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I put all files available offline, but Dropbox doesn't download them.

Hi! I recently bought a new Macbook and wanted to sync my files to my new computer. Unfortunately, I am unable to download all the files. They are mostly kept in the cloud. I changed the preferences to offline in the Dropbox settings, but this did nothing. What to do?

I need to have all my files available offline, because the cloud version prevents me from searching files and file contents via Spotlight and browsing through pictures is a drag.

I have the latest Dropbox, 2TB subscription, Macbook M3 Pro, all the latest updates.

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Megan

Hey there, @Rocky B.2, I hope you're doing well!

Just to make sure we're on the same page here, are these the steps you followed in order to make your files available offline?

Would you mind clarifying the OS you're using, along with the Dropbox version that you have installed on the device?

If you could also check your syncing status, that'd be amazing.

Keep me posted!

Rocky B.2

Hi Megan,

Dropbox->Preferences->Available Offline checked

Sync status: Your files are up to date.

Sonoma 14.6

v204.4.5420

What should I do? It's been several days, and the folders have not been downloaded. Screenshot 2024-08-06 at 21.01.25.png

Nancy

Hey @Rocky B.2, sorry for jumping in. Are you seeing both these icons next to all of your files or next to your folders?

What if you right-click directly on your Dropbox folder and choose to make it available offline? Are your files downloaded locally then?

Rocky B.2

Yes, I see it with all the files. If I right-click on them and make them available offline, it sometimes does sometimes doesn't, freezing (photo below). In any case, the app should do it automatically as I've enabled it to make all my files available offline. Could you please offer solutions? I pay for Dropbox and have not been able to do my work for several days now.

Screenshot 2024-08-08 at 07.34.40.png

Megan

Hey @Rocky B.2, if you're referring to the setting inside the app's preferences, then you need to keep something in mind:

The setting is applied to newly added files when you add them through the website.

So, when you create, or upload a file through the website that should sync as available offline. As for the files freezing when you try to change their status, do you mean that there's no progress in the syncing of the file at all?

How long does it take until it eventually syncs the content?

Rocky B.2

1. The mentioned text files don't become available offline at all (though they do open online via browser).

2. Thanks for explaining the logic of the preferences settings. It sounds bizarre, but I guess you have your reasons. In any case, this is not helpful for me as I need to have my files accessible to me offline *at all times*. I explained it quite clearly. Please tell me what to do.

Jay

Hi @Rocky B.2, have you right-clicked the Dropbox folder itself in Finder and chosen the 'Available offline' option?

Rocky B.2

Jay - you are not being helpful. I've gone over this several times. Of course, I've tried to make the Dropbox folder available offline, as I've done with several subfolders. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Your app is incredibly unreliable and unpredictable. Just yesterday, I tried to play a film clip for my students that I believed was on my hard drive, but no, it was on the cloud, and it took forever to download. It interrupted the class. This is ridiculous. Over the past few months I've tried to make dozens of my folders available offline, but it doesn't work, at least not always. You basically ruined your app and I'm dropping my subscription. I simply won't renew it. You may think you keep my files hostage on your cloud, but luckily, I made copies of them on an external hard drive before.

I can't stress enough how incredibly disappointed I am in your app. You destroyed the only thing that made you stand out among the competitors. You've become a scam.

ianrobbo10

Did you ever find a solution for this? I've been having the same issue on my macbook pro for years with Dropbox and they still haven't fixed it.

For me what can help is closing the Dropbox app and then trying to sync folders, or restarting my computer then syncing, but it doesn't always work. It's rubbish, and they are clearly clueless about how to fix it (or more likely just don't care) as there are loads of people complaining about the same thing on the forums for ages now.