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Dimples's avatar
Dimples
Helpful | Level 5
4 years ago
Solved

Couln't download. Remove incompatible characters from the filename

Recently all of my computer with Dropbox have started showing a sync error "Couln't download. Remove incompatible characters from the filename. e.g. emojis, /\"<>:|?*"

 

The problem filename isn't shown, the "Go to File" link just takes me to the root directory of my drive, and I obviously can't search for those bad characters.  How do I find this file to solve the sync issue?

 

 

desktop
Download
Error Messages
sync
  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    2 years ago

    Hey Roy2010, no worries let me share Sam's response here as well.

     

    Hi everyone,

     

    Sharing an update on the topic: our team is working on adjusting this, and it's expected to roll out in our next Stable Build (V190).

     

    You can check our releases here, and we'll keep you informed on the progress.

     

    Thanks,

    Sam 

     

    I appreciate your patience on this, thank you!

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  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    4 years ago

    Hey Dimples, how are you today? 

     

    Can you find the file online? If so, can you also check to make sure there's no space at the beginning or end of the file name, please? 

     

    Provided this is the case, you should be able to rename it. 

  • nomadism's avatar
    nomadism
    Explorer | Level 4
    4 years ago

    Based on my own research, it seems that the app in charge of the folder makes temporary file(s) which contains the "incompatible characters," but then soon deletes it.

     

    So when dropbox recognizes the creation of the file, it sends the error message. But then, when I try to go and check it, the app that originally created the file(s) seems to have already deleted it (hence, "temporary file.")

     

    My solution was to use the "ignore file / folder" feature that requires the some tinkering with the terminal, but in the end it worked. No more error messages.

     

    https://help.dropbox.com/files-folders/restore-delete/ignored-files

     

    ā€ƒ

  • Dimples's avatar
    Dimples
    Helpful | Level 5
    4 years ago

    Megan, I've got Almost 30,000 files in my dropbox.  It would take forever to go through them all.  It would be nice if the "Go to File" thing just worked so I could find the problem easily.

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    4 years ago

    Hi Dimples. 

     

    You can always use our searchbar on the web to search for the file in question. Want to give it a go? 

  • Dimples's avatar
    Dimples
    Helpful | Level 5
    4 years ago

    Sure, I'd love to give it it a try.  What do I search for?

     

     

  • Hannah's avatar
    Hannah
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    4 years ago

    Hey Dimples, sorry to jump in.

     

    I think Megan is referring to the file in question, the one in the sync issues. Are you able to locate that on our website, to check for the spaces she mentioned?

  • Dimples's avatar
    Dimples
    Helpful | Level 5
    4 years ago

    Hannah, Thanks for jumping in.  IF I knew the filename, I could search for it, but Dropbox never tells me the file name, so what exactly do I search for?

     

  • jbales's avatar
    jbales
    Explorer | Level 4
    4 years ago

    Similar issue. I can't upload files because of incompatible characters in the file names, but there are no incompatible characters.  See screen shot.

     

    Version 148.4.4519 (148.4.4519)

     

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    4 years ago

    Hi Dimples, when you sent us the screenshot, it showed the file name "Applications" there. Can you please try this precise file name? 

     

    Thanks for the screenshot jbales! Are these files added in your Dropbox folder, or online? Have you tried the troubleshooting steps shown through this thread? 

  • Dimples's avatar
    Dimples
    Helpful | Level 5
    4 years ago

    Meghan, I don't have an "applications" folder.  Not sure what to search for.

     

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