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Why are files made available offline on Android sometimes not available?

I use Dropbox to store all my music files(MS word). I use my Windows 10 PC to create all of the files. All of the files upload fine into Dropbox. I make the folder contents available off line on 2 Android tablets. In previous Dropbox versions I could see if all the files were updated with the file unticked till synced then the green tick when synced. I am never sure now if the full sync is complete (I have around 800 song files). The "green tick" seems to be there BUT I have found that some files, not many, are not available when I get to an event , one tablet may have the file but not the other (I turn wifi off when I leave home as I don't want random pop ups etc). Am I missing something or can anybody point me to a solution. A quick way of confirming sync would be fine. Thanks. Dave

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Jay

Have you tried these steps to keep the files updated on the mobile app?

All comments

Jay

Hi @Dave81, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Are the files that you're experiencing this issue with random, or the same files as previous occasions?

Have you tried removing the offline option, and then making them offline again to see if this helps?

This will help me to assist further!

Dave81

Hi Jay,

No it seems to be random files. I get the feeling that maybe it hasn't sync'd up fully. Before I set of for a gig I connect to wifi , run Dropbox , and leave it for maybe 30 mins. I'm sure that I have all "green" ticks, although I cant check all 700 tracks. I then disconnect wifi. At the venue occasionally an odd track will not load (despite being "green") , its maybe 4 or 5 tracks each time , not the same files, but ones that I have probably edited. Is there something that can tell me if a full sync has been achieved before I disconnect wifi ? In the meantime I will try taking them all off "available off line" then putting them all back. Thanks. Dave

Hannah

Hey @Dave81, I hope you don't mind me jumping in here.

Usually the icon of the white downward-facing arrow in a green circle indicates that a file is available offline.

One thing I'd like to clarify, though, is what you said in your initial message about using Dropbox to store your music files; you also mentioned MS Word.

Can you give us a bit more info on what you meant about MS Word?

Dave81

Hi Hannah, Yes the green tick(or arrow) says that the file is available off line. BUT ,and I must say on rare occasions, the odd file will fail to download with an error (I must remember to make a note of that). I always take 2 Android tablets and it is usually OK on the other one, there is no pattern to which one I get the problem with. A simple indication would be great once syncing is finished , maybe a big green tick somewhere. Files are standard Microsoft Word , just standard docx format. Thanks. Dave

Megan

Hey Dave!

Usually when you add files in your account using our desktop app, the next step would be for the app to sync these additions to your account online.

Next step is for these changes to sync to your mobile app, but that usually won't take as long -depending on the size & the volume of course- and it might also happen in the background.

Would you mind clarifying your device's OS, and the Dropbox version you use there? Also, do you use these steps to make your content available offline.

Dave81

Hi Megan, The process you describe is exactly what I do. Adding files to Dropbox from my PC always works. I have songs going back to 2014 (in MS word) and have used the system since then. A while ago there must have been an update that stopped the rotating "sync" icon showing the update process. When synced , the icon would show green with the tick. (which I have since learned is a down arrow??) It was easy to see progress and I could leave the tablet on line until I could see that all off the files were "green" That is no longer the case and there are occasions where the file shows green BUT it is not available offline. I need to turn off WiFi to prevent any "pop ups" etc whilst playing. I'm using Windows 10, Android App version 384.2.2. Thanks. Dave

Megan

Hey @Dave81, just to make sure we're on the same page: are you talking about the icons when you access our desktop app, or mobile app?

Feel free to send me some screenshots if you have any, in order for me to get the visual too.

Dave81

Hi Megan, I never have a problem with my Dropbox desktop app. This is the only way I add new files or edit existing files. Its the Android mobile app that I have problems with. Updates or additions made on my desktop PC update my Drobox folder fine. BUT ... it is never clear if these updates have been done on my Android tablet (despite the "green tick/arrow" showing that it is in sync). The problem is there is no indication as to what is happening on the tablet , there is no prompt to say that "Sync is in progress" or "sync is complete" If I update a file from the PC there is no way of knowing if the file on the tablet has updated......the green tick/arrow does not show this , as it stays green even tho the file is out of date. Hope this info helps. Thanks.

Hannah

Hi again, Dave!

Just to confirm, when you update your files through the Dropbox folder on your computer, do your updates appear in your account on dropbox.com as normal?

Dave81

Yes always updated as normal. I always just "copy and paste" the files i want updated. Like I said , this has worked fine for the last 10 years to both my tablets. It would be solved if there was a message to say e.g "700 files synced at 19:25" or "Sync in progress"

Jay

Hi @Dave81, do you see the old version of the file in the Dropbox mobile app, or the Office app?

Generally, for Office documents, there is a cached copy in the Office app itself, and that might not get updated with the latest copy from Dropbox, which could be why you're seeing an older version of the file.

Dave81

Any new file version I make , done on the PC, is manually uploaded to Dropbox so is obviously updated fine. Its on the tablet where I do not know if the file has synced or not as it displays the green tick even when I know that it is not in sync. is it not possible to have some way of informing that all "available off line" files were synced at whatever time ?

Jay

Have you tried these steps to keep the files updated on the mobile app?