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Dropbox not syncing when the document is open

Device: Acer Swiftbook 5
Operating System: Windows 11
Dropbox App Version: 234.4.5591
Dropbox Plan: Plus

Question or Issue

Hi all - I have had Dropbox installed on my laptop for years and it runs just fine. I save everything to it, and everything just saves automatically to Dropbox. I am the only user of the account.

This weekend I had to do a reset of my computer and reinstall all apps (the problem was unrelated to Dropbox). Everything is back up and running, and Dropbox is syncing fine etc with almost everything. But in a couple of apps that I use, although it will save just fine, it will only sync with my account if I close the document entirely. It never used to do this, it would sync as soon as I saved it even if I kept the document open to keep working on it. I can't work out from the help pages why it might be doing that. Most thing work as previously and will sync as soon as saved. Any help gratefully received!

Thanks

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Accepted answers

AC727

Ah I think I've answered my own question - I thought from the prompt that it was asking to move the document per se out of Dropbox but it wasn't, it was just referring to the Backup version. I know how to adjust those settings, so we're all good! Thanks!

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AC727

Device: Acer Swiftbook 5
Operating System: Windows 11
Dropbox App Version: 234.4.5591
Dropbox Plan: Plus

Hi all - I have had Dropbox installed on my laptop for years and it runs just fine. I save everything to it, and everything just saves automatically to Dropbox. I am the only user of the account.

This weekend I had to do a reset of my computer and reinstall all apps (the problem was unrelated to Dropbox). Everything is back up and running, and Dropbox is syncing fine etc. But for some reason in a couple of apps that I use, when I hit 'save' on a working document, I get a prompt asking me if I want to move the document out of Dropbox and into Backups. There's no option to hit 'no', just options to cancel the command to save, or to move the document out of Dropbox. Obviously I DON'T want to move it. I've never had this prompt before and I can't work out what setting I need to adjust to make it stop. I keep having to 'save as' a new version, which is annoying. I've attached a screengrab of the error message. Thanks all!

Mark

AC727 wrote:
I've never had this prompt before and I can't work out what setting I need to adjust to make it stop

That isnt a Dropbox pop up (well the error is, but the save command causing it isnt). Whats happening is the program you are using is trying to save the file to a different location - called Backup.

Open up whatever program it is and change the save location (default one? backup one?) to the Dropbox directory and all will work

Mark

AC727 wrote:
It never used to do this, it would sync as soon as I saved it even if I kept the document open to keep working on it.

When you reinstalled did you install newer/updated software?

This is actually quite common if the file is in say Word/Excel as they put a lock on the file and it wont 'release' until its closed. So if when you did the reinstall you put a different version etc. on its possible that the way things work changed.

AC727

Hi there - no it was exactly the same version as before. It's odd, I've never had a problem with it!

AC727

Megan

Hi @AC727, thanks for the info!

Happy to see that your issue is now resolved!

We'll be one post away if you need anything else, thanks!

Megan

Hi @AC727, thanks for posting here!

Hope things are going smoothly! Just wanted to check if you still need a hand, and if you tried the suggestion that @Mark mentioned. If all's well, feel free to share what did the trick.

Theresa

Hi there @AC727 , and welcome to the Dropbox Community 👋

I’m really glad to hear this issue is resolved and thanks so much for coming back to update us! It’s always helpful when folks share their progress, especially with syncing quirks like this. 😊

By the way, I’m Theresa 👩‍💻, one of the Community Managers here at Dropbox HQ. Since you’re working with Dropbox syncing files, I’d love to know… what’s your favourite Dropbox feature? Whether it’s something simple or a power‑user capability, I’m always curious what people enjoy most.

Looking forward to hearing more,

T 😺 (Dropbox Community Manager)