How can I disable the status column on Windows?

The “Dropbox for Windows update” only affects the way the online-only feature (formerly known as Smart Sync) is implemented in Dropbox. Before the Cloud Files API was developed by Microsoft to be used by cloud storage providers, the online-only feature was implemented by Dropbox using a custom kernel module and is now reimplemented using the Cloud Files API.

So no, the syncing should not be affected in any way because Dropbox was already working just fine before the Cloud Files API became available.

Opting out of the "Dropbox for Windows update" is safe.

Hope this helps.
Andrew (DBoxTips)

P.S. I am a volunteer on the Dropbox forums, freely and happily sharing know-how with other users, not affiliated with Dropbox in any way.

This seems to be the solution, thank you!

I would like to know, however: does reverting to the old version and opting out for ‘Windows for Dropbox updates’, affect the way Dropbox is syncing or functioning? Does Dropbox in that case sync without the Windows API? And is there any risk to that?

There is a way to disable it. The status column takes up valuable real estate in file explorer, and we needed it gone (permanently). I contacted Dropbox directly and they sent me instructions. 

Per Dropbox: if you don’t want to use the Dropbox for Windows update at this time, you can opt-out through your Advanced settings page. To do this:
 
1.    Log out of the Dropbox desktop app.
2.    Log back into the Dropbox desktop app.
3.    Click Open Dropbox.
4.    Make your selections on the onboarding screens.
5.    When setup is finished, click Advanced settings from the final screen.
6.    Click Opt out under Dropbox for Windows updates.
 
This will revert your Dropbox experience to the previous version WITHOUT the new status column in Windows File Explorer.

Note: To be safe and clean with file syncing, I recommend to fully uninstall the application. then, when you reinstall, go into advanced settings and "opt-out of the new Windows experience" BEFORE syncing. 

worked for us. hope it works for you. we love dropbox! but hated that column. 

dm1231 wrote:

you can hide the column but when you go back into that folder it keeps reappearing

This is a Windows issue and not related to Dropbox. Look into setting your default columns and applying them to all folders. It's a Windows setting.

Yes I have exactly the same issue - you can hide the column but when you go back into that folder it keeps reappearing - its very annoying - it may not be dropboxes fault but its defaintely an issue with windows explorer and the cloud files api.

You convinced me that the status column is controlled by Windows Cloud Files API, not Dropbox.

As far as deselecting Status in Detailed View: I can uncheck Status and it does hide. However, when I move to another file and go back to where I was, the Status column is back again. Never mind, I am always using List View anyway. With a not-wanted Sync column behind the file names, but I can live with that. Much more important is: since using Dropbox, I never lost a file and syncing always works smoothly.

Thanks for your answer.

Alfred01 wrote:

Bot somewhere Dropbox forces Explorer to show the Status column behind the file name, no matter which view is selected.

If you're referring to the sync status icon, this is controlled by Windows, not Dropbox, and is one of the requirements of Microsoft's Cloud Files API. Dropbox cannot control this.

Alfred01 wrote:

Dropbox also affects the way to deselect the Status option in Detailed view, because after deselecting the Status column comes back immediately.

This doesn't appear to be accurate. The method used to deselect the column in the Details view has remained the same; right-click any column header and uncheck the desired column name to hide it. I've disabled the Status column on multiple computers and it hasn't come back. Again, Dropbox has no control over which columns are visible in Details view.

Hi Vladgasan,

Thanks for your kind reply.

I know that the Status column is a Windows feature. In Windows Explorer, however, you can choose for ‘List View’, which means that just the names of the files are visible and no columns at all. Bot somewhere Dropbox forces Explorer to show the Status column behind the file name, no matter which view is selected.

Dropbox also affects the way to deselect the Status option in Detailed view, because after deselecting the Status column comes back immediately. 

These changes are caused by Dropbox, not by Windows. So, my question is: where in the system does Dropbox store the commands to overrule any chosen Explorer setting by a Status Column with the Dropbox sync icons?

vladgasan wrote:

The Status column is now managed by Windows as part of recent changes to file sync behavior, hence, Dropbox cannot disable it.

Dropbox cannot disable it, but it can still be hidden through the options in Explorer. Just right-click the column header and deselect it.