Dropbox stops syncing and icon disappears

Thanks for your post, bwessel! 

Can you clarify the OS version of your computer? Did you notice this behavior after a specific Dropbox app/OS update? 

Have you reinstalled the Dropbox app, since this started happening? 

Finally, if the Dropbox icon is visible at the moment, I’d like you to hover over it and send me the app version you see.

Let me know.

My problem is more on my HP Laptop than my apple products. I do most of my changes on my laptop.  When I was updating an excel file today, I noticed that the Dropbox symbol was missing.  In addition, the Dropbox icon is missing from my taskbar!  I think I may be able to get it back by going to Dropbox website and downloading again but this happens a lot.  Why does it stop syncing?

Hey bwessel - sorry to jump in here, but could you let us know the exact OS version of your computer and the version and status of the Dropbox desktop app as shown in your system tray/taskbar at the moment? 

Do you happen to be running any 3rd party apps on your computer that could be interfering somehow? These could vary from security programs like antivirus or firewalls to 3rd party apps that might be monitoring and syncing or backing up your files in the Dropbox folder (apart from the Dropbox desktop app that is). 

Let us know more and we'll take it from there. 

My computer is a PC not a MAC.  I’m on Windows 10.

Hi again, bwessel! Can you please reply to Walter’s second question above, as well? Do you happen to be running any 3rd party apps on your computer that could be interfering somehow?

Have you completely uninstalled and reinstalled the Dropbox app, since this started happening? 

Also, are you able to see the Dropbox icon in your taskbar now? If yes, I’d like you to hover over it and let me know what’s the app version it shows.

Windows 10.  To reinstall Drop box do I just go to the website and do the download to Windows 10?

Windows 10.  Not sure what. 3rd party app would be? Like Quicken (yes)

Cannot see the Dropbox icon in my taskbar.

Hey bwessel! Downloading the latest version of the Dropbox app from the web is correct. 

However, if you’re not on a free Basic plan with more than 3 devices linked, what I’d like you to do this time is to uninstall the app completely first, and then reinstall on your device. 

Let me know if that makes any difference.

I am on the Basic free plan with 3 devices linked.