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Dimples
4 years agoHelpful | Level 5
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?
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!
164 Replies
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- dfdfdfa3332 years agoExplorer | Level 3
Same here - incredibly irritating to have a constant red warning sign on my Mac and then when I click on it nothing happens. If not resolved will look at other options.
- Здравко2 years agoLegendary | Level 20
silsurf wrote:...
I dont see any of the incompatible characters? Is it that they exist "somewhere" within this folder? Is there a way to know exactly where the problematic folder is located?
...
Hi silsurf,
You don't see any incompatible characters since there are NOT such (😁 a good example of Dropbox error messages stupidity 🤦). No, there cannot be expected to exist "somewhere" within the folder if not something deeply hidden, but even then not that is your issue. You're exactly inside the problematic folder. 🙋 - ".dropbox". The issue is that that folder name is a special name for Dropbox application and that's why files/folders carrying this name may not get in sync. Most probably you have uploaded that folder using Dropbox web interface or some other way (third party app for instance), but without the official Dropbox application. 😉 To workaround that stupid error message and avoid deletion, exclude the folder using selective sync.
Hope this helps.
PS: The folder resides in your Dropbox folder Family/JAM/.dropbox
- JonM22 years agoHelpful | Level 5
Hi, this happens only on the PC. The files sync properly and there is no warning on the Mac. The PC DB icon does show a red indicator, yet now once the sync warnings are viewed, the red icon goes away. Thank you.
- Megan2 years ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey JonM2, this sounds like a similar issue we've had at the Community recently.
That's why I merged your post under a similar thread. Feel free to check Sam's response here, and let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks!
- Shock99er2 years agoExplorer | Level 4
Hello,
I'm struggling with this sync error appearing on the icon of Dropbox (ver.: 189.4.8427).
If I click to the check the concerned file, I opens the explorer window without targeting any file.
Is there any way to identify which is the file that is creating th problem?
I cannot see find any of them with the indicated chars in the filename...
Thanks in advance for any advice.
- Hannah2 years ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Shock99er.
Can you let us know what the sync status on the app is?
You can see that by hovering over the Dropbox icon in your system tray with your mouse.
Thanks in advance.
- Shock99er2 years agoExplorer | Level 4
Thank you for your reply, Hannah.
It says "aggiornato" (updated).
- DHK2 years agoCollaborator | Level 8
Yes, and macOS finder doesn't find them...
- DHK2 years agoCollaborator | Level 8
How do I search on Dropbox.com? I couldn't find that command.
- Hannah2 years ago
Dropbox Community Moderator
Thanks, Shock99er for checking.
I moved your thread under a thread dealing with the same issue.
Sam posted an update about it, so please check it out here.
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