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Forum Discussion
Can't understand the meaning of the Dropbox icon in the finder and it doesn't sync.
My system info
HW: Apple M1 Pro
OS: Ventura 13.5 (22G74)
Dropbox ver: v180.3.4837 & joined beta
Dropbox beta has an incomprehensible behavior when using the file provider feature on macOS...
The previous article described the icons you would see in Finder.
- The green sync icon means the file is available offline
- No icon means it's 'available'. This means you doubleclicked it to open, and it's stored on your computer. However, if you're low on hard drive space, the Mac OS will delete the local copy to free up space
- Cloud icon with a down arrow means it's online-only.
- This would only apply to entire folders. Individual files won't have two icons at the same time.
First off, thanks for the reply.
I'm just writing this after changing my Dropbox/Movies directory with "Make avialable offline", and dropbox is in "syncing x files..." status.
As for the icon in the finder, do I understand it as follows?
1. the "dropbox icon" in the finder: this is dropbox's "goal", i.e. the state it wants to be available offline, and does not mean it is currently available offline.
2. if there's no icon in place of the dropbox icon in the finder, it's only available online.
3. cloud icon in finder: an arrow down icon means it's downloading, no icon means it's "actually" downloaded.
4. the user can only assume that "real" offline access is available when the dropbox icon is offline available and the cloud icon is gone.
Does this make sense?
Jay
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffThe previous article described the icons you would see in Finder.
- The green sync icon means the file is available offline
- No icon means it's 'available'. This means you doubleclicked it to open, and it's stored on your computer. However, if you're low on hard drive space, the Mac OS will delete the local copy to free up space
- Cloud icon with a down arrow means it's online-only.
- This would only apply to entire folders. Individual files won't have two icons at the same time.
"This would only apply to entire folders. Individual files won't have two icons at the same time."
Yes they have.
That's exactly the issue here.
Both icons simultaneously was actually temporary situation.
After clicking "make available offline" all files in folder tree got the green "available offline" icon right away, parallel with "offline"-symbol.
In a while "offline"-symbols disappeared and files started to work as they should in offline use.
So that 'two opposite icons' at same time, was situation after asking folder tree to be in offline use, but before they actually were downloaded.
So two simultaneous icons in file meant it was asked to be downloaded for offline use but it was still only online as it was not yet downloaded.Yeah it happens with files as well as folders.
Well thats confusing! Are Dropbox working on a fix for this?
- Jay
Hi FlashyX, as this is the expected behavior of the Dropbox sync icons when using the new File Provider version, as per their requirements, what fix are you looking for?
Jay wrote:- No icon means it's 'available'. This means you doubleclicked it to open, and it's stored on your computer. However, if you're low on hard drive space, the Mac OS will delete the local copy to free up space
Hi Jay, does this mean I cannot have all things on my drive at all times any more?
Thanks
Agree with OP here - this is very confusing and not in the spirit of "it just works" anymore. Is there a way to opt out of the Dropbox version that is using the File Provider API? The article here is only mentioning how to opt in - but how would I switch back to the original Dropbox?
I am having this issue, and contrary to the solution here I am having the issue with individual files. and they refuse to become available offline in bulk unless I click on each one individually. I'm on an M1 mac. please help.
- Walter
Hey daviddaviddavidgardener - thanks for the screenshot.
Could you let us know your device's exact OS version, and the version and status of the Dropbox desktop app as shown in your menu bar?
yeah im on osx 13.5 and dropbox says "your files are up to date"
