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Re: Can't open any files from my Android phone

Can't open any files from my Android phone

jdt34
Explorer | Level 3
Go to solution

I got a new Android phone about three weeks ago. When I accessed my Dropbox files, I was able to open some and not others. Now I am unable to open any files on the phone. Instead, I receive this message: "This file can't be previewed. To open this file, try a computer or another app." They will not download, export, or be made available offline. However, I can open all the same files on my desktop computer with no problems. I also tried connecting to my Android Dropbox to my desktop Dropbox and starred the item to see if that would help. Still no success. Why can't I open the files on my phone? Thank you for your help.

1 Accepted Solution

Accepted Solutions

Jay
Dropbox Staff
Go to solution

It seems like the device itself isn't allowing the Dropbox app to access the internet to download files. 

There is a possibility that a proxy, VPN, firewall, security software, or even ISP/router issues could be restricting traffic to the following Dropbox domains.

I'd recommend checking all of these possibilities, and try connecting to a different WiFi network, or use cellular data, to see if there is any difference.


Jay
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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View solution in original post

33 Replies 33

Mark
Super User II
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Do you have an appropriate application on your phone to open them? 


 


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:white_check_mark: Did this post fix your issue/answer your question? If so please press the 'Accept as Solution' button to help others find it.


:arrows_counterclockwise: Did this post not resolve your issue? If so please give us some more information so we can try and help - please remember we cannot see over your shoulder so be as descriptive as possible! 


 

jdt34
Explorer | Level 3
Go to solution
I have Microsoft Office on my phone, and it opens Word files outside of Dropbox just fine. My phone also opens PDFs outside of Dropbox with no problem. But within the Dropbox app, nothing opens.

jdt34
Explorer | Level 3
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One more thing. On the Dropbox website I can open the same files with my phone that won't open in the app.

Megan
Dropbox Staff
Go to solution
Hi @jdt34, let's see what we can find on this! 

May I ask what OS and Dropbox app are installed on your device? 

Can you check it and get back to me? 

Thanks a lot!

Megan
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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jdt34
Explorer | Level 3
Go to solution
I have Android 12 and Dropbox app version 260.2.2.

Megan
Dropbox Staff
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Great. Thanks for the update, @jdt34!

Can you also send us a screenshot of what you see when trying to preview your Microsoft files? 

Megan
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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jdt34
Explorer | Level 3
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I'm not sure how to include a screenshot in this post; if you explain how to do it, I'd be happy to. But regardless of the file I open, it tries for about a minute before I finally get the message "This file can't be previewed. To open this file, try a computer or another app."

Megan
Dropbox Staff
Go to solution

You should be able to click the little camera icon on your response and attach your file there. 

Does that happen with specific file types only? 

Feel free to also have a look at this Help Center article.


Megan
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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jdt34
Explorer | Level 3
Go to solution
I'm sorry, but there is no camera icon on my respone. I can copy and paste any text, but I find no option to attach an image.

The only file types I have are docx, pdf, and xls. I can't open any of them with my phone. The file sizes range from 6-170 KB, which is well below the limits outlined in the article you recommended.
Need more support?