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Lynda C.3
11 years agoNew member | Level 1
Where is the gear icon on my Dropbox desktop app?
Anyone know where to find the gear icon on Dropbox?
I have Windows 10 and finally, finally found the gear icon and preferences. I agree that finding this should have been easier -- it should appear when one clicks the DropBox icon on one's desktop. But it doesn't. I created a very quick and dirty set of 4 screenshots that shows, in a very simple way (which is how I can understand these things) how I got to it. It starts with (1) the "show hidden icons" button that looks like an up arrow, on the lower right-hand corner of my screen (the area known as the "systems tray" - then (2) I clicked the DropBox icon (has a little check-mark on it) - then (3), a little box opens (labeled, "up to date" and lists "recently changed") and, lo and behold, the blasted gear icon appears in the upper right corner of it, so (4) I clicked that and got a dropdown menu that included "preferences." My very amateur set of screenshots is here:
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- Kathleen S.1210 years agoNew member | Level 1
To answer this question for some you - my computer like many of yours DOES NOT have the gear icon when doing as stated many times by Robert S. Instead, you have to Right Click on the Drop Box icon in your System Tray - to the left of the date and time at the bottom right corner of your screen. Only after right clicking with my mouse does the pop up come up that has the Gear.
Clicking the 'up arrow' as shown above DOES NOT bring up the Drop Box icon on my computer either, as shown in the May 22, 2016 post either.
.
- Mark10 years ago
Super User II
Thanks for clarification Kathleen.
Dropbox should not need the extra steps to do that, but, its possible you've tweak something on your machine.
- Robert S.10 years ago
Super User alumni
To answer this question for some you - my computer like many of yours DOES NOT have the gear icon when doing as stated many times by Robert S. Instead, you have to Right Click on the Drop Box icon in your System Tray - to the left of the date and time at the bottom right corner of your screen. Only after right clicking with my mouse does the pop up come up that has the Gear.
This is clearly self-contradictory.
The gear icon is exactly where it's supposed to be, i.e., system tray > Dropbox client icon > gear icon, so how do you arrive at the conclusion it isn't there?
(BTW, left-click or right-click, both bring up the exact same dialog box.)
Dropbox should not need the extra steps to do that, but, its possible you've tweak something on your machine.
It doesn't and none are evident here.
- Julie G.1010 years agoNew member | Level 2
If I right click I just get "dropbox" and "unpin from taskbar". If I select "dropbox" I get open, unpin from taskbar, run as administrator, properties. If I left click, I get my list of files. I'm with Ben L. Fire the execs at Dropbox and put the money into a simple Windows 10 fix. I can't do a thing because my hard drive is full of my Droopbox files. I thought Dropbox was the CLOUD so I didn't realize it was saving to my hard drive too. Terrible.
- Julie G.1010 years agoNew member | Level 2
I uninstalled and reinstalled Dropbox on my Windows 10 laptop. Now I get a white icon in the system tray and still right or left click, no gear icon. Immensely frustrating.
- Brenda L.310 years agoNew member | Level 1
I have Windows 10 and no gear icon. Anywhere. My C Drive is full and my files will not sync. How can I change my settings if I cannot access the gear icon?
- Mark10 years ago
Super User II
Follow the screen shots already given Brenda.
- Alicia E.10 years agoNew member | Level 1
I have Windows 10 and finally, finally found the gear icon and preferences. I agree that finding this should have been easier -- it should appear when one clicks the DropBox icon on one's desktop. But it doesn't. I created a very quick and dirty set of 4 screenshots that shows, in a very simple way (which is how I can understand these things) how I got to it. It starts with (1) the "show hidden icons" button that looks like an up arrow, on the lower right-hand corner of my screen (the area known as the "systems tray" - then (2) I clicked the DropBox icon (has a little check-mark on it) - then (3), a little box opens (labeled, "up to date" and lists "recently changed") and, lo and behold, the blasted gear icon appears in the upper right corner of it, so (4) I clicked that and got a dropdown menu that included "preferences." My very amateur set of screenshots is here:
- Rich10 years ago
Super User II
it should appear when one clicks the DropBox icon on one's desktop.
That icon is just a shortcut to your Dropbox folder. It's not the actual application (though it will launch the application if it's not already running, but ultimately it only opens the folder and has no other interaction with the program, just like all the other shortcuts on your computer).
Thanks for posting the screenshots. I've taken a screenshot and attached it to your post, instead of linking to an external site.
- Chris E.2610 years agoNew member | Level 1
I recently changed to a Microsoft Surface Book running Windows 10 and the gear icon no longer appears for me when clicking on the DropBox icon in the system tray. So I can no longer access selective sync. It worked fine on my prior laptop and works on all my other computers that I am syncing to. I emailed support and they recommended I reinstall. I did so and during the install it allowed me to configure selective sync which allowed me to change the setting I wanted, but did not restore access to the gear icon. After done I still do not have access to the settings/menu. Left click and right click do nothing. Double left click brings up my drop box folder. Mouseover the icon brings up "DropBox 8.4.21 Up to Date". I know what should happen because I can configure on my other computers. It just doesn't work on this computer. Any suggestions would be helpful.
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