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wildman4's avatar
wildman4
Explorer | Level 3
5 months ago

Cannot set default sync state for new files to "available offline"

I am unable to select "Available offline" as the "Default sync state for new files" within the desktop application Preferences.  I do have the ability through the "right click" menu to "Make available offline" or "Make available online-only"

This was working in previous versions.  I only noticed recently because someone shared a folder with me and it was not immediately available offline.

Device
Desktop
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
Windows 11 Pro 24H2
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)
228.4.5567
Dropbox Plan
Family

9 Replies

  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    4 months ago

    Hey justin h.2! I wanted to make sure that you’ve seen Megan’s reply above. If you have, and you need further help, don’t hesitate to let us know.

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    4 months ago

    Hey justin h.2, thanks for posting here, let's jump right into this! 

    How long has this been an issue? 

    Would you mind clarifying which app version you currently have installed, along with the app's syncing status? I just want to make sure you're not running a beta version of our app.

    You can find both by hovering your mouse over the little Dropbox icon in your taskbar next to your WiFi.

    Lastly, if you select a file/folder inside your Dropbox folder, and right click on it, do you have the option to make the content available offline or online-only? 

    Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!

  • justin h.2's avatar
    justin h.2
    Explorer | Level 4
    4 months ago

    This seems to be the most recent relevant thread...i have the same issue, very frustrating...it will not let me select 'offline only' from my default settings. im running the latest updated win10 and the most recent dropbox update which i just ran...still the same problem

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    5 months ago

    Hey wildman4, I just sent you an email, in order for us to have a closer look into this.

    Reply back to me, and we'll take it from there. Thanks!

  • wildman4's avatar
    wildman4
    Explorer | Level 3
    5 months ago

    Hi Megan​,

    I don't have any issues with syncing.  When I upgraded to the latest version, I had to login again and re-download/sync everything from scratch.  That completed without problems.  Also - I have restarted several times already.

    Everything seems to be working properly other than getting the "Available offline" as the "Default sync state for new files" preference to be permanently set properly.

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    5 months ago

    Hey wildman4, let me also jump in here!

    One more thing I'd like to ask is for the Dropbox desktop app's current syncing status.

    Have you tried quitting the app by right-clicking the Dropbox icon in your task bar? You can then select Quit Dropbox, then reopen it from your installed applications.

    Let me know of any updates!

  • wildman4's avatar
    wildman4
    Explorer | Level 3
    5 months ago

    Hi Hannah​,

    Thanks for your response.

    Strangely, when I just came back a bit ago, I was logged out of Dropbox on my machine.  I wonder if this was a result of filing this ticket...

    Regardless, I was using "Dropbox for Windows."  I downloaded and installed the latest version: 229.4.5197 from your link.  I opted-in for "Dropbox for Windows."  I am a bit frustrated that it required me to re-download everything all over again...  It told me it had to rename the old Dropbox folder and then proceeded to sync everything again (because I do want everything synced).

    Nevertheless, the issue still seems to occur, however, with a slightly different behavior.

    Now, I can select "Available offline" as the "Default sync state for new files" within the desktop application Preferences, but it does not persist.

    Also, the same behavior continues in Windows Explorer.  The files that were originally downloaded after installing and logging into Dropbox have the green outlined status icon.  I have the ability to use the Windows Explorer context menu to "Make available offline."  Files I have selected (eg. Photo 3) for available offline via the context menu have the filled in green check mark.

     

  • Hannah's avatar
    Hannah
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    5 months ago

    Hey wildman4​, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

    These visuals are super helpful!

    Did you recently get the Dropbox for Windows update on your computer perhaps?

    Can you also try updating the app to the newest stable version that came out yesterday, to see if that makes any difference?

    Let me know how it goes.

  • wildman4's avatar
    wildman4
    Explorer | Level 3
    5 months ago

    I do have the ability through the "right click" menu to "Make available offline" or "Make available online-only"

    To be clear, I have the ability through Windows Explorer, by right clicking on a file or folder to make a file or folder available offline or online-only.

    Another thing to note is that you can see "Photo 1" has a status icon that is a green outline, NOT a filled in green check mark like "Photo 3."  All my previous files that were automatically "available offline" (before the preferences option stopped working) have the green outline status, while only the new files I purposefully "Make available offline" through the context menu get the filled in green check mark.

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