I have recently set up a basic account to try Dropbox out. I have successfully managed to upload some videos and photos from my iphone to my dropbox account. I have hardly used any of the allowance I have. I am now trying to do the same and I keep getting the message 'empty files cannot be uploaded' They are Mov or jpeg filesI have tried to uplaod to dropbox directly, saving the files on my desktop and also 'requested files' via an email link.None work.Going round and round in circles. HELP!!!

Solutions on the dropbox website often tell you to use another browser but that has never made any difference for us. In my experience the solution is almost always to clear the browser cache to start with (with the one exception below). I have seen this issue quite a lot from people using Edge, Firefox and Chrome. But clearing the cache seems to be the most common solution for us. However there is another scenario. When uploading files from a phone or tablet connected to a device such as a windows desktop machine or from say an iphone connected to a mac, you can avoid avoid this by copying the file to your machine from the device first and then uploading. This seems to no longer trigger the same issue and you don't even need to clear the browser cache when this is the problem. Though it doesn't hurt to do both.

Hey Nepxh04, welcome to Dropbox and to our Community!Can you please clarify how you're uploading your files?Are you using a browser or the Dropbox mobile app?A screenshot of this error would also be very helpful, if you can send one.Thanks!

Browser. I think I might have sorted it. The photos and video i took are on my phone but when you click on properties it says they have 0 data next to them. So bizarre so I think it might be something to do with the way I took the photos and video maybe?

Thanks for the update on this! It does sound like it has to do with the device. Try restarting it to see if that helps.

Is there a chance you have an iPhone and the files are actually stored in iCloud rather than on your phone?

'Empty files cannot be uploaded' | The Dropbox Community

19 Replies

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Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
5 years ago
Hey Nepxh04, welcome to Dropbox and to our Community!

Can you please clarify how you're uploading your files?

Are you using a browser or the Dropbox mobile app?

A screenshot of this error would also be very helpful, if you can send one.

Thanks!
Nepxh04
New member | Level 2
5 years ago
Browser.

I think I might have sorted it. The photos and video i took are on my phone but when you click on properties it says they have 0 data next to them. So bizarre so I think it might be something to do with the way I took the photos and video maybe?
Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
5 years ago
Thanks for the update on this!

It does sound like it has to do with the device. Try restarting it to see if that helps.
ZAGG
Helpful | Level 6
5 years ago
Is there a chance you have an iPhone and the files are actually stored in iCloud rather than on your phone?
DBurns
Explorer | Level 3
5 years ago
Unable to upload 1.2020.9.1.ver
Empty files cannot be uploaded.

I get this message when trying to upload this file or any to dropbox.
It just started this morning.

Any Ideas? Thank
Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
5 years ago
Hi DBurns, thanks for posting today!

Can you clarify which of our platforms you use in order to upload your content?

Let me know, and we'll take it from there.
DBurns
Explorer | Level 3
5 years ago
I usually just drag and drop if thats what you mean?
DBurns
Explorer | Level 3
5 years ago
What do you mean by platforms....browser type?
DBurns
Explorer | Level 3
5 years ago
Ok, it is a PC but I will restart and try.

Thank you
Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
5 years ago
Hi DBurns, if you're getting this message, it means the file is usually 0 bytes, meaning it contains literally no data on it.

This is why it can't be uploaded to the site. Whatever file you were trying to upload was only uploading a 0 byte file. Are you certain that the file can be viewed normally on your computer?