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Forum Discussion
Files failing to save in Dropbox
I keep having this problem. I'll be working on a document or powerpoint and try to save it in Dropbox, and it just...won't save.
It doesn't seem to happen if it's a document that was already sa...
Lusil
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffJust for troubleshooting purposes, could you temporarily close them and see if there's any change in behavior, bropdox?
No worries, lesliepratch, take your time, and let us know of any updates.
Thanks again!
Lusil I exited Box and disabled Code42. No difference.
One thing I have noticed is that this problem is not consistent across different methods of saving. Before explaining this, let me say, I do have the option checked to "Show dropbox as a save location in Microsoft Office."
I can save in Word through one of three ways:
1. Use the "Save as" icon which I added to appear above the ribbon in word. This opens a file explorer window. It fails most of the time.
2. File --> Save As. Because Dropbox is set to be the default place to save (in my Word Options), it immediately suggests a Dropbox file path. This fails much of the time, but not quite as much as #1.
3. File --> Save As --> Browse. This, too, opens up the file explorer window. This seems to fail far less often than the others, but it will still eventually fail.
Again, there's no problem across these three methods when saving someplace outside of Dropbox.
- Lusil
Could you try fixing hardlinks or permissions by following these steps?
If that doesn't do the trick and if you haven't already, could you try clearing the cache as well?
Lusil actually, it stopped working again. I tried clearing the cache. That did nothing. There's been a Windows update between when it was working and now, so I will try fixing the permissions again. Can I do that without fixing the hardlinks first, or should I do both?
Something I have noticed, the *only* way I can save for sure within Word is to File --> Save as --> Dropbox --> Browse in Dropbox.
It's a lot of clicking.
If I try any other method of saving that doesn't involve "browse in Dropbox" there's a risk of failure.
- LusilGlad to hear that you're not having trouble with this anymore, lesliepratch!
Also, bropdox, sorry to hear that the issue's returned.
You can try fixing permissions first and, if that doesn't do the trick, try fixing hardlinks.
If they don't help improve the behavior, could you clarify if you have any pending OS updates? Lusil I had a large Windows update a couple of days ago, but just checked and installed a minor one. There are no pending updates and I've restarted my computer.
I've also fixed the permissions and hardlinks again, and for good measure, cleared the cache again.
The problem still persists, but not as consistently. Do you have any other suggestions? Also, why does "Browse in Dropbox" consistently work, but other ways (e.g., clicking the shortcut icons in the ribbon) or any other route through file --> save as not work consistently?
- Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
Sorry to hear that bropdox.
Could you try re-installing the app on your computer to see if that improves matters at all? - WalterCould you try once more bropdox?
If that doesn't help, you can also perform a clean, advanced reinstall as well. Walter given the time needed to re-index and re-sync, I won't be able to do this for a few days.
Something I've noticed -- the save and save as features do not fail as often as they used to (since fixing hardlinks and permissions). Often they fail the first time, but then if I hit "save as" again, it works. Definitely seems like something is creating a conflict.
Just joining because I have been having this same issue when saving for a long time, only using Excel and Save as.
When I click Save As then the square button "Browse in Dropbox" typing the name of the file I want to save and clicking save, noting happens.
When I click the normal "Browse", after save as, and then select the very same Dropbox folder, it works.
I tried many different clean installs of Dropbox without any improvement. I finally figured out that another program, Code42, was interrupting Dropbox as it saved (I don't know how or why). I discovered this by disabling all non-Microsoft services, then enabling them one-by-one, restarting after each, and testing whether saving to Dropbox would work. (Highly recommend writing down what you're doing as you go)
To disable non-Microsoft services follow steps 1- 8 : https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/disable-startup-items-services-windows.html
Then enable services one-by-one (or in small batches) until you can figure out which one is the culprit. I haven't had any save problems since disabling that service.
