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Is there any way to delete files that are waiting to be synced?

Dear Dropbox team,

I created a folder to store some results, which amounted to ~ 1 million files. Now, when I try to delete it, a message pops up saying: "availability status: sync pending". The problem is that, because there are so many files, I don't know when the syncing process will end, and I'd like to delete such a folder as soon as possible.

I tried pausing the sync and moving the folder out of dropbox, but to no avail.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

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Megan

Hey @pietrovalelongo, let's see what we can find together about this!

As a first step, would you be able to send me a screenshot of the message you get when trying to delete the folder? I'd like to have a visual too.

Also, what is the app's current syncing status?

I'd like for you to try something too. Can you quit the app instead of pausing it, then move the folder outside of Dropbox and then sign back in? Do you notice the same syncing behavior when you do that?

Let me know more, and we'll take it from there.

pietrovalelongo

Megan, thanks for your swift response. Yes, I attach here the message returned when I try to delete the folder.

The app's syncing status, if I am checking the right spot, is "syncing 1,457,425 files..."

Even after quitting Dropbox, I cannot move the folder outside of Dropbox; the same error message appears

Megan

Hi @pietrovalelongo, thanks for the heads up!

Based on the screenshot this looks like a Windows message, not a Dropbox-related one.

You earlier mentioned an error that said "availability status: sync pending". Do you have a screenshot of that one too?

Also, seeing as the folder is called "temp", could it be related to another program, or did you create it?

Can you open your device's activity monitor and then quit all open apps, including Dropbox once again, and then try deleting the folder?

Rich

@Megan wrote:
You also mentioned earlier an error that said "availability status: sync pending". Do you have a screenshot of that one too?

It's in the same screenshot as the windows error, directly under the folder name and date. I'm wondering if this has anything to do with Microsoft's Cloud Sync API, now that Dropbox uses it. Even with Dropbox closed, does the API know that these files need to be synced?

pietrovalelongo

The "availability status: Sync pending" error is in the image, directly below "Data created". I created the file and named it "temp". I cannot access the activity monitor because I do not have admin rights...

I think the only solution is waiting for the sync to end and then deleting it. The downside is that this is going to take some time

Jay

Hi @pietrovalelongo, thanks for the info. Is this a company-managed device?

Do you know if the Dropbox desktop application is installed with admin permissions as it might affect certain syncing functions in the app?

Let us know how it goes when the sync is completed.

Megan

Hi there, @pietrovalelongo!

A quick follow-up to our last message! Let us know if you still need assistance or if everything is working as expected.

pietrovalelongo

Hi Megan,

Thank you very much for your follow up. As of now, I am still waiting for the files to sync

Nancy

Hi from me as well, @pietrovalelongo! Since you’ve already tried quitting the Dropbox app and it didn’t make a difference, I’d like to suggest a slightly different route as a test.

Can you go to your desktop app preferences next, disable the automatic launch of the Dropbox app at system startup and then, restart your computer? Do you still receive the same error if you try to delete your folder after that?

pietrovalelongo

Hi Nancy, I will try this.

Dropbox got stuck when roughly 100k files were left to be synchronized. Then I had to quit the app. After that, I wrote that a Stata code to delete the files. In deed, they do not appear in my desktop anymore. However, if I open Dropbox, it says it is still syncing more than 1.3m files. I cannot understand this, since (i) the files were already deleted, and (ii) even if that was not the case, almost all files were already synchronized when I quit the Dropbox app (since only 100k file remained unsync).

Nancy

Hey @pietrovalelongo! Since it’s been a few days since your last post, can you clarify the number of files currently syncing on your desktop app? Has the number changed at all in the meantime, or is your Dropbox app still syncing more than 1 million files?

In case the Dropbox app appears to be stuck, you can unlink it next and then, relink it on your computer.

pietrovalelongo

Now, it is still in the ballpark of 870k

Megan

Hey @pietrovalelongo, do you notice any improvements at all?

One more thing I'd like to note: It might be worth adjusting your bandwidth settings through the app's preferences under the Bandwidth or Network tab. That way your connection is focused there, and it doesn't throttle the syncing progress.

If this doesn't help, let me know and I'll open a support ticket on my end for you.