Child Item

File updates are not syncing between my computers

Question or Issue

I am working on MS Word docs and Excel docs on my two laptops. I keep all my documents in shared Dropbox folders. When I edit any doc in one laptop and Save it, even Save As, and then close it -- the old, unedited version is the only one that will open on the other laptop. It does not matter which one I edit on, the folder is not sharing the saved additions and edits.

This feels like the most basic function of Dropbox, but not working for me. It has in the past, but it has been at least months since I have shared other than my recent problems. (It has not worked for weeks, at least.) Just to make sure it is not Windows 360 at fault, I just added a jpg to one folder, saved and closed it. Opening the folder on the other machine, new jpg not there. Help, please!

One laptop is Windows 11, HP Ominibook I bought this year. The other is an old Windows 10 HP Pavilion, which I'll need to retire soon.

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Accepted answers

AceBooker

The desktop app is up running on my old PC, and showing in the task bar. On my new PC it says it is up to date, and only showing when I use the white arrow from the task bar. In checking this I just accepted an update on Dropbox app on new PC. Must it show on the task bar to work?

My old PC is almost out of disc space, and I have been removing content to free up. Just now I made about 30GB of content in Dropbox web only. Mind you, the docs I am currently using are each less than 50K. I assumed that since these tiny Word docs are in the Dropbox cloud, my tight disc space shouldn't be a big problem.

You ask if I see edits on website normally. I only look on the Word doc, not on any website.

GREAT NEWS! By opening the files through the app, instead of choosing and opening via my file folders, right now everything is working as it should! It seems to have broken the logjam, because after doing that I ran a test, and also working via folders. Thank you for inspiring me to figure the solution.

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Walter

Hey there @AceBooker - sorry to hear about your syncing issue.

Can you please let me know if the Dropbox desktop app is running and up to date in your system tray/task bar on both of your computers?

Are you able to see your edits on the website normally?

Any additional information or even screenshots are more than welcome!

AceBooker

You ask if I see edits on website normally. I only look on the Word doc, not on any website.

Theresa

Hi @AceBooker, thanks so much for circling back with an update. I’m really glad to hear your syncing issue is now sorted! We love when folks come back to share what worked, as it really helps others who might run into the same thing.

I’m Theresa 👩‍💻, one of the Community Managers here at Dropbox - welcome back to the forum (it's great to have you here). It’s always great to hear how people are using Dropbox across multiple devices. Now that everything’s syncing as it should, I’m curious .. what kinds of files or projects are you usually working on across your computers?

Looking forward to hearing more,

T 😺 (Dropbox Community Manager)