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Forum Discussion
All files randomly started syncing and now I can't save anything
Application Affected
Dropbox app
Device
Dell inspiron 15
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
Windows 11
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)
Can't find this information-- I don't see an "about" section anywhere. As far as I know, it's up to date
Question or Issue
I'm using the dropbox app on my newish computer (7 weeks or so), so it's all newly synced and up to date. While I was writing a document, a popup message appeared telling me about new dropbox icons and took me through explaining new icons (they don't look new to me...), and then my entire account started to resync all my files. It's been over 10 hours now and is still going. I was in the middle of writing an important document when all of this happened, and I have not been able to save that document. I looked at my online account, and the latest version is not saved there (I'm having to email it to myself the old fashioned way). New documents I've created last night and this morning do not even appear in my online account.
Why did this happen?? Is this some kind of update because it's really disruptive! How do I get it to stop syncing? Does that mean that files never originally synced? They seemed like they did because I've been using them. Any guidance is appreciated! I've used the dropbox app since 2019, and this has NEVER happened before.
16 Replies
Because everything is obviously here already (I'm logging out and immediately logging back in to opt out of the AWFUL new update that ruined my other computer over the weekend), it asks me if I want to rename the folder or move it to another location. Those are the only two options, and I have to choose one. What is the right answer to cause minimal disruption?
Of course I'm moving too fast! I'm in the middle of a major project, and this update happened right while I was in the middle of it without prompting me to even save my work beforehand or asking if I wanted this update! I just looked down, there was a popup (that didn't even pop up) in the bottom task bar and I saw that my icon was showing a sync when I hadn't done anything to disrupt it. I've spent my weekend trying to fix this instead of working on the project (which I had to cut/paste into an email so I could continue working on it on my other computer. Now all my files are set to online only (I definitely didn't authorize THAT!).
How do I fix it so it's back to normal? How do I prevent this from happening on my other computer?
- Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey Laura888, thanks for keeping us updated on the situation.
I completely understand your frustration over this and I've made sure to pass your feedback along to our team.
As for the situation, can you let us know where you stand at the moment? Did you make a choice about the Dropbox folder and did it work out okay?
Regarding your files switching to "online-only", if you'd like them to be downloaded and available on your computer, you'll need to select them, right-click on them and then choose the "make available offline" option.
I've basically abandoned that computer for now until I get some guidance. It's not usable if Dropbox is unusable since I rely on that for everything. I'm on my work computer, but I NEED to know how to avoid this on that computer if the update is going to come out of nowhere, require no consent, and give no warning.
Why would they switch from being on my computer to online only?? That doesn't make any sense, and it now makes a TON of work for me to have to go through and fix them all.
Any updates on this at all? It's been really impossible to get any timely help with this distressing situation.
I feel your pain Laura. I've had similar happen multiple times over the years causing huge disruption. Right now I'm stuck waiting for 43,000 files to sync/download (I' don't even know wtf it is doing at this point). This is the LAST time I'm dealing with this sh!t. Goodbye Dropbox and good riddance.
