Child Item

Latest update created several problems with cache and syncing

Device
iMac 2021
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
MAC OS 15.7.4
Dropbox App Version/Browser Version
APP version, cannot locate version #

Question or Issue

After a recent update I got error messages about the Finder and Dropbox started defaulting to saving my documents in the Dropbox cache, ".dropbox" (which I did not know existed). I then deleted the cache. This morning I was required to log in to Dropbox and go through the process of resyncing everything. And then even though I did not ask that the files be offloaded to the cloud, every one of my folders and files has the cloud icon next to it (on my desktop). I am a little anxious about what awaits me with my office iMac which is significantly older and slower.

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Comments

Hannah

Hey @Chazmitch, thanks for joining our Community.

Just to confirm, by "update" you're referring to a Dropbox update, right? Not an update of your OS, for example?

Do you happen to have a screenshot of that error message that you got?

Also, how is the app right now? Is it working okay? And what's the sync status and version at the moment?

You can see that by hovering over the Dropbox icon in your menu bar.

Keep me posted!

Chazmitch

Hi Hannah:

Yes, I believe it was a Dropbox update. It happened in the background while I was working on something else when the error message popped up and I noticed the cache issue. Did not get a screen shot of it, unfortunately. It did ultimately finish syncing this morning though there were still all of those clouds next to my folders and documents. Interestingly, the files also still appear to be on my hard drive so I am not sure what the cloud icon means. I am at my office computer now (which is working fine and has synced the few changes I made from home without resyncing everything.) I will check the home computer a bit later today.

Thanks!

Hannah

Thanks for the update here, @Chazmitch!

If you do notice anything else that's out of the ordinary or causing issues, do let us know when you take a look at your home computer.

Thanks!

Chazmitch

Hi Hannah:

When I logged back in to my home computer Dropbox started up and began syncing, identifying several thousand files to be synced. It then got stuck syncing. I restarted and the sync completed at that point (there should only have been two files to be updated that I had used on my office computer).

Now, when I open my usual folders I find the cloud icon next to everything; when I search for a file I get two results: one in Cloud Storage which appears to be the actual file on my hard drive (I can preview it in the finder) and the other in the folder hierarchy that had been my regular system before the update; this one appears to be on the cloud because I cannot preview it.

Finally, when I open a file on my desktop through the folder, Dropbox downloads it from the cloud with the result being I now have two copies of the file on my hard drive in two different locations, which will very quickly eat up storage space.

I have attached several screenshots. Shot 1 is of the typical way I would access my files through the folders I have long used in Finder. This is now the cloud based file. Shot 2 is of the file in the Cloud Storage folder that is actually the file on my hard drive (the one I can preview). Shots 3 and 4 show the two copies of the same file now on my hard drive after opening it.

In short: the Cloud Storage folder, which I did not use previously, appears to contain the actual files on my hard drive; the folders through which I have always organized and accessed my files now appear to hold the links to the cloud-stored files. And it appears that every time I open a file from now on a second copy will be downloaded from the cloud.

Chazmitch

And one more quirk: I opened a file through the Cloud Storage folder (which appears to contain the files that are on my hard drive). I edited it, saved it, quit the application. The file did not sync and its duplicate did not change.

kateparker7788

This sounds like the new Dropbox for macOS update, which moved the Dropbox folder to a different location to comply with Apple's File Provider API. It often defaults to "Online-only" mode after the migration, which is why you see the cloud icons.

To fix this and get your files back on your local drive, follow these steps:

Make files available offline: Right-click your main Dropbox folder in Finder (or specific folders you need) and select Make available offline. This will download the files back to your iMac.

Check "New files" default: Go to Dropbox Preferences > Sync and ensure that "New files default" is set to Local instead of Online-only.

Locate the new path: Your files are no longer in the root of your user folder; they are now likely in ~/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox.

The "cache" errors usually clear up once the indexing finishes, but if your office iMac is older, I'd suggest doing the "Make available offline" step in small batches so it doesn't hang the system.

Hannah

Thanks for the update and the screenshots, @Chazmitch.

Can you also clarify something for me? Do you currently have two Dropbox folders?

One in the original location where your Dropbox folders used to be and one in ~/Library/CloudStorage?

P.S. Please note that we are working on an update to the Community, which will be available in read-only mode from Monday, March 30 to Wednesday, April 8.

For support help during this time, please visit:
• Dropbox Support
• Dropbox Help Center
• Dropbox Learn
• Our social channels (X, Facebook, or Instagram)

Chazmitch

Good morning Hannah:

Yes, sorry I did not clarify before: I do have two Dropbox folders as you described them. The one in the original location appears to have all of the files on my hard drive; the one in the Library/Cloud Storage is the one with the cloud icons that my finder appears to default to and that does correctly sync.

Hannah

Thanks again for the additional info, @Chazmitch.

I'll just need a few more clarifications, if that's alright. You mentioned that the original Dropbox folder contains all the files on your hard drive; are you referring to your Desktop, Downloads and Documents folders?

Did you previously back those up to your Dropbox account through the backup feature?

And can you also access the same files here?

(If you come back and are unable to reply, make sure to check my previous reply with the alternative ways to contact us!)