Start Dropbox on system startup

[denisefbatalha]

Does Dropbox have to be open in order to sync files when they're updated?? I don't have the option on my home PC to start Dropbox upon startup, so now I'm trying to find files I worked on at home here at work, and they're outdated. It doesn't make sense to me, if that is the case, especially considering these files are saved in the same Dropbox folders. Thanks for any input/insight.

[Anastasios]

If you have saved the updated files inside the dropbox folder it will be automatically updated.

If you have saved it in a standard windows folder not.

Once you click on the desktop Dropbox folder the app also launches.

That is irrespective of whether you have set it up to start along the windows login process.

Regards

[Rich]

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Anastasios wrote:

Once you click on the desktop Dropbox folder the app also launches.

That is irrespective of whether you have set it up to start along the windows login process.

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Just to be clear, this is only true if you're using the original icon that Dropbox created during installation (it points to an executable, and not the Dropbox folder directly). If you created your own icon that points directly to the folder, then clicking that icon will only open the folder.

denisefbatalha wrote:

Does Dropbox have to be open in order to sync files when they're updated??

Yes. If Dropbox isn't running, it can't sync your files.

I don't have the option on my home PC to start Dropbox upon startup

Why not? When you say you don't have the option, is it phyically missing in Dropbox's Preferences, or do you mean you're unable to run it at start up for other reasons?

[Jay]

Keep us posted with any info, @denisefbatalha !

[denisefbatalha]

For some reason it doesn't launch upon start up on my system.  I don't know why, and I can't explain it. I double-checked just last night to see if it was checked in options, and it is. I think I'll be moving my stuff over to Google Drive. Not sure how reliable they are, but this is extremely frustrating for someone like myself to works on things in two different places.

[Jay]

It might be due to other restrictions on your computer. However, try reinstalling the Dropbox desktop application to see if it re-enables the startup option for you:

https://www.dropbox.com/downloading

[denisefbatalha]

As I've stated, it is checked in the settings, but I will reinstall and see if anything changes. I don't have any other programs on my home PC that I didn't have on my laptop (started Dropbox use on the laptop). Only difference is the os, which is Windows 10. I don't recall hearing about any issues in regards to the OS... thanks.

[Jay]

Sorry for the confusion, it doesn't mean that Windows 10 is the issue, but sometimes strict security measures can prevent programs from booting up on purpose.

Since you're on a home PC, it's unlikely, but there could an anti-virus or security program that could be doing this. Let us know what happens when you reinstall the app!

[ammamoore]

Yes, It works

[Karina · Accepted solution]

Hi all, just checking in to see if there are any updates.

A reinstall, sometimes even a reboot, can help resolve these types of issues. 

Once you've carried this out, you can go ahead and ensure / re-apply the setting to have Dropbox launch automatically upon system startup. 

@denisefbatalha Let us know if this has worked for you and eliminated the issue you were experiencing with this matter. Thanks!