Unknown folder and icon in my desktop app called Dropbox cache.

[jazzmeg1]

Hello

I just noticed there are a folder named ".dropbox.cache" and a file icon named "desktop" in my desktop app.
What are they? Why did they appear all of sudden?

Thanks

[Megan]

Hi @jazzmeg1, happy Monday, I hope you're doing well! 

The cache folder is used as a staging area to sync files to and from your account. Dropbox keeps a cache of files hidden in your Dropbox for efficiency and for emergency purposes. 

Now, as for the desktop icon on your desktop app, I'm guessing it could be a program file, but please feel free to send me a screenshot, in order for me to have a visual of this. 

Keep me posted! 

[jazzmeg1]

Hello Megan,
Thank you for getting back to me.
I don't know why those two icons are in my Desktop app folder.
They were not there before. Both appeared at the same time.(about a week ago or so)

[Jay]

Hi @jazzmeg1, these are hidden files, which won't be visible in normal settings on an OS. Have you enabled the visibility of hidden files on your OS?

[Rich · Accepted solution]

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@jazzmeg1 wrote:

I don't know why those two icons are in my Desktop app folder.

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Aside from being hidden, the desktop file is actually called desktop.ini, and is a application settings file that controls how a folder appears in Windows. If you enable the display of file extensions, instead of hiding them, you'd see the full file name. It's part of Windows; not Dropbox. You'll see the same file in many folders throughout your computer.

[jazzmeg1]

Thank you for the information, Jay
I will look into it.

Thanks.

[jazzmeg1]

Hi Rich,
Thank you for your explanation.
I went to Settings>For Developers>Change settings to show hidden and system files and fixed the problem!
I am puzzled because I don't remember that I enabled the file extension display.

Thank you again!

[WalterWaschlappen]

when i connect dropbox to an external drive, a .dropbox.cache folder appears in the dropbox folder. i would like to delete it but if i do the desktop app stops working. what do i do?

[Rich]

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@WalterWaschlappen wrote:

when i connect dropbox to an external drive, a .dropbox.cache folder appears in the dropbox folder. i would like to delete it but if i do the desktop app stops working. what do i do?

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The .dropbox.cache folder is required for Dropbox to function properly. If it's deleted, Dropbox will just recreate it, and any actions that were in-progress would likely need to start over again (such as syncing a large file).