec and then nothing.

Megan

Hey @Dzulkiewski, would you mind sending me a couple of screenshots of your Windows device task bar, in order for me to have a visual too?

Dzulkiewski

Here is a [removed per Community Guidelines] of what happens when I click on the dropbox links.

Megan

Hey @Dzulkiewski, thanks for that!

However, keep in mind that for security reasons we don't have access to the link you provided, I'm afraid.

If you could send a few screenshots my way, that'd be amazing.

Dzulkiewski

Drop Box is there, but when I click on it the blue wheel spins and then stops.

Task Bar.png

Nancy

@Dzulkiewski, if you look where your computer’s clock settings are showing, do you see the small Dropbox icon then? This is how it should look like.

Dzulkiewski

Yes, I do. There is a red bubble next to it with the number 2 in it

Walter

It sounds like you're referring to your notifications in the desktop app @Dzulkiewski

Could you send us a screenshot so that we can make sure we're on the same page?

Dzulkiewski

Walter

Can you click on the Dropbox icon and check your notifications @Dzulkiewski?

Also, what does it say when you hover your mouse over the app's icon? Is it 'up to date' or still syncing?

Dzulkiewski

It says up to date. All of the notifications are from 7-12 months ago which is when I would have received my previous computer

Hannah

Hey @Dzulkiewski, if the files from the old computer never synced to your account online, they won't get synced on this computer either.

Your best bet now is to regain access to the old computer, because that's the one that had the syncing issue and the most recent versions of your files.

Were you able to access it?

Dzulkiewski

I have the old computer and have moved all the files in question. They are on drop.com now. Anything I should do to ensure everything is syncing properly with the new computer?

Nancy

Hi again, @Dzulkiewski! If you check again the syncing status of your new device, does it say “Up to date”?

If yes, please open your local Dropbox folder there to make sure you see the correct and updated files.

If the old computer has synced everything to www.dropbox.com, then your new computer should be reflecting that, as well.

Dzulkiewski

Sounds good. I appreciate your help and patience. Everything is looking good on my end.