Some of my files show up as zero bytes

I updated my dropbox, it's now under locations on my mac.

Dropbox says the synching is complete. I have none of the images i used to have in dropbox. This is a HUGE problem. where are they? 

I sort of gave up on this, but given that Dropbox has _actually lost data_, the one thing I pay them not to do, I feel like I can't let it go.

The text-based documents that Dropbox has zeroed out ARE recoverable, albeit only with a technical solution. The contents are still indexed in search. For example, I have a text document that is ~2kb of solid zeroes when I open it in a text editor. It should never look like that, because it's a .txt file, and always has been. But when I search the web interface, the file shows up, because the indexed content in search contains the word bronze, even though the present-day file doesn't. If there was a way to download the whole search-indexed text content of all of the files in my Dropbox, what would undo at least the text file data loss caused by this bug.

Hi Everyone,

I've read this entire thread and am having similar issues.  I'd like to weigh in here.  I'm on a Mac running Ventura 13.4.  This is a new computer and I set up the DropBox Desktop App for Mac.  I'm seeing that all of my files are 0 bytes as others on this thread have mentioned.  I believe this is normal behavior when Dropbox Desktop is set for "Online-Only" which is meant to save disk space but as you can see below, I have it set to "Available Offline".

More Information

1.  In Dropbox Desktop, I set the Storage to "Available Offline"

2.  Most of the files show a cloud icon with zero bytes.

It seems to me that this is a bug in the Dropbox Desktop not honoring the flag in step #1.  As many others have mentioned, this is new behavior as I've been using Dropbox for many years.  I'm surprised that a solution hasn't emerged yet from the Dropbox team.  

Thanks for the clarification mossa 

Could you also clarify the exact OS version of your device(s) and the version and status of the desktop app as shown in your system tray/menu bar?

If you could also attach a screenshot of how the files look on your end so check their syncing icons, I'd appreciate it. 

Thanks Walter, this happens in both cases, Windows VM and Windows machine.

HI there mossa, sorry to hear about this.

Can you please provide us with some additional information so that we can assist further?

Also, does this happen with only the Windows VM or a normal Windows device as well? 

Have been using Dropbox for about 10 years no issues with files uploaded from Windows machines, since switching to Mac because of awfully sluggish Windows OS, hate and don't trust Microsoft, opted not to use their OneDrive even though has 1TB storage with Office Apps.
All files uploaded from Windows VM always show "Zero bytes", usually opening them will solve the issue. Sometimes forget to open the file and attach to email, recipient reports it cannot open. All my files are offline to save disk space, opting for online is not a solution and wastes time as with opening the file before attaching to email.
Went through all 74 threads, my feeling is that either the support tech cannot understand what we are talking about or DP has an unfixed bug for so long a time and don't show will to solve it.

Hope this is solved before the end of the year 2023 or will opt for another cloud storage solution when my subscription renewal is due.

For instance, if you want to copy the file to another location, you must do this. If you don't, the file name will copy (very slowly) without any notification, and you'll end up with a zero-byte file on your local drive that isn't connected to Dropbox. If you don't realise this and remove your Dropbox account, you'll have to

Up until the most recent Mac update, I could connect photographs from the Finder and through Gmail. I'm no longer able to quickly attach photographs because of the Mac upgrade since they all display as 0 bytes. Now that Dropbox is open on my computer, I must first download the image before I can use it as an attachment.

Catasonic I've been seeking answers to this question for months.  I don't know where to right-click in order to change the setting.  I've asked for a photo of video of this and no one can help me.  I find Dropbox extremely confusing to use and very hard to find clear answers.  Thank you for your suggestion but I don't know where to make this change.