Child Item

Dropbox is syncing files that have not been changed.

Device
Lenovo X1 Carbon FGen 13
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
Windows 11
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)
232.4.5988
Syncing Status
Syncing

Question or Issue
This is an annoyance rather than an issue.

I run Thunderbird as my email and I archive old mail to local folders, which I want to sync to Dropbox.

This works fine, and I have a suitable set of .MSF files (over 100, 000) synced to Dropbox.

BUT. Every now and then (not sure how often, I see dropbox is syncing all my thunderbird files, even if they have not been changed.

Can anyone explain how Dropbox determines when to sync?

It is, of course possible that for some reason Thunderbird does something to the files (for no apparent reason), and so I will be asking this same question to the Thunderbird forum.

Thanks, Paul

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Accepted answers

PGB99

Not sure I got to the bottom of this, but you can see the forum thread in the Thunderbird forum,

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1537669

Happy to close this .....for now.

All comments

Jay

Hi @PGB99, thanks for messaging the Community!

In general, the Dropbox desktop application would only sync files if there was some change made to them, as in any new files, deletions, or edits to files.

If you're archiving old mails, which are still accessible via Thunderbird, then it's possible that Thunderbird itself is updating the files, either by editing them, or just by accessing those files it could become an edit in itself (such as a 'last accessed token' in the files somehow).

When you get a response from the Thunderbird forum, please let us know what you find out.

PGB99

I will let you know. I am a bit surprised if dropbox re-syncs if the file has just been looked at though.

Rich

PGB99 wrote:
I am a bit surprised if dropbox re-syncs if the file has just been looked at though.

Something in the file is likely changing. I see the same thing with Outlook archive (.PST) files. Even if a mail archive is simply attached to Outlook, as soon as Outlook closes Dropbox will sync it, and this happens whether I view the archive or not.

Most of these files haven't been looked at in years, never mind edited, yet the files have changed and Dropbox will sync the changes as soon as Outlook closes.

PGB99

Just posted this to theThunderbird forum ....Will come back here when I get a reply.

--------------------------------

Hi, Yes, my Thunderbird client is connecting to Gmail with imap. I am using the Local Folders account to download full copies. I just have a folder hierarchy under the Local Folders a/c where I drag and drop emails to keep them as offline copies.

I can understand if I open any of these, Thunderbird might 'touch' the files and so Dropbox would sync them. But if I haven't looked at a subfolder, I would not think Dropbox would realise.

I noted that this 'full sync' doesn't happen on every open of Thunderbird / Dropbox.

One thought - I use Avast Cleanup Premium to keep safe, and it cleans up things every week, including temp files, cookies etc and cleans caches. Could it be that this makes either Thunderbird or Dropbox forget what has been synced?

Rich

PGB99 wrote:
I use Avast Cleanup Premium to keep safe, and it cleans up things every week, including temp files, cookies etc and cleans caches. Could it be that this ...

ANY process that modifies the files could cause them to sync. If the files are marked as Online-only (i.e. not actually stored locally, just a reference file), then ANY process that TOUCHES the file, including a virus scan, backup, cleanup utility, etc., will cause Dropbox to download it.

So if your files are stored locally (marked as Available offline), and Dropbox is syncing them SOMETHING is changing something within the file. Dropbox won't (and can't) just sync files for no reason, and it won't sync files that haven't changed.

PGB99

Thanks Rich,

I am beginning to think Thunderbird is the culprit.

I am currently on the TB forum as well, so will post any conclusions back here.

Megan

Hey @PGB99!

Still stuck with this, or did you work some magic and fix it? Do you have any updates?

Either way, we'd love to know what fixed it for you, or if you still need some help.

PGB99

Not sure I got to the bottom of this, but you can see the forum thread in the Thunderbird forum,

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1537669

Happy to close this .....for now.