Smart Sync icons missing - iMac - Catalina 10.15.5 - 1/28/21

[JefW]

Hello all, I just wanted to post this in case there is a fix or if others are noticing this problem as well. 

This only started within the last day or two. 
I found a similar thread from 2019, where the issue was a conflicting app (Microsfot OneDrive) - which I do not have installed.
Oddly too with my system, if I do a total shutdown and reboot, the icons come back, then at some point (which I've yet to determine when) they vanish again). 
Latest version of dropbox 114.4.426.

Not sure if this is related but I've also noticed a time delay in files syncing if I transfer/move from another DB folder to my local computer. On the web app it tells me the files are there, but on my system they are not there. As I bounce back and forth, I've opened the desktop app and then all of a sudden the sync happens and everything seems ok. I'm not sure if this is because I'm opening the desktop app, or if it's just a time delay of a few minutes and a coincidence. Both of these issues happened around the same time that's why I'm puttin them here in the same thread.

Thanks for any help/advice.

[Daphne]

Hi there @JefW, I hope you're well today!

It sounds like perhaps the app isn't running at some points, or might be crashing silently on your computer.

When you next notice these issues (no sync icons and files not being synced), please check the Dropbox icon in your menu bar to see if it's there, and what the sync status shows.

Keep me posted with your findings!

[JefW]

Hi Daphne, 

Yes, upon checking the status there, it tells me the sync is "up to date."

[Daphne]

Thanks for checking on that @JefW!

Just to confirm, are you referring to the file thumbnail that shows a preview of the file, or the Smart Sync icon that looks like a grey cloud icon?

Would you mind sending me a screenshot when you're not seeing the icons?

[JefW]

Hi Daphne, 

I'm refering to the Smart Sync icons on the file names. They're usually "green dots with a checkmark" at the end of the file name (in list view), and when the file is syncing it changes to a blue dot that have the spinning arrows. Neither of those dots/icons show.
(I'm actually unsure what Grey cloud you're talking about). 🙂

[Daphne]

I see, thanks for clarifying that @JefW!

So it seems that you're not seeing any of the sync icons at all there. 

Just for reference, Smart Sync is the feature you can use to make files "online only" to save hard drive space, and these files would show a grey cloud icon instead of the green tick.

You can check out some more info about the sync icons here, if you'd like to.

Now, to see if we can bring back the icons, please have a look at the steps here to see if that does the trick.

[JefW · Accepted solution]

Hi Daphne, thanks for the reply. 
As of yesterday, after another restart, things seem to be working properly again. The icons are back and I just transfered files and that went smoothly. 
I'm not sure what the issue was, but for now it's working.
Thanks again.

[Daphne]

I'm glad to hear that @JefW, thanks for keeping me up to date with this!

If you need anything else, or the issue crops up again, just give me a shout here. 😀

Hope you have a great rest of your week!