Some of my files show up as zero bytes

It is strange that someone from Dropbox doesn't answer this, since the users that are offering replies to this question are pointing this user in the wrong direction. When files on your hard drive Dropbox Folder say zero bytes, it means Smart Sync is on and the file is stored on the Dropbox Server. If you want to access this file or folder offline, you must access the Right Click or Control Click menus for Dropbox. One of them will say, Make Available Offline. You must do this for instance if you wish to copy the file somewhere else. If you do not, the file name will copy (very slowly) with no warning and you will have a zero byte file on your local Non- Dropbox location. If you do not notice this, and you delete your dropbox online version, you will have lost that file. Dropbox, knows this is an issue, and supposedly will offer an upgrade that fixes this. It should automatically start the offline download and put up a dialog informing you of what is happening. 

Hi elainemorrison, can you send me some more screenshots, of what you see when you right click on a file, or folder locally from your Dropbox folder in the device? 

Jay they say zero bytes.

You're viewing the Dropbox site, and not the Dropbox folder on the desktop machine. 

You need to right click files and folders in the Dropbox folder in Finder/Explorer.

Hi Jay When I go to Dropbox on my desktop and go to the folder I can check a box next to the folder or there are three dots at the far right and when I click on those it gives me options: 

I attempted a thorough removal and reinstall, but the issue persists. In the browser, I can see the typical files, but in Finder, several of them display "Zero Bytes." Not all of the files are included either. I have a MacBook Air M1. The Silicon Mac file was set up.

Hi elainemorrison, when you right click a file in your Dropbox folder while the Dropbox desktop application is running, you should see different options there.

Could you attach a screenshot showing these options in order to assist you further?

Walter I tried following the instructions where it says to open Finder, right-click the folder, and set it to offline.  When I right click it opens the folder which shows me all the photos and nowhere does it give me the option to set it to offline.  It would be helpful if you had graphics showing how to do this.  

Hi Walter I used to be able to take photos and drag them from finder to emails or Shopify.  Ever since I did a Mac update earlier this year it stopped working and shows as zero bytes.  I've asked and asked and asked and asked and no one at Dropbox seems to know what I'm talking about or what to do.

I downloaded the photos from my photographer to Dropbox.  All was fine for months and then after the update, I'm not able to access them in an easy fashion.  And no one has an answer...

Hey elainemorrison, sorry to jump in here, but could you clarify how exactly you're attaching the file in the first place? 

Are you ensuring that the file is locally available to your computer first by making it available offline?

Also, have you considered using the Gmail add-on as an alternative way to achieve what you had in mind?