Unable to access Dropbox via Files App on Apple iPad

Hi Megan,

Thanks for the comment.  When he clicks on the Apple ‘Files’ app, he gets a list of ‘locations’ which are iCloud Drive, Dropbox, ‘On my iPad’, Adobe Document Cloud, and Recently Deleted.  When he clicks onto the Dropbox tab, he now gets the error message ‘Content Unavailable. The folder contents could not be displayed because of an unknown error. Try again’. 

Nothing happens when you click the ‘try again’ link.

This problem has only recently occurred and it seems it is since his iPad automatically updated the Dropbox app on 6 April.  I haven’t updated my app and have the same Dropbox account on my iPad and I can still open Dropbox files through the Files app.

I’ve been on a chat with Apple Support and everything is set up correctly for the Files app and they were of the view that the problem was with Dropbox.

I have deleted and then reinstalled the Files app but that didn’t rectify the problem.

I’d appreciate any help in getting this working again or if you know whether this is a problem with the latest Dropbox update.

I’ve attached a screenshot of the error below.

• Tap the hamburger icon (three horizontal lines) in the upper-left corner of the screen
• Tap the gear icon labeled "Settings" at the botton of the menu list
• Scroll to “Privacy” & select “Clear cache"

Hello,

I have the very same problem as @TracyMB. Furthermore, the same problem exists with Goodnotes, that is trying to "Import"

files from Dropbox within the Goodnote App. I can still "Export" from the Dropbox app to Goodnotes, but that is much less convenient.

As @TracyMB states, this problem is "recent" (say, past ~2 weeks). However, I have to say that the same problem arose sometime in the Fall 2020 (I forget when), stayed for a few weeks, and then disappeared (presumably when an update was made to Dropbox -- I am assuming the problem is with Dropbox since the "Content Unavailable ..The folder contents .. unknown error. Try Again" occurs with both the File App and the unrelated GoodNotes app. I do not understand what Lori Dropboxer says to address the problem. I have no hamburger on the top left of my screen, etc. Any further suggestion, advice Lori?  To:  @TracyMB; has your husband been able to solver the problem? Thank you. Dropbox_4_research.

Sorry to jump in here, Dreaming_4_research. Happy Monday!

If you want to clear the cache on the iOS Dropbox app, you should be able to find the option if you navigate to the "Personal" tab, then tap the gear icon in the upper-left corner of the screen and then select “Clear Cache”. 

Let me know how that works out for you.

Thank you for the suggestions.

To be clear, I have an Ipad runing OS 14.4.2 right now.

I cleared the cache on the Ipad:

- Going to the Dropbox app.

- Going to the top left gear icon and tapping on it. No personal tab there.

- Under the (boldface) "Privacy" item (below Passcode lock, Support, Dropbox), third item is "Clear cache".

- I clicked on "Clear cache".

- I restarted the device.

No go; it still displays the same "Content Unavailable".

Hi Hannah,

Deleting the Dropbox app, turning off the Ipad device, restarting it and reinstalling Dropbox worked.

I can now directly access Dropbox directly from the "File app" and "GoodNotes" (via a left dropbox menu that pops up when trying to import a file from Dropbox). Thank you! That worked!

Any idea of what may have caused this to happen?

As I wrote, it happened once, but it "cured itself" just by itself when a new update of the OS was done.

This time, it did not.

I suspect it's a problem with Dropbox that it's not able to "get through" with its current app on Ipad whenever the OS gets automatically updated.

Thanks again.

I have tried all the suggestions and it still doesn’t work. I’ve now transferred my files from Dropbox and onto iCloud Drive which is working perfectly.  I am still strongly of the opinion that the problem lies with the last Dropbox app update. 

I would tend to agree with TraceyMB.

A colleague of mine had similar issues with Dropbox and interfacing with the Ipad Files app. Switching to ICloud solved his problem.

Also, the fact that the same error message is returned from Goodnotes (unrelated to Dropbox or Ipad os) and the Apple File app does suggest the issue is inherent to Dropbox.  My previous comments about how the problem arose, "disappeared just like a miracle", and resurfaced does suggest also a relationship between compatibility of the Dropbox app on Ipad and updates of the Ipad os).

I would prefer to see Dropbox work smoothly than using ICloud since I share files on Dropbox with dozens of colleagues worldwide.

In short: the problem is a pain and I sure hope I don't have to uninstall & reinstall Dropbox routinely, this is also is a concern given what TraceyMB says that this approach did not work for her.