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Data missing from a shared Excel file in Dropbox
Hello all,
We are having an issue where the excel files modified through Dropbox sync are losing data when checked the next or following day. This has happened around twice in the last one month.
In one of the recent cases, the excel file present in the one of the Dropbox folders was modified by the shared user, let us say 'User A 'on 16-07-2025 around 10:25 AM in the morning and some data was saved between 10.25 AM and 10:35 AM IST , but the following day when same file was opened by another user, let's say 'User B' from another remote location ( he has access to all files and folders same as User A), the rows of data entered in the excel were missing. User A usually edits the excel file from the shared Dropbox folder located in the Windows explorer of PC, not directly modified in Dropbox online.
Both the shared users 'User A' and 'User B' checked it independently the following day and data was missing. To confirm whether data was inadvertently deleted or deleted by one of the shared users by mistake, we downloaded the file to our local PC and checked the 'Track changes' option in Microsoft Excel for the file, and upon checking there was no indication that data was entered or deleted purposely.
(This confirms that data missing was not due to human error from User A's side. Because if the user himself had deleted that data then the same will be present in this track changes as deleted rows)
We also have referred to the Dropbox's 'Activity' history , which confirms that user 'User A' had indeed modified and saved some data to the excel around 10:25 AM.
The data added after 10:36 AM is missing in the excel document. The file was not unshared at the time. We have confirmed that the syncing was ON at the time and there was no changes in any of the sync settings. The network speed at both locations was good for regular usage.
We have attached screenshots with this question below.
Any help on how to resolve this is much appreciated. Feel free to request any additional info in case we have missed.
Thanks.
Dropbox version: 229.4.5197 (Latest ; Auto update is on)
Plan: Dropbox Basic (Free)
PCs involved: Windows 10 Laptop ( User A) and Windows 10 PCs ( User B )
I would recommend that the user quit all other open apps and services on their machine, aside from Excel and Dropbox, and try editing the file again to see if the changes get reverted this time.
This would help to determine if another program is causing these changes, or if Excel would be the cause of this, as Dropbox can't revert changes without the user's permission.
6 Replies
- Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi Research_Mex, thanks for posting today.
Could you clarify how User B accessed the Excel file on their device in order to edit it?
The events page shows that the file was edited again from the desktop machine, which means that something on that machine removed the edits and saved it again to the site just a minute later.
Are there any other apps or services which could prevent or revert changes to a file after it was edited?
This will help me to assist further!
Hello Jay, thanks for taking time to respond. Details below:
- The file was edited by 'User A' himself , as in this excel he gathers data from some other source manually and updates here. Since all data can't be updated in one go, he often saves it row by row, or some rows at a time.
- User B accessed the excel files from Dropbox local folder which is synced to another remote PC at user B's location.
- "Are there any other apps or services which could prevent or revert changes to a file after it was edited?" - We guess not, as we don't make much changes to those PCs either at user A's or at B's end.
- Jay
Thanks for the info.
As the events page showed that the file was edited twice, this means that something on User A's machine reverted the changes to the Excel file and then saved the changes, which then synced to Dropbox. As to what that could be, we couldn't say.
Does this issue only occur for User A, or do other users also experience similar issues?
You're welcome. On both the occasions, it involved User A editing the file, not for any other users.
- Jay
I would recommend that the user quit all other open apps and services on their machine, aside from Excel and Dropbox, and try editing the file again to see if the changes get reverted this time.
This would help to determine if another program is causing these changes, or if Excel would be the cause of this, as Dropbox can't revert changes without the user's permission.
The issue came only twice in the last few weeks or months. It does not look like the case can be recreated. However, we shall try the troubleshooting step given by you and inform.
