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I can't access my Dropbox files on a new Win11 device, unless I'm signed in to www.dropbox.com.

I just copied all the files and data over to a Optiplex 7070. I have a folder for dropbox with files that I sync with dropbox on the web. Since the move I cannot access the local pc files unless I am logged into Dropbox.com. The files I cannot access have a file box icon over top the original icon for the particular file. What do I do to correct this? I am running the latest version of Windows 11. I also see this on my old pc, an Optiplex 9010 running the latest Windows 10.

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chzuck

I probably use dropbox on my PC for a strange reason. I have 2 other laptops and an iPad. I put the files that I may want on my other PCs in the Dropbox file on my desktop PC, which is my main one. One of the folders in that Dropbox is KeePass, so as I change passwords and update the file in Dropbox KeePass, it will automatically sync with my smart phone running the KeePass phone app. The other files in my Dropbox desktop folder are ones that I may need on the iPad or one of the other laptops. Also I can add a file to Internet Dropbox from the laptops or iPad for the desktop. So, I use it to share files across my devices.

When I copy and pasted the files in the Dropbox folder from my old PC is when the issue started. On the old PC the actual files were viewable whether the pc was connected to Dropbox.com or not. In Dropbox I changed the selection to be able to read the files offline, but that did not allow the files on the desktop to be readable when not connected to Dropbox.com. It is now working on the new PC as it did on the old pc before the copy and paste to the new PC.

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Rich

chzuck wrote:
The files I cannot access have a file box icon over top the original icon for the particular file.

Are you sure this is a Dropbox issue? The file box overlay is not a Dropbox icon. It's from OneDrive.

chzuck wrote:
Since the move I cannot access the local pc files unless I am logged into Dropbox.com.

Assuming your files are located in the local Dropbox folder and OneDrive isn't interfering (which it often does), you should be able to open your files while not signed in to Dropbox or even when not connected to the Internet IF those files are marked as available offline. If they're marked as online-only, then you would need a connection to Dropbox and be signed in to your account to be able to open the files.

Can you provide any screenshots showing the exact issue? Be sure to mask any private information. Also include the version of the Dropbox application and its current sync status. You can see both by hovering your cursor over the Dropbox icon in your system tray.

chzuck

I removed OneDrive. I guess somehow the files became online files. I will download them from drop box and put them into the PC Dropbox folder, unless there is another way to make them offline.

Rich

chzuck wrote:
I will download them from drop box and put them into the PC Dropbox folder, unless there is another way to make them offline.

Just right-click a file or folder within your local Dropbox folder (or right-click the Dropbox folder itself for all files) and select Make available offline.

https://help.dropbox.com/sync/access-files-offline

chzuck wrote:

Those icon overlays are definitely not part of Dropbox.

chzuck

Only my app folder is listed and I have no Modify listed. Right clicking does not give me an option to make available offline. Dropbox version is 231.4.5770. Under the Sync tab I have selected Available offline.

Megan

Hey @chzuck, let's jump right into this!

As a first step, can you check the app's current syncing status to make sure it's updating properly? You can find this by hovering your mouse over the little Dropbox icon in your taskbar next to your WiFi.

Do you right click on content inside your Dropbox folder, when you notice that the "available offline" is missing? Can you send me a full screenshot of what you see when you right click on a file/folder?

Keep me posted!

Rich

chzuck wrote:
I am running the latest version of Windows 11. ... Right clicking does not give me an option to make available offline.

After you right-click, make sure you also select Show more options. Windows 11 hides a lot of context menu items under a sub-menu.

chzuck

First, I never selected the option to not have the files on my PC and I have been using Dropbox for years. This mess started when I copied the files to my new PC under Dropbox. This is finally how I got the files back on my PC to read offline. I was connected to the Dropbox site and I went to my Dropbox folder on my PC and right clicked the files and selected restore to previous version and now it is like I had it on my old PC.

Hannah

Hey @chzuck, I hope it's okay for me to jump in here as well.

Just to make sure we understand the situation, can you let me know why you initially copied the files to your new computer?

If you installed the Dropbox application and then signed in to it with your Dropbox account credentials, the app would sync your files to your computer automatically.

Is this what you wanted to achieve?

Also, is the issue fixed right now? Because I see that you mentioned that you managed to get your files to be available offline eventually.

Let me know.

chzuck

Hannah

Thanks for the update and the clarifications here, @chzuck!

I'm glad to see that you were able to resolve the issue on your end.

If you have any issues again or any other questions, feel free to let us know.

Have a great day!

Theresa

Hi @chzuck and welcome to the Dropbox Community! I’m really glad to hear things are now working on your new Windows 11 device and thank you for coming back to share that update. It’s always great to see these issues get resolved, and your follow up can for sure help others too 🤗.

By the way I’m Theresa 👩‍💻, one of the community managers here at Dropbox. Now that you’re all set up, I’d love to know... do you have a favourite Dropbox feature? I’m always curious to hear what tools people are finding most useful in their setup.

Looking forward to your thoughts,

T 😺 (Dropbox Community Manager)

chzuck

I use dropbox on my main desktop PC to update files in dropbox. com that I need on my other PCs.