Need to see if your shared folder is taking up space on your dropbox 👨💻? Find out how to check here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
Some of my files show up as zero bytes
When I save file, the file will appear in my DropBox, but when I open it the file is completely blank or only kept an older version of the document. I realized some of these "saved" items are being saved as Zero bytes. I am not sure why this is happening.
91 Replies
Replies have been turned off for this discussion
- Mark
Super User II
Dropbox isnt running on your machine by the look of it MikeHorn
www.dropbox.com/downloading to reinstall and see if that helps
I thought I had selected that when reinstalling Dropbox. I do not see the SmartSync option in Finder.
- Mark
Hi MikeHorn
Have you set up Smart Sync? https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/smart-sync
I realize that this thread is a couple years old, but I have just started having this same problem on my Mac. Have been using this same set of folders for almost a year with no problems but now they are all showing (in Finder) as Zero Bytes. If I got to Dropbox in a browser, the files are all there. But when I need to use the files, I have to go to the browser, download a copy, and then use. Not only are there extra steps but we also have potential version issues with the files themselves. (We use Dropbox as "public" storage and sharing of approved product photos).
In a browser, everything is normalIn Mac Finder, the files are showing Zero Bytes
- Mark
My guess Alinemac is that you are on a Mac and the file has either been moved to, copied to, or saved to Dropbox which has then uploaded the temp 'holder' file that Dropbox creates (at 0bytes). Time hasnt then been allowed to upload the full file once the copy/move etc. has finished.
The only way to retrieve the file now is to go back to the original device and let it finish uploading
I have the same problem. I accessed the document directly on Dropbox. It shows many documents I have stored there but it says the document is zero bytes and its empty. I am kind of in despair! Can't lose all that work!!!
- Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
Ah ok. When I looked at the menu bar, it appears that the Dropbox incon is Syncing. Is there any other reason why it is saving my docs as Zero Bytes, resulting in blank pages when I open the document?
- Jay
Hi Jay -
I accessing it from my computer/machine. I am not sure what you mean by "check if the Dropbox desktop application is running, and what status it has in the menu bar or system tray?" I access my DropBox from my favorites and it's also something i can access from my dock. How do I check if it is running and its status?
About View, download, and export
Need support with viewing, downloading, and exporting files and folders from your Dropbox account? Find help from the Dropbox Community.
