I have some files (not all) that are in Dropbox that do not sync/ update from my desktop to my hand-held devices. They updated for a long time but now have started not updating which is very inconvenient. Can anybody help, please?
Thank you.
Hey @bulldogman, thanks for joining our Community.
It sounds like there might be a syncing issue with the Dropbox application on the particular computer, so let's see what we can find.
What's the sync status of the Dropbox app on your computer?
You can see that along with the app version when hovering over the Dropbox icon in your system tray/menu bar.
Also, are the files all accessible from your account online?
Let me know and we'll go from there.
Thank you for your help, Hannah. I don't have the app on my desktop. I get into it through a link, thus no icon. Do I need to install the app on my desktop as well?
The files are accessible on my desktop, but not iPhone or iPad.
Hopefully, this will help.
Hey @bulldogman if you wish you can install our app, but that purely depends on your personal preference.
If you're used to the website, that's no problem at all.
So, just to sum the situation up: you're adding content using your account online, but the files aren't visible when you open your mobile app.
Have you made sure that both your iPhone and iPad are using the same account as the one you're signing into online?
Also, if you edit an existing file, can you see when changes when you open your mobile app?
I will need to check the accounts on the mobile devices, but I am 99% sure they are the same as the desktop. Excel files that I edit on the desktop do not update to the mobile devices. That is the problem.
Thanks for the heads up @bulldogman!
If you could check, that'd be lovely.
Does that only happen with Excel files? If you add a new file, I am guessing you can see it on the mobile app, right?
Most of what I use are Excel, but I will try adding a new file and let you know.
Thanks.
I don't know what happened to the reply I sent yesterday, but I created an Excel spreadsheet and a Word document and saved them to Owner>DropBox>Personal Files on my desktop. Neither appears in DropBox on my mobile devices.
I was unable to figure out the account my mobile devices were using, but I am fairly certain it is the same as I have been using with no problems for a few years.
Thank you
Hi @bulldogman, could you clarify exactly how you add files into a Dropbox folder when you said you don't have the Dropbox desktop application installed on your machine?
Are you instead uploading the files to the Dropbox website?
I clicked on a shortcut I have for Owner>DropBox>Personal Folder, which is where the files have always been. It goes through the DropBox website rather than an app. To add new files, I just put them in that folder.
In order to understand what you're referring to, please could you attach a screenshot showing this?
This is the Personal Files folder that II have on my desktop. You see "Journal" highlighted
This is what I see when I open that folder on my phone. "Journal" should be between the two circled files, but it isn't
Is the file open at all? Can you close it if it is.
If not try dragging the file out of Dropbox, letting it sync completely and then readding it.
I assume you're talking about on the desktop. I can certainly take it our of DropBox, but what do you mean by "letting it sync completely"? It's already up to date.
bulldogman wrote: I can certainly take it our of DropBox, but what do you mean by "letting it sync completely"?
I can certainly take it our of DropBox, but what do you mean by "letting it sync completely"?
It isnt up to date, however, for some unknown reason.
So when taking it out of the Dropbox directory you need to wait/see if it does a sync to notice the removal of it. OR even better still, reboot the device.
OK. I will give that a try. Thanks.
Removed Personal from DropBox folder to desktop, rebooted the computer, and put folder back in DropBox. It still is not showing up on my phone.
Hey @bulldogman!
Could you check for a little Dropbox icon on your task bar next to your WiFi? Do you see it present there?
If so, can you hover your mouse over it, and let me know the app's current version and syncing status?
It should look something like this:
Don't have such an icon.
In that case, could you install the app using this link?
Either the app has been uninstalled, or it was never installed on the machine.
What they're getting at is that in order for you to be able to put files into the Dropbox folder on your computer and have them upload to your account online, you need to have the Dropbox application installed. Previously you stated that you don't have it installed. Without it, Dropbox can't take the files in your Dropbox/Personal Files folder and add them to your account.
If you install the Dropbox application and sign in to your account, it will sync your files between your computer and your account online, and then your mobile will be able to browse those files.
I will give that a try. Thanks.
Added the app, restarted the computer, and still the file is not showing up on phone or Ip.ad
Update - App won't open from tool bar or File Explorer. I suspect that may be part of the issue, but no idea how to fix.
Hi from me as well, @bulldogman. To clarify, if you go to your online account here, you still can’t see your Excel file, correct?
Can you let me know the current syncing status and app version of your desktop app?
That is correct; I do not see the file there. I would guess the syncing status would be "Not Syncing" since I updated a different file on my phone, and it was not changed on my desktop. As I mentioned above, the app icon did not open anything, and I deleted it. Basically, we are still at square one - with current files on my desktop and old ones on my mobiles.
Hi again, @bulldogman!
I've been reading through this thread and there are a few things to note about the info we've gathered so far.
From what I can see from your screenshots, the folder you're adding files to on your desktop is called "Personal Files", whereas the folder shown in the screenshot from your phone, is called "Home Personal Files".
Also, like Rich suggested at some point, in order for your files to sync from your desktop to your Dropbox account online and your other connected devices, you need to have the Dropbox app installed on your desktop.
That app creates a folder named "Dropbox" in your file explorer, which has syncing abilities and any changes you make to the files in that folder, sync to your Dropbox account.
Now that you've installed the Dropbox app, do you have a small Dropbox icon at the bottom right of your screen, by the clock?
And if so, what do you see when you hover over it with your mouse?
The "HOME" you are seeing is the next folder up from Personal Files, not part of the file name (note, it is preceded by a back arrow:
I do have a Dropbox icon on my toolbar (not quite next to the clock but on the far right of the toolbar). If I click on the icon, I get the spinning wheel for a few seconds, but nothing opens.
Thanks for the clarification on the folder, @bulldogman.
Regarding the app, if you uninstall it, restart the computer and then reinstall it, does it make any difference?
Thanks, Hannah. I will give that a try. Out of town right now, so it may be a day or 2.
Well, now things have gotten really strange. I tried to uninstall the DropBox app and it wouldn't uninstall. The loading bar wouldn't advance beyond approximately the 3/4 mark even after 6 hours. Now what please?
