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DSP2025's avatar
DSP2025
Explorer | Level 3
8 months ago

'Empty Files Cannot Be Uploaded', but the files aren't empty

Help please!  I am uploading a folder from the company server and getting "empty files cannot be uploaded" errors for a handful of them.  They are not empty and I can open and view the files on my computer to confirm (all PDFs).

I tried copying the folder to my desktop and got even more errors.  I did clear the browser data, which did not help.  I am using Chrome and tried Edge, which also made no difference.

I have never experienced this before; usually uploads are seamless.  Anyone?  Please and thank you, kindly.

8 Replies

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    8 months ago

    Hi DSP2025, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

    Could you confirm the file size of the PDFs that you're trying to upload?

    When you say you tried copying the folders to your desktop, do you mean into your Dropbox folder on your machine?

    Any other info or screenshots would be helpful!

  • DSP2025's avatar
    DSP2025
    Explorer | Level 3
    8 months ago

    For sizes, please see the attached screenshots :-)

    I meant that I put the folder on my desktop directly to upload from there, just to see if that would make any difference.

     

  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    8 months ago

    Thanks for the screenshots, DSP2025! Can you also provide a visual of the error you get, when trying to add your files to Dropbox via the website? 

    Feel free to send me one more of what you see when copying the files over to your desktop instead.

  • DSP2025's avatar
    DSP2025
    Explorer | Level 3
    8 months ago

    Thank you for your help!  Attached is a screenshot of the error.  I understand why I am getting an error on the thumbs file; not on the others though.

     

  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    8 months ago

    Thanks for the extra visual! Is it possible to upload one of these files individually to the Dropbox website? Are you still receiving the same error message? 

    Please also give this a go via an incognito window, in case you haven’t tried that already.

  • DSP2025's avatar
    DSP2025
    Explorer | Level 3
    8 months ago

    So sorry for the delay - I thought I had uploaded this already.  

    What's also odd, is that the number of files that error changes a bit each time.  

    I hope you can help and thank you!

  • DSP2025's avatar
    DSP2025
    Explorer | Level 3
    8 months ago

    I did this in an incognito window . . . I did upload individually and they worked.  It did append the file name, which has never happened before . . . 

    I'm curious if this all means anything to you - I'm really hoping to return to the ease of uploading a folder directly.

     

  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    8 months ago

    Glad to hear the upload worked that way! Can you also try to add the whole folder now via your incognito window? 

    From what you’ve mentioned so far, the issue could either be browser-related, or something to do with the number of files being uploaded at same time. 

    If you can upload all files within your folder now, there are a few more things you can try next.

    What I’d like you to do is to clear your browser’s cache and cookies once more and also, make sure there are no pending browser updates that need to be installed.

    Other than that, I’d also suggest disabling any browser add-ons and extensions you may have; certain add-ons and extensions can interfere with expected browser behavior, so please disable them and refresh the page before trying to upload your files once again.

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