Our Community is in read-only mode until April 8th, learn more here. You can still search existing threads or get help via Dropbox Support, the Dropbox Help Center, or Learn.
sort
206 Topics
Is there a way to bulk identify and delete duplicates?
Device: MacBook Pro, Tahoe 26.3 Operating System/Browser: Safari Question or Issue I was trying the "find duplicates" function available on the web interface because it's not available through the desktop app (on Mac at least). The web interface is almost completely unusable. As someone who has nearly 2 decades of files backed up, I have probably close to 100,000 duplicate files and I'd like to do a bulk find and delete. The web interface requires that I select every single file separately AND that I approve any deletion through a separate click - I can't even bulk-select files and approve a deletion. Is there a function that allows bulk deletion? Or do I have to buy a third-party tool for this? I have a pro account if that matters.Solved108Views0likes3Comments
Loss of reliable “Date Modified” behavior is destroying file discovery and productivity
I need to raise a serious productivity issue that has fundamentally broken how I work in Dropbox. For years, my workflow depended on being able to sort and find files reliably by Date Modified. This is not a “nice to have” feature, it is essential for meeting deadlines. I work across many active projects and frequently need to locate the most recently edited file quickly. Since Dropbox began forcing background indexing / “modifying” files, the Date Modified field has effectively become meaningless. Files that I have not touched are suddenly marked as modified, while files I actually worked on recently are buried or out of order. What used to take seconds now takes hours. This has had very real consequences: I can no longer trust sorting by Date Modified I waste huge amounts of time opening files just to verify which version is current My ability to meet deadlines has been severely impacted My productivity has dropped dramatically To be clear: This is not user error, not a learning curve issue, and not a preference change. This is a regression in core file-management behavior. If Dropbox needs to index files internally, that process should not overwrite or redefine the user-visible “Date Modified” metadata. That breaks established OS-level workflows and makes Dropbox actively hostile to professional use. At minimum, Dropbox needs to provide one of the following: A way to preserve true file modification dates A separate, clearly labeled field for “Last Indexed” or “Dropbox Activity” Or an option to disable indexing behaviors that rewrite modified timestamps Right now, Dropbox is making it harder, not easier, to find my own work. I am genuinely questioning whether I can continue using it for professional projects if this behavior remains. I would really appreciate a response from Dropbox staff acknowledging this issue and explaining whether a fix or workaround is planned.201Views1like3CommentsI use a Windows device, and my Dropbox files take 7-10 seconds to open in my File Explorer.
recently i have had issues with dropbox (db) opening files extemely slow. i figured it was my computer so i bought/installed a new 1tb solid state drive, reformatted, re-installed everything.. and it still opened slow, like 7-10 seconds per file (yes, can drive a man nuts). i decided to do a little troubleshooting and copied a file to my desktop to see if it still opened slow and BOOM.. flew open. so it looks like its dropbox that is having the issue. my dropbox folder is located on my c:. we live in the woods and have satellite for internet (not sure if that matters). windows 10, and brand new dell precision work station. windows defender is disabled (read that was an issue also). the files i mostly use are "autocad" files (.dwg) thanks for the help!Solved16KViews1like27CommentsLinking Excel files in Dropbox without changing their path.
We just switched to Dropbox for Business. We have several Excel files with formulas that link to other Excel files all saved in a shared folder. With our local server the links would work for every user the same. Now with using Dropbox, the link will work for one user and not for another user. If the 2nd user changes the file path to make the link work for them, then it will no longer work for the first user. How do we make it so all users in the shared file can open the Excel file and have the links update without having to change the file path for each user?Solved14KViews2likes3Comments
Accidentally hid a file using the device's Properties and now I can't locate it.
Hi there I right clicked on a video I put in Dropbox, clicked on Properties and then under 'Attributes' clicked on 'Hidden' (accidentally) and then on 'OK". Now the video is hidden / invisible. I cant see it and I dont know where it is. I dont know how to 'unhide' it or make it visible again. Does anyone know? Thanks very much in advanceSolved21KViews1like4Comments
Unable to scroll through photos in Windows Explorer/Photos application
Typically when you open a photo (not synced with Dropbox) in Windows 10, the photo opens in Windows' Photos default application. Once the photo opens, you can use the right and left arrows on the keyboard to cycle through other photos in the same folder. It's a very handy feature that appears to be disabled when the folder is synced with Dropbox. Instead I have to now close the photo and manually open the next file from the folder. These photos are locally-synced through Smart Sync. Can anyone tell me if this is normal behavior? Is there a setting that enables the arrow key scrolling again?Solved11KViews0likes4Comments
Dropbox keeps sorting my files based on when I last accessed them, instead of alphabetically.
Question or Issue In the past year or so Dropbox changed the way my files are listed so instead of opening and searching for files in alphabetical order as I set them up, they are now listed under the month last opened. I did not request this and cannot search this way. How can I stop this? I should add that sometimes my files do appear in normal alphabetical order and other times they appear in this crazy month order. I can’t figure out why it goes one way or the other.Solved230Views0likes6Comments
