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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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Yes to all three questions. I am seeing sync icons and have proof that Dropbox is, in fact, syncing properly. It's just the Dropbox context menu that is missing. Thank you for your help, Hannah.
- Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi all, thanks for all the additional information and clarifications you provided.
At this point, for anyone affected, would it be OK if we reach out via email to investigate a bit further?
Yes, that is fine. Happy for you to email me. I'm traveling at the moment though, so might take me a while to respond, especially if you require things like screenshots, etc.
Happening to me to, for a week now.
Windows 11. 10.0.22621. Build 22621. Updated today.
Dropbox 159.4.5870.
All syncs up to date. Can see green ticks across the board in file explorer too.
Reinstalled (advanced reinstall page doesn't even have links when you click the dropdown menus).
Have not messed about with my registry as requested (especailly as it didn't work for anyone). Not cool to ask people to mess with their registries.
Keep it all public please, no private emails. We all need to see what is going on.
Thanks.
same problem. It worked for a while, then the context menu disappeared.
My Dropbox: 160.3.4650 - Up to date
no other program in the context menu
thanks!
- Nancy
I totally understand what you mean, nickgripton.
However, if you’ve already tried a few general troubleshooting steps and the issue persists, it’d be better to log a ticket, as we can see details on your Dropbox account this way and check what else may be happening. If you’d like us to look into this further, we’d be glad to log a ticket for you, too.
Also, thanks for posting on the forum, fefone!
It seems that your desktop app is running the beta app version, and not the stable one.
Can you please switch off the early releases via your web account, and then install the latest app version via this link?
Keep me posted for any updates.
Was this issue ever resolved? I am having the same issue with the "Make Available Offline" no longer appearing in the right-click menu. Screenshots are the same.
- Is the Dropbox application "Up to date" and not still syncing?
--> YES - Are you running the latest version of the Dropbox application (current stable version is 159.4.5870)?
--> YES - Has everyone tried the steps in this thread?
--> YES tried ALL of them
But I still have dropbox context issue. Alternatively I use web version but it is EXTREAMLY INCONVENIENT.
- Is the Dropbox application "Up to date" and not still syncing?
Edition; Windows 11 Home
Version; 22H2
Install date; 2022/10/05
OS Build; 22621.675
Experience; Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22634.1000.0Opt-out from early release verion of dropbox in my profile menu. Re-installed the latest version of Dropbox desktop application.
NancyI just opened my preferences and early releases is already switched off. So not sure how I could have the Beta running. Maybe you released a beta into the wild?
I'll open a ticket... but please keep us all updated here.
