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How to find what files are syncing
One of my computers has been syncing two files for days. Yet, all my subdirectories and files have the green icon to show they have synced. Even the hidden files appear O.K.
I have tried the usual steps like: rebooting, turning Dropbox off/on, uninstalling/reinstalling Dropbox, pausing/restarting Dropbox etc.
My question is how do you determine what the two files are that don't seem to sync?
Hey Darryl B.3, I hope you're well today!
Usually, if the files are still trying to sync, they would appear with the syncing icon
. The folder that these files are within will also show the syncing icon through the entire file path.If none of your top level folders are showing this icon, then I'd suggest trying the steps below to see if that resolves the "Syncing" status for you:
- Click the Dropbox icon in your system tray/menu bar.
- Click the profile pic/initials icon in the top right of the window.
- Choose "Preferences..."
- Go to the "Account" tab.
- While holding the alt+H keys (for Windows) or Option/Alt key (for Mac), click "Fix Hardlinks".
If this doesn't resolve the issue, please follow the steps again and instead click "Fix permissions".
I hope this helps, let me know how it goes!
Mod note: updated steps and link in post [last update 2023]
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Hello
My problem still exists!
I have two folders that have blue icons but both their contents all show green icons.
I have done as described, but that has not solved the problem.
The taskbar still shows "Uploading 3 files..."
Regards
Daniel
- Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey Daniel, sorry to jump in here.
Could you try locating the folders with the blue icons and see if you can find the files that are being uploaded and move them out of your Dropbox folder and then back in?
You should be able to tell which files those are by their blue syncing icons.
Let us know of any updates djmalan
Hi
I could not move or copy the three blue icon files, so I took a screenshot of the Extra Large Icons and will try to recover them from my mobile phone.
In the meantime I permanently deleted those images and the problem was solved.
Thank you for your help.
Kind regards
Daniel.
- Walter
Glad to hear it's sorted now and thanks for keeping us in the loop too, Daniel.
See you around the Community and have a lovely weekend!
I do get the tools when pressing Alt-H. However, when I press the button to fix hard links, nothing happens. When I press the button to fix permissions, a terminal window opens. Apparently it's running acacls, but there is no text, it just stays empty...
In the Dropbox folder in Windows explorer, everything shows as up-to-date. However, the client shows varying numbers of files being synced and this has been going on for days now...
- Nancy
Thanks for posting here, AlwaysLearning!
Do you mind sharing with us a screenshot of what you see exactly after clicking on the “Fix Permissions” option?
- Megan
Hi AlwaysLearning, thanks for the screenshot!
Aside from fixing the permissions of the files, have you tried quitting the app, then re-launching it again?
If you could also send us a screenshot of your syncing status, along with the version of the app that you use, that'd be great!
After a while, Dropbox said it successfully completed both fixing permissions and fixing hard links. However, I still continue seeing 43 files syncing and have no clue what files give trouble and why. Sure, I tried restarting Dropbox...
- Walter
Hey AlwaysLearning, thanks for the additional information and the screenshot too.
Could you check your Dropbox folder's content for any files with the blue syncing icons on them and move them out and then back in your Dropbox folder?
