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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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- Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey vegasesq, could you confirm your device's exact OS and the version and status of the Dropbox desktop app as shown in your taskbar?
If you could also send us a screenshot of the options you get when you right click on files in your Dropbox folder, we'd appreciate it.
Over the weekend, when I was away from my desk, I received emails saying that a ticket was opened, and then resolved. I see no ticket, no discussion, no updates, and have no resolution.
I just tried to right-click again on a Dropbox file in File Explorer - and there is no Dropbox context menu either on the first right-click or under Show More Options.
Just an update - this issue has yet to be resolved for me. Anyone else have resolution?
I still have the same issue on my Win11 Desktop/Laptops.(3PCs are all same situation)
- Megan
Hi mroman, how are you today?
I was able to locate your ticket number, and I saw that you responded there last night. I am assuming you were able to locate it then, right?
Also, onodanaoto, I just sent you an email too, so we can investigate on this. Thanks!
Hi there, a quick update.
When this problem occurred, I was traveling and on my laptop. My laptop is running Windows 11 22H2.
I am home now, and on my desktop again which I have not used for over 2 months from being away so the OS has not updated on the desktop. The desktop is running Windows 11 21H2 and the Dropbox context menus are showing and working on my desktop with this version if the Windows 11 OS.
Please note the two different versions of the OS.
Windows 11 22H2 (latest version) - Dropbox context menus DO NOT work
Windows 11 21H2 (older version) - Dropbox context menus DO work
Hello
My 2 PCs:
a) 22H2
b) 21H2
they both do not show the context menu.
LUNARWAVE so strange that it works for me but not for you.
My desktop was an upgrade from Windows 10 originally when the context menus were working so I do not know if upgrading to Windows 11 21H2 carried over from that.
I know that my laptop which came with Windows 11 originally and I was just letting the automatic updates roll through each time they were available was always problematic with the context menus.
- Megan
Hey LUNARWAVE & langshipley, thanks for updating this thread!
I can see that Nancy sent an email to both of you individually. Were you able to respond back to her?
Megan I saw Nancy's email, but I've literally just got off an airplane not too long ago and am just settling back into things. I will respond in the next day or so and provide her with all the information she's asked for. I haven't turned on my laptop yet to respond to her and get some screenshots that were requested. I'm working off my desktop right now which is okay as mentioned above.
- Megan
Sure thing, langshipley! Don't worry about it, take as much time as you need.
