Within my Dropbox folder, I have sub-folders with different Windows ACL permissions. Up until recently, whenever Dropbox synced a file it inherited its folder permissions perfectly. Now it no longer does. It overrides the folder permissions and sets all file permissions to something completely different - Full Control for admins and Read/Read & Execute for users. Is there any way to get back to the old days - when Dropbox respected the inheritance of ACL permissions to all files in each folder?

Hi,I have been doing some playing around with this.- When dropbox downloads a file it downloads it initially to a directory in the hidden system folder \Dropbox\.dropbox.cache- once it is downloaded it performs a MOVE to the actual destination folder.- When you a MOVE (not copy) a file within the same volume on an NTFS Filesystem, it will retain its permissions rather than inherit the permissions of the destination folder.So if you set MODIFY permissions for "Users" (Or domain users if on a domain) on the folder \Dropbox\.dropbox.cache then when the file is moved to the true destination folder it will retain the MODIFY rights, and other users on that same machine (Or Domain) will be able to modify/delete the file.But (I hear you say) what about my permissions stopping people accessing folders that they should not be able to access? Well... these still work. The permissions you have set on the folder will still remain, so you can exclude some users from some folders. The files within that folder however will be modifiable by all, but that does not really matter as other users can't get to them any way.Clear as mud?Andy

All,I've been in contact with Travis at Dropbox customer support, he confirmed it was a product change that went into effect in a recent Dropbox update, and affects all clients and operating systems. Presumably Dropbox was having problems with user permissions, so they took the nuclear option of forcing all files to replicate the root folder permissions.While I can see the need for a "novice" user mode, they should have included an advanced option to maintain the existing ACL management, and told him as much. He has forwarded my feedback into the development team. Will they heed my input? Who knows?When I asked if or when this might be fixed: "With regards to the time frame on when this will amended, unfortunately, I'm not able to provide you with one. I'm not a part of any decision making team, as such there isn't an estimate I can give, and I don't want to set any expectations for you."When I asked how would I know about such a change: "If a decision is made to reverse the change or implement some sort of exception, I imagine this will be disseminated to our users via email."He did add: "I can only advise that if you know other users, that are experiencing this, urge them that they voice their concern to us at Dropbox support. This way, the more feedback we send and our team receives, the stronger the case for them to take action on this as soon as possible."His advice is the only way this is going to get changed... if enough of us raise our voice over this issue. If you have not already, I encourage you to contact Dropbox support and voice your frustration.I must say that Travis was very professional in his responses, and is only giving me the best information he can. Unfortunately, it also likely means I'll need to look into other options.For those of you who have not yet contacted Dropbox support, below is a template email you can use to send in. Maybe if they get enough of them, they might listen.pwc=============================================================To Dropbox Support:Files sync'd to my Dropbox folder no longer inherit folder permissions, but instead have a fixed set of permissions. This is breaking our use of the product. This is a new bug that was introduced in the past week. We have been using Dropbox successfully for MANY years.I believe the basic problem to be that files are being moved from the cache folder into the destination folder after download, which is moving the ACL (permissions) setting along with the file. This is a NEW behavior of Dropbox. Until a recent update (last week or so), files were likely copied, not moved (otherwise set to the permissions of the destination folder after the move using icals).This is a deal-breaker for me… security permissions must be obeyed, as they have been for literally years. For some reason, the dev team changed how files are handled, and this has broken permissions control. This is happening on all operating systems, and is easily repeatable:Machine A:Create folder (call it ‘Test’) with permissions different from the root, make permissions inheritableCreate a text file in folder. Verify that permissions match the Test subfolder, not the root Dropbox folder (it should or you setup the permissions wrong)Machine B:After sync, add a second text file in the Test folder.Machine A:After sync, second text file has the permissions of the root Dropbox folder, NOT the Test folder.Machine B:Modify the text file that was first created.Machine A:After sync, the initial text now also has the permissions of the root Dropbox folder, NOT the Test folder.Prior to the update in the past week, Dropbox would maintain the permissions of the Test folder, not the root Dropbox folder.I need this to be fixed ASAP.======================Then go to this link and post it to them: https://www.dropbox.com/support/email

The Dropbox folder is syncing OK as far as I know: Edited by moderator On the second device the ACL permissions are: Edited by moderator Until recently, Dropbox 'respected' the ACL permissions on both devices and the files inherited the permissions from each device's respective parent folder. Now it seems like Dropbox is insisting files are written with their own specific permissions? This has only been a problem in the last few weeks - I have had this setup running since 2012!

I have a dropbox subfolder that is set up for sharing over a local Windows network. The folder and its parents are all set for sharing with a default of Full Access for "Everyone" on the network. If I create a file in this folder using Windows, the file will have proper NTFS permissions, both local and Network Share. Any files imported into the folder through Dropbox, however, from, say, an Android device or a Linux machine, only inherit local NTFS permissions. The permissions for "Everyone" are missing. I have to open each file's permissions box and add "Everyone" to it for any other machines on the Windows net to see the file. I've had this arragement for quite some time, and it seems like the permissions worked fine up until a few months ago after an app update. I've been pulling my hair out looking for solutions, but I am at my wit's end. What is Dropbox doing differently when creating these files from all other Windows apps?

I can confirm, that setting the permissions on the (hidden) .dropbox.cache folder will reflect on synced files.This works for me, since all my files needs one specific permissions. It will not work, if there are different permissions for different folders.This is so stupid.(But not as stupid as the change to selective sync, which did completly mess up our setting and forces us to use a new dropbox account.)

Dropbox files no longer inherit folder permissions

105 Replies

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Bradbox99
Explorer | Level 3
6 years ago
We still have the same issue as well. Support only told us to uninstall and re-install. Not much of a support team.
Still waiting for a solution Dropbox.....
Brian1
Collaborator | Level 10
6 years ago
Latest word from support (this week) is that the engineering team is still looking into it, but in the meantime, they suggested the .dropbox.cache folder workaround discussed above.

Reading into that, I take it that they're admitting that something is going to be done about this feature/bug sooner or later.
dragoner
Helpful | Level 5
6 years ago
The simple answer would be to roll back to the previous version that had was working perfectly well. Can picture them now, hanging off the fans throwing bananas at each other.
JCubio
New member | Level 2
6 years ago
For those who use dropbox in windows server,
Try adding the "authenticated user" in the ".dropbox.cache" folder.

I used this as a work-around, it is working fine so far.
Waiting for users to complain again. LOL
dragoner
Helpful | Level 5
6 years ago
Hey JCubio,

Isn't that just the same as what was previously suggested and adding "Users" or "domain users"... or whatever?
John L.2
Dropbox Staff
6 years ago
Hi all,

Thanks for your reports. We've posted a beta build which attempts to fix this issue. Let us know if you continue to see issues.

https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-desktop-client-builds/Beta-Build-94-3-371/m-p/403219#M5817

Thanks!

--J
Akena
New member | Level 2
6 years ago
I updated software with the following patch. Files are now inheriting proper permissions correctly, as before.

https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-desktop-client-builds/Beta-Build-94-3-371/td-p/403219

I very much appreciate that DropBox created a solution. The timeline left a lot to be desired but I'm glad we got a fix.
Brian1
Collaborator | Level 10
6 years ago
Thanks for testing (I hadn't yet had the opportunity).

I will later today though with the just-released stable build 94.4.384.

Update: That stable build doesn't seem to have the feature. I guess they're keeping it only in the betas for now, despite the misleading versioning.

Yet, this is in the release notes for it:

"Fixed an issue where newly added or edited files were not reinheriting permissions of their parent folders on Windows"

Update 2: Disregard the above. I apparently downloaded too early using the "offline" link. Despite having a file called "Dropbox 94.4.384 Offline Installer.exe," it actually installed v93, which I didn't notice until today. Testing with the actual v94 does show that the permissions problem is solved.
KiwiMark
Explorer | Level 4
6 years ago
It's been 4 months. It would be interesting to hear how many have moved to other platforms by now. I only have one client affected - they have moved to OneDrive.
melodramatic
Explorer | Level 4
6 years ago
I moved to OneDrive quite some time ago. Ended up being a fairly easy solution.

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Dropbox files no longer inherit folder permissions

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