Child Item

I can't make files available offline on Mac OS

Application Affected
Dropbox
Device
Mac Studio
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
macOS 26.2 (25C56)

Dropbox App Version (if using the app)241.4.4795

Question or Issue
Setting up a new Mac. I've a Dropbox with a few 100 GBs worth of stuff, I want 99% available offline at all times (not short of storage on the new Mac). Selective sync set up to exclude a few folders.

Using Dropbox on File Provider.

Default sync behaviour is "available offline".

However things are NOT synced to be available offline. I've gone to ~/Library/CloudStorage, right clicked the Dropbox and said "Make Available Offline".

But I now have a weird hybrid of the green "available offline" Dropbox logo but also the cloud macOS icon saying it needs to be downloaded!

I've tried downloading en masse but no option to do that. There must be a way of resolving this?

Thanks!

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Accepted answers

Jay

Thanks for the info. If you're not on a Dropbox Basic plan with more than 3 devices connected, could you try an advanced reinstall of the app using the steps in this link?

All comments

Jay

Hi @eludlow, thanks for messaging today!

When you say you tried to download en masse, do you mean by right clicking the Dropbox folder and choosing the Available offline option?

This will help me to assist further!

eludlow

Hi Jay - I've done that, but the Apple Cloud icons still next to everything...

Jay

Thanks for the info. If you're not on a Dropbox Basic plan with more than 3 devices connected, could you try an advanced reinstall of the app using the steps in this link?

eludlow

Thank you. Actioning that now. It's now syncing for the first time. Only once that's done will it be Abel to update to Dropbox on File Provider.

Will report back!

eludlow

Hmm well I’ve done the reinstall as outlined. It then proceeded to sync, taking five hours. I then set to offline files and moved to the Apple File Provider, and the reindexing took five hours. Nothing showing as offline so I’ve right clicked the main Dropbox folder again and set “make available offline” (Dropbox menu item) and it’s syncing AGAIN (five hours estimated).

strong sense of Déjà vu!

eludlow

Ohh hang on, I may have been too quick to call deja vu! Just checked in and 80% of the folders have the green tick and NOT got the Apple cloud / arrow icon and those have files downloaded. It's still syncing so hopefully the rest will sort in the next few hours.

Fingers crossed!

eludlow

All working. Hooray!

Thanks@"Jay" for your help.

Jay

Thanks for the update, and I'm glad to hear that this resolved your situation with the file syncing on your device.

Enjoy your week ahead!