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No Option to "Make Available Offline."
Honestly, this seemingly late "bringing to the forefront" (I guess you'd call it) of the whole "Online Only" vs. "Make Available Offline" thing has been more of a headache than a help, if I may offer...
Not sure if this is okay to share but in the interests of keeping everyone in this loop up to date...
Update: My Dropbox context menus are back. This solution works. Fingers crossed it stays that way!!
I have been exchanging emails with a very helpful Dropbox engineer and he has stepped me through a few options. Most didn't work. This latest one does, but it's a step back to a previous stable version of the app.
I was told that Dropbox are working on an updated version of the app that will bring back the context menus as they are aware of the problem. However, this may take a week or more. In the meantime, he suggested I roll back to an older version of the app that still works with the context menus on the latest version of Windows 11. You can find the download link to the install file here: https://www.dropbox.com/downloading?build=158.4.4564&plat=win&type=full&arch=x64
Now, a few things to note:
1. You do not need to uninstall the existing app. Just click and install this older version on top of it. It will override the existing version.2. Give it time. It takes a bit after the install to click online. Check that the older version of the app has "taken" by hovering over the Dropbox app icon and checking the app version. It should be 158.4.4564.
3. After the install is finished, Dropbox will sync and will re-index all your local files on your hard drive in the Dropbox folder. That will take a while, depending on how many files you have and how big the total storage space is. Be patient.
4. Your context menus will slowly come back online in Windows Explorer when you right-click as each file and folder finishes syncing and indexing. If you right-click and the Dropbox context menu isn't showing, it probably means it is still syncing and indexing. Again, be patient. Once that's finished, your context menus should be back for all your files and folders in Dropbox.
5. VERY IMPORTANT. You need to DISABLE the auto-update for Dropbox until the new stable version is installed (when it eventually comes out) and you stay on this version. 158.4.4564. To do that: open Task Manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL) and go to the PROCESSES tab. Scroll down to BACKGROUND PROCESSES and keep scrolling until you get to "Dropbox Update Service (32 bit)" and click on that to highlight it. Then right-click and select "End task." That will disable the auto-update TEMPORARILY.
NOTE: if you reboot your computer, the Dropbox auto-update task will enable again, so each time you reboot, you will need to disable the auto-update process. Just repeat STEP 5. There is no real way to turn it off permanently, and there's a whole Dropbox thread about it. If you want to read about it, it's here. https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Apps-and-Installations/How-to-disable-DropBox-Update/td-p/199292 I wouldn't recommend it anyway because you do actually want the auto update to work, and it's part of Dropbox's policy. I wouldn't mess with it anymore permanently. If you are in contact with a Dropbox engineer via email as part of this issue, they will be able to turn it off for you on their end, but you have to ask.
Good luck.
Shout out to the Dropbox engineer helping me. He was super helpful and very responsive.
Not a solution. Again.
This appears to be the canned solution that anyone getting contacted via email and getting a support ticket is getting. I've tried it, and I believe LUNARWAVE tried it and it doesn't work.
Dopbox support seem to think that it's a permissions issue with an incorrect installation of the Dropbox app. That is not the case for me because the context menus were working BEFORE the latest Windows 11 update. It STOPPED working AFTER the latest Windows 11 update and the support people do not seem to be able to get that through their noggins. It is clearly a Windows 11 issue with something in the latest update that's stopping the context menus from working. Stop telling us to uninstall and install the app. That's not fixing anything.
Seriously, I feel like right now, I am on repeat and just saying the same thing as others over and over and no one at Dropbox is actually listening.
I'm including their solution to me (which didn't work) if anyone wants to try it.
***
So this issue is likely related to an incorrect level of permissions when the Dropbox application was installed.
To correct this, use the following steps:
Note: Please be sure to take note or take a screenshot of any Selective Sync settings you may have applied prior to re-installing in case you need to re-apply these settings upon re-install.
- Verify that the Windows UAC levels are set to default levels. This can be changed in your Security settings in the control panel.
- For more information about UAC levels please see the following link (the instructions on the website are also applicable to Windows 11):
- Uninstall the application using the steps in the following article. Please note that you do not need to remove the Dropbox folder or any files from the Dropbox folder:
- Download the newest version of the Dropbox application by visiting the Dropbox website:
- Once you have downloaded the install file, double-click on the file to run the installer. Please do NOT launch the installer by right-clicking on the file and selecting "Run as admin" as this will lead to incorrect install permissions.
- During the installation process, you may be prompted for the Admin username and password of your computer.
- Please be sure and provide the username and password of your Admin account on your computer.
- Finally, when prompted, enter the email address of the Dropbox account you are using on this computer and if needed, check the advanced preferences to apply any Selective Sync settings.
Once you have attempted the steps above, if you still experience the same issue, then please reply to this message and confirm whether you have recently upgraded the devices Operating System (Windows 10 ➜ 11) and can you hover your mouse over the tiny Dropbox icon in your taskbar and tell me what version of the application it states is installed.
***
Now I could fix this issue (context menu disappear issue) by following steps.
Two Win11 Pro and Home both improved by this.
1. Uninstall Dropbox from PC setting menu
2. Install Dropbox again
3. check out (off) selective sync and wait all files erased
4. check (on) selective synd on ALL file need to sync and wait all files synced.
context menu appears.
I hope this setp works for everyone.
エディション Windows 11 Home
バージョン 22H2
インストール日 2022/10/05
OS ビルド 22621.675
エクスペリエンス Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22634.1000.0Hello
Unfortunately, this method(follows below) did not work for both of my WIN11 PCs.
---
Now I could fix this issue (context menu disappear issue) by following steps.
Two Win11 Pro and Home both improved by this.
1. Uninstall Dropbox from PC setting menu
2. Install Dropbox again
3. check out (off) selective sync and wait all files erased
4. check (on) selective synd on ALL file need to sync and wait all files synced.
context menu appears.
I hope this setp works for everyone.
エディション Windows 11 Home
バージョン 22H2
インストール日 2022/10/05
OS ビルド 22621.675
エクスペリエンス Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22634.1000.0Update: I got an email from Dropbox support asking me to update my version of the Dropbox app to the latest version because apparently, mine was out of date. When the issue started, I was on version 159.4.5870. I've now updated it to version 160.4.4946 as requested by Dropbox support. My context menus did NOT magically reappear so updating to the latest version of the Dropbox app did not fix the problem.
Update: Dropbox have been asking me to mess with my registries. Even tho I told them I'm not up for it.
"This issue may be related to other applications on your computer that use the icon overlay and context menu functionality of your Operating System.
Please note that Windows has a limit of 15 overlay icons that Windows Explorer can load, and the operating system reserves 4 for its own use.
If there are more than 15, then the Dropbox icons or context menus may not show. To fix this and move the Dropbox sync icons to the first 15 positions:"I haven't seen an overlay with more than 5 icons in, and they always have more than 15 entries...
Then followed the instructions on how to mess with your registry.
Hopefully they'll come up with a solution sooner rather than later. It seems to me like they may have pushed a Beta live and its made a mess of things.
- Yes, I have also been told the same method, but it did not solve the current issue.
Devs clearly don't know what they are talking about.
Yes, nickgripton this was one of their original solutions. It did not work.
Another update from someone in the Dropbox Advanced Support Team. I was told to now download and install a new stable version of the Dropbox app. It is version 160.4.4703 that was released today. I downloaded and installed it. Still NO Dropbox context menus, so continuing to wait for another solution. This is the link to the stable version of the latest Dropbox release I was given. https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-desktop-client-builds/Stable-Build-160-4-4703/td-p/633087
No magic. No unicorns. Happy Halloween, everyone!!
Since the update, now it is even worse.
Before the update, the context menu only showed approx 5 options,
but now all i see is only 1 option.
Which is really bad.
Update: As of this evening, my Dropbox context menu miraculous appeared. I didn't do anything differently today than any other day, and I'm not aware of any Windows update last night or today. The issue was not resolved yesterday, but is resolved today. Whatever the issue was, I'm glad it is currently resolved and hope it stays that way.
I'm also glad I did not uninstall and reinstall and edit my Windows registry.
mroman Great that your context menus are back. What version of the Dropbox app are you on now? Mine are still not showing up.
mromanLikewise would love to know what version you are on.
I can confirm it's not working as it used to on Windows 11. All I have in the right-click context menu now is 'Share' - the other (very useful!) options to make available offline, view on web, view previous versions etc are all missing.
I hope it is a bug and not a 'feature' because all those other options were indispensable, and to remove those from the desktop app would be a huge mistake in my opinion.
Currently on Windows version v160.4.4703 and all I can see is...
- Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi all, I just wanted to give you an update on this.
The team are currently looking into this, and we'll post an update as soon as it's made available to us.
Thanks for your reports so far.
langshipley Currently on Windows version v160.4.4703. Dropbox updated. Hopefully it lasts.
This is proof that it was a Dropbox issue, not a Windows issue.
mromanI'm actually on 160.4.4703 and the problem persists. I think many people are on here.
Fingers crossed it doesn't disappear again for you!
Not sure if this is okay to share but in the interests of keeping everyone in this loop up to date...
Update: My Dropbox context menus are back. This solution works. Fingers crossed it stays that way!!
I have been exchanging emails with a very helpful Dropbox engineer and he has stepped me through a few options. Most didn't work. This latest one does, but it's a step back to a previous stable version of the app.
I was told that Dropbox are working on an updated version of the app that will bring back the context menus as they are aware of the problem. However, this may take a week or more. In the meantime, he suggested I roll back to an older version of the app that still works with the context menus on the latest version of Windows 11. You can find the download link to the install file here: https://www.dropbox.com/downloading?build=158.4.4564&plat=win&type=full&arch=x64
Now, a few things to note:
1. You do not need to uninstall the existing app. Just click and install this older version on top of it. It will override the existing version.2. Give it time. It takes a bit after the install to click online. Check that the older version of the app has "taken" by hovering over the Dropbox app icon and checking the app version. It should be 158.4.4564.
3. After the install is finished, Dropbox will sync and will re-index all your local files on your hard drive in the Dropbox folder. That will take a while, depending on how many files you have and how big the total storage space is. Be patient.
4. Your context menus will slowly come back online in Windows Explorer when you right-click as each file and folder finishes syncing and indexing. If you right-click and the Dropbox context menu isn't showing, it probably means it is still syncing and indexing. Again, be patient. Once that's finished, your context menus should be back for all your files and folders in Dropbox.
5. VERY IMPORTANT. You need to DISABLE the auto-update for Dropbox until the new stable version is installed (when it eventually comes out) and you stay on this version. 158.4.4564. To do that: open Task Manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL) and go to the PROCESSES tab. Scroll down to BACKGROUND PROCESSES and keep scrolling until you get to "Dropbox Update Service (32 bit)" and click on that to highlight it. Then right-click and select "End task." That will disable the auto-update TEMPORARILY.
NOTE: if you reboot your computer, the Dropbox auto-update task will enable again, so each time you reboot, you will need to disable the auto-update process. Just repeat STEP 5. There is no real way to turn it off permanently, and there's a whole Dropbox thread about it. If you want to read about it, it's here. https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Apps-and-Installations/How-to-disable-DropBox-Update/td-p/199292 I wouldn't recommend it anyway because you do actually want the auto update to work, and it's part of Dropbox's policy. I wouldn't mess with it anymore permanently. If you are in contact with a Dropbox engineer via email as part of this issue, they will be able to turn it off for you on their end, but you have to ask.
Good luck.
Shout out to the Dropbox engineer helping me. He was super helpful and very responsive.
langshipley It's interesting that your Dropbox context menu came back by reverting to an older version and mine came back after updating to the latest.
I check daily and so far - the context menu is still there. Hopefully it remains that way.
Thanks for sharing your update.
Hello. I'm glad I finally found this thread after two hours of searching the internet. I'm dealing with same issue, currently with version 160.4.4703 of Dropbox, no Dropbox context menu in Windows 11. Now I know I'm not alone, I hope Dropbox team will soon find a real solution.
