I have been using Dropbox for several years without incident -- to share files between several Macs. Yesterday, however, I saved a file to Dropbox that is not displaying any status icon in the Finder. The file is available on all the Macs that I sync with, but there is no icon shown on any device. I've restarted the Macs in question, but still no icon for that one file. Any suggestions?

Hi klantz, let's jump right into this! You mentioned that you see no Dropbox icon next to a file of yours, when you open your Dropbox folder. Do you use the new Dropbox desktop app, for Mac OS? You can locate the version of the app, by locating your Dropbox icon on the menu or task bar, next to your WiFi and hovering your mouse there. If this is the case, then this is expected. You can see more about files with no icon, and also all the icon meanings here. Let me know if you have any questions!

Yes, I'm using the Dropbox app for Mac OS -- version 168.4.4802. And it's good to know this is "expected behavior". However, what then is the difference between no icon and the green box with the white checkmark, the latter being what all my other files have?

Hey klantz, sorry to jump in, but I just wanted to mention that a solid green circle with a white check-mark means your file or folder is synced and available offline. You will see this icon after right-clicking a file or folder and selecting Make available offline. “Synced” means that any changes you made to this file or folder are reflected everywhere you access your files in Dropbox. “Available offline” means that your file or folder is available when you’re not connected to internet. When it comes to files or folders with no icon, it means that they've been opened either by double-clicking or through a third-party application and synced. If your computer is low on hard drive space, these files can automatically change to online-only to free up space which can't happen with files that are available offline. While these files or folders are stored on your device, they can be made online-only by right clicking and selecting Make online-only. I hope this helps!

Hi Walter.... I am not sure about that. I am having online files only and still I don't see any status if it's local or in the cloud only. Even dropbox is syncing files nicely, this gives me a little headache as I have to go through the some files and check them one by one. Thanks.

Hey petrholusa! Can you let us know what’s the OS version of your device, as well as the syncing status and app version of your Dropbox app?

Dropbox status icon not displaying for only one file

11 Replies

Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
3 years ago
Hi klantz, let's jump right into this!

You mentioned that you see no Dropbox icon next to a file of yours, when you open your Dropbox folder. Do you use the new Dropbox desktop app, for Mac OS?

You can locate the version of the app, by locating your Dropbox icon on the menu or task bar, next to your WiFi and hovering your mouse there.

If this is the case, then this is expected. You can see more about files with no icon, and also all the icon meanings here.

Let me know if you have any questions!
klantz
Explorer | Level 3
3 years ago
Yes, I'm using the Dropbox app for Mac OS -- version 168.4.4802. And it's good to know this is "expected behavior". However, what then is the difference between no icon and the green box with the white checkmark, the latter being what all my other files have?
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
3 years ago
Hey klantz, sorry to jump in, but I just wanted to mention that a solid green circle with a white check-mark means your file or folder is synced and available offline. You will see this icon after right-clicking a file or folder and selecting Make available offline.

“Synced” means that any changes you made to this file or folder are reflected everywhere you access your files in Dropbox. “Available offline” means that your file or folder is available when you’re not connected to internet.

When it comes to files or folders with no icon, it means that they've been opened either by double-clicking or through a third-party application and synced.

If your computer is low on hard drive space, these files can automatically change to online-only to free up space which can't happen with files that are available offline.

While these files or folders are stored on your device, they can be made online-only by right clicking and selecting Make online-only.

I hope this helps!
petrholusa
Explorer | Level 3
2 years ago
Hi Walter.... I am not sure about that. I am having online files only and still I don't see any status if it's local or in the cloud only. Even dropbox is syncing files nicely, this gives me a little headache as I have to go through the some files and check them one by one.

Thanks.
Nancy
Dropbox Community Moderator
2 years ago
Hey petrholusa! Can you let us know what’s the OS version of your device, as well as the syncing status and app version of your Dropbox app?
petrholusa
Explorer | Level 3
2 years ago
Edice Windows 11 Pro
Verze 23H2
Datum instalace ‎01.‎12.‎2022
Build operačního systému 22631.2861
Výkon Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22681.1000.0

Dropbox 189.4.8427

I have already uninstalled that a reinstall again.

Syching status: Uup to date.
Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
2 years ago
Hi petrholusa, could you attach a screenshot showing what you're seeing in Finder in order to understand your issue further?
petrholusa
Explorer | Level 3
2 years ago
Regular folders.
Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
2 years ago
Do you have any other cloud service providers running like OneDrive?

Could you try temporarily quitting all of them and see if the icons appear in the Dropbox folder?
petrholusa
Explorer | Level 3
2 years ago
Thanks. All I know that onedrive could be doing this but I am not using it and it's off. That's all I have active from easy access. No additional cloud service for files.