How can I "reset" dropbox on linux (clearing cache didn't work?)

[ldorigo]

I keep my desktop and laptop synced using Dropbox (with the added benefit of online backups).

A couple of days ago, for no apparent reason, Dropbox on my laptop started re-uploading/downloading a massive amount of files (it's currently stuck at "Uploading 745000 files" and "Downloading 69000 files", without much change for a long time.

1. Any idea what happened?

2. How can I completely restart the sync process, *without* having to re-download everything? I have over 450GB on dropbox, and 99.99% of the files are already in sync between online/my desktop/my laptop. I tried deleting dropbox's cache (~/Dropbox/.dropbox.cache) but it didn't change anything. I'm afraid of deleting ~/.dropbox/* because I don't want to cause mayhem or re-download everything? What should I do?

[Jay]

Hi @ldorigo, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

There can be various reasons as to why the Dropbox desktop application would force a resync of the entire Dropbox account.

Currently, there isn't a way to restart it like you're asking. Are there any files that don't have the green icon on them should that they're synced?

This will help me to assist further!

[ldorigo]

Hi,

I'm not sure, I don't use a file manager - but using `dropbox-cli filestatus`/`dropbox-cli ls`, it looks like most files are currently being synced?

[Jay]

What version of the Dropbox app are you running?

[ldorigo]

I'm on v183.4.7058

[Hannah]

Thanks for this info, @ldorigo.

Since a few hours have passed now, can you check if the sync status of the app is still the same?

Or is it progressing?

[ldorigo]

Hi, no, still exactly the same.

[Walter]

Hey @ldorigo, could you update to the latest, stable version of the desktop app from this page and let us know if the issue persists? 

[ldorigo]

I am on the latest version now, uninstalled and reinstalled, and deleted ~/.dropbox for good measure. spent some hours indexing, now it's again downloading/uploading a huge amount of files:

[Walter]

Thanks for the screenshot and the additional information @ldorigo 

May I ask how many files you've got syncing locally on your device approximately? Have you tried using selective sync to lessen the app's load by any chance?