Cannot find Dropbox preferences to set up selective search

[PierreL1]

Setting up new PC with Windows 11 which is new to me. I have installed dropbox on my PC and was attempting to set up selective sync. Instructions from Dropbox site are to open dropbox and click on my avatar in upper right corner. 

1. There does not appear to be a dropbox app per se. Instead, when I click on the Dropbox icon, all I am seeing is File Explorer open to Dropbox.

2. When I do that, I go into File Explorer and there is no icon and no "preferences" option from any menu I can see.

What am I doing wrong?

Thank you!!

[Rich · Accepted solution]

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@PierreL1 wrote:

There does not appear to be a dropbox app per se. Instead, when I click on the Dropbox icon, all I am seeing is File Explorer open to Dropbox.

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You're clicking the Dropbox icon on your Desktop or from the Start menu. You need to click the icon in your system tray/notification area.

• https://help.dropbox.com/account-settings/view-preferences

[PierreL1]

Thank you!

Next problem is that I am unable to select any folders in the selective sync options.  My cursor has no effect on anything on that screen. I cannot select or unselect anything.  Everything else on my PC works fine btw.

[Megan]

Hey @PierreL1, how are you today?

What is the app's syncing status at the moment? Can you also send me a couple of screenshots of what you described above, in regards to your Selective sync settings?

Thanks a bunch!

[jason999]

I am having the same problem. The Dropbox app from the system try does no have the usual tabs that would allow me to select/unselect folders for syncing. Oddly, on my other laptop the Dropbox app still functions as normal.

[jason999]

Just an update:  The selective sync controls briefly reappeared in my Dropbox app (which I access through the system tray)... an hour later it's gone again. Crazy!

Next time I can get the app to open with controls I will never close it.

[Hannah]

Hey @jason999, sorry to hear about this.

Since you still have a Dropbox icon, can you hover over it, and let us know which version of the app you're running and what's the sync status?

A screenshot of how the preferences appear on your end, would also be really helpful, if you can send us one.

[itevans]

Hi Hannah,

I have the same issue and see no solution for selecting preferences and therefore selective sync 

I unistalled and reinstalled the app and the normal Preference options window was visible but after I made a selection of folders to appear on my desktop as part of the setup it disappeared never to return. At least not by any mechanism I tried.

[Rich]

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@itevans wrote:

I have the same issue and see no solution for selecting preferences and therefore selective sync

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The top of your screenshot appears to be cut off. Does it not show the full window, or are there no icons above the Sync History and Activity tabs? Or does that screenshot show the very top of your monitor and the Dropbox window is partially off-screen?

[itevans]

Thanks Rich, 

The screenshot includes the top of my display.

Those icons do not appear and the Dropbox window is immoveable