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anndinkc's avatar
anndinkc
Explorer | Level 4
2 years ago
Solved

No longer able to open .txt files in Dropbox editor on Android phone app, asked to convert to Google

Starting this week, I am unable to open my .txt files with the Dropbox Editor on the Dropbox Android phone app. I am now being presented with the following message:

Upload to View
This file type can only be viewed if it is first uploaded and converted into a Google Docs file. Do you want to continue?

I do not want to use Google Docs for my .txt files. I have tried that provided option, but you then must tie the document to a Google account, and it does annoying auto-formatting and such which I am purposely trying to avoid by using .txt files in the first place.

Is Dropbox editor being deprecated? Is there any way to use another text editor on my device instead of converting to a Google Doc and tying back to a Google account? I am unable to even try to open this document using another editor now, you get the same 'Upload to View' message when clicking the kabab menu too

Android
edit
Error Messages
Mobile
  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    2 years ago

    Thanks for giving that a go! Good thinking. 

     

    What I want you to try next is to clear the cache of your Dropbox app (via its settings), and also reinstall it on your device. 

     

    Are you seeing the same error after that?

17 Replies

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  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Thanks for bringing this to our attention, anndinkc. 

     

    Can you send over a full screenshot of the error you’re getting? 

     

    Also, what’s the OS version of your device, and the app version of the Dropbox app on it?

     

    Let me know, and we’ll take a closer look.

  • anndinkc's avatar
    anndinkc
    Explorer | Level 4
    2 years ago

    Nancy Thanks for the quick response Nancy. What is the best way to send over a screenshot? I am not seeing a way to add it to my original post or here in a comment

    OS version: Android version 14
    Dropbox app version: 358.2.4

    Exact message text:

    Upload to View

    This file type can only be viewed if it is first uploaded and converted into a Google Docs file. Do you want to continue?

  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Hey again, anndinkc! Due to security reasons, I can’t click on the link you’ve posted. You can upload your screenshot though by clicking on the small camera icon above your message box on the forum.

  • anndinkc's avatar
    anndinkc
    Explorer | Level 4
    2 years ago

    Nancy Thanks Nancy. looks like I had to switch to Desktop view to see that option (I'm on mobile)

     

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Hi anndinkc, are you certain that the text files are associated with the Dropbox text editor? 

     

    Could you check your default apps on Android for Dropbox?

  • anndinkc's avatar
    anndinkc
    Explorer | Level 4
    2 years ago

    Jay I don't have any default apps configured for .txt files

     

    Is the Dropbox editor part of the Dropbox app? or is that a separate install? I don't think it used to be separate and I don't see a separate editor in Google Play store

     

    Here are the Dropbox defaults

  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Is there any chance that the text files you can’t open via Dropbox contain any non-Latin characters? I’m asking because this could also alter the unicode encoding of the file, and result in the Dropbox app being unable to open it.

  • anndinkc's avatar
    anndinkc
    Explorer | Level 4
    2 years ago

    Nancy I don't believe so. This is happening for all of my .txt files with Dropbox now. Unless some encoding changes were recently made on your end? 

  • anndinkc's avatar
    anndinkc
    Explorer | Level 4
    2 years ago

    Nancy for a science, I just made a new .txt file with Dropbox editor containing just "test<new line>test". saved it, and immediately got the same message when trying to open it back up after initial creating and save

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