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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?

 

 

  • 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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  • Walter's avatar
    Walter
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Hi there Roy2010 - sorry to jump in here, but could you try renaming your files to something simpler and let us know if the issue persists? 

     

    If it does, could you move the files out of your Dropbox folder and then back in and let me know how it goes? 

  • Roy2010's avatar
    Roy2010
    Helpful | Level 5
    2 years ago

    Hi Walter,

    It tried renaming a file to a simpler name, i.e. "Mob6344872.pdf" which is shorter and does not have spaces nor special characters. The "alert" icon is still present next to the file on the Finder (see screenshot).
    I've also tried to move this file out of the Dropbox folder (i.e. on the Desktop) and then back in the Dropbox folder. The sync issue persists and is listed with the new, simpler, file name.

    Any other idea how I could get rid of these sync issues?
    Best,

    François

     

  • Здравко's avatar
    Здравко
    Legendary | Level 20
    2 years ago

    Hi Roy2010,

    Your files aren't too big (tens to hundreds KB), so you can try something else. Download your troublesome file (let's say the last one - Mob6344872.pdf) to a folder outside Dropbox folder (let's say on your Desktop). Just to make it sure - not to move the file from Dropbox to Desktop as you have done already, but to download it - important difference! After that, remove/erase the file from your Dropbox folder and make sure it's gone both locally and online. At the end, move the downloaded file to the original place in Dropbox folder. Shouldn't take too long to sync. Does this exercise works for you? 🤔

    Good luck.

     

    PS: Another option: instead to move the downloaded file locally to Dropbox folder, after making sure it's gone, upload it back to the folder where was downloaded from.

  • Roy2010's avatar
    Roy2010
    Helpful | Level 5
    2 years ago

    Hi!

    I tried your trick, and it works!
    While applying it, I found an even simpler procedure which also works to "fix" the troublesome files. I go the Dropbox web application, delete the files, then go to "Deleted files" and I restore them. After that, the sync issues for those files are resolved. This trick also works for entire folders, by the way.

    Thanks a million!

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