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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 my opinion.
I purchased a new ultra-portable Windows computer which has a 256GB SSD on board, but I plan on using my Dropbox files with it, and I have well over 256GB worth of stuff in my Dropbox.
The thing is that I'm often in situations in which I need offline access to my files.
So I purchased a 1 TB microSD card, which will never leave its slot in this machine. Heck, I can't even retrieve it, it seems.
I mounted it so that it isn't considered "Removable Media" by the computer, and then I proceeded to install Dropbox on the computer, with the intent of using the 1 TB card exclusively for Dropbox content...offline.
I left my machine to sync overnight, and what do you know? Everything has a stupid cloud next to it.
I have no option to "Make Available Offline," either in the file/folder context menu or in the Dropbox application > Preferences > Sync menu.
If this is by design, it's a pitifully stupid design.
I'm going to whatever lengths I can to make this work the way I envision, but I'm going to be awfully disappointed if Dropbox doesn't respect use cases that might not necessarily conform to a narrow definition.
If it's an issue with a recent update to the application, then please bug the developers posthaste.
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.
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I just upgraded to Windows 11. Dropbox is syncing, but I do not have a Copy Dropbox link option in File Explorer (Windows Explorer)...not even in Show More Options. It's just not there. I have installed all the latest Windows updates. I have scanned Dropbox with Windows Defender and allowed it through the firewall. I have quit Dropbox and restarted it. Dropbox shows in File Explorer, but the option to copy a link is not available.
I think my dropbox got updated which is what brought me that feature in Win 11
However to your comment, I now go to: Right Click the File > Dropbox > Copy Dropbox Link
I don't use "Show More Options"
Thanks, Chris. I don't see a Dropbox option in the first menu. It's not in Show More Options either.
I am not sure what the issue may be. You might need to hang tight for an update to something.
- Nancy
Dropbox Community Moderator
Thanks for posting about this on the forum, langshipley!
One thing that Iād like you to clarify in this case, is whether the desktop app on your device is currently running.
If it is, can you let me know what's its current syncing status? You should be able to check this by hovering over the small Dropbox icon in your system tray.
Keep me posted.
- Walter
Hey mroman, sorry to jump in, but could you send us a screenshot of the options you get when you right click on files in your Dropbox folder on your computer?
Also, is the desktop app 'up to date' in your system tray or still syncing?
Everything is syncing both ways. I can see updated files and my coworkers are seeing my updated files.
Here's the Show More Options menu I am seeing. There is no "Dropbox" menu upon the first right-click, or anything like the old "Copy Dropbox link" or even "View on Dropbox.com." And, those options are not in the Show More Options sub-menu either.
Yes, the Dropbox app is running and the sync status is up to date. I know that it is syncing properly because I have tested it and have had some things sync across a few devices that are showing up on my computer.
Read this discussion. May be this can help you here https://www.cbackup.com/articles/dropbox-right-click-uk49s-menu-missing.html. If this will help you then please mentioned me here.
Hi uk49s, thank you for sharing that. Yes, I've already tried that and it didn't fix the problem. I've googled all the solutions I could possibly find online and tried most things before coming here to ask for help.
