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Forum Discussion
High CPU usage even when not syncing or indexing
For the past couple of days, Dropbox has been consistently using around 30% of my CPU, when not syncing or indexing anything (i.e., the menu bar drop down says `Up to date`). Any idea why this might ...
I don't think the symlinks have anything to do with the issue.
I agree with pikatchum, it seems like a Swiss knife reply to any quesiton about CPU.
Dropbox on my PC uses 20-30% of CPU when it is NOT syncing anything. Just "Up To Date".
And the PC does NOT have symlinks in Dropbox folder.
The method described in https://www.dropbox.com/help/desktop-web/high-cpu-usage returns NEITHER <SYMLINK> NOR <SYMLINKD>.
(Strangely enough, it returns some files from the Dropbox itself: C:\Users\MyName\Dropbox\.dropbox.cache\qebcobkqbgpbzfynfuwbof)
The files look like this:
8.10.2019 03:16 (1 024) placeholder.vsdx
08.10.2019 03:16 (1 024) placeholder.wav
08.10.2019 03:16 (1 024) placeholder.wmv
08.10.2019 03:16 (1 024) placeholder.xls
08.10.2019 03:16 (1 024) placeholder.xlsb
Let me reiterate:
Nothing to sync.
No symlinks.
CPU 20-30%
Fiona
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffHi Wrangler!
Symlinks are not supported, as already mentioned, they do create syncing difficulties and high CPU usage: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Files-folders/Syncing-when-using-symbolic-links/td-p/312221
Please read more here about the place holders you see in your Dropbox at the time:
https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/symlinks
I hope this is helpful. Feel free to ask questions!
But my Dropbox folder doesn't have symlinks.
And the CPU usage is still 20-30% while the folder "Up to Date".
Thank you for suggestion for reading, Fiona . As soon as I have a free second, I would love to read about placeholders. :)
The only thing we, users, need is a bit of free CPU to do our work (not Dropbox's).- Fiona
I greatly appreciate your kind response Wrangler. :nerd:
If you have checked all 7 causes of high CPU usage and still have the same behavior I would be more than happy to investigate device related details and search with the information you are providing in your last response about the placeholders.
Please note that this can only be done via email, as in Community we do not see account specific information.
Thank you in advance!
Thank you for an extremely useful response, Fiona
I presumed that we are discussing here notoriously greedy usage of CPU by Dropbox.
Even if the box is "Up to Date".
The behaviour is not limited to my poor PC. This forum's posts show that it is common.
Moreover, I've just found out that Dropbox uses 20-30% of CPU even if it is "paused".
That is fantastic!
No non-existent symlinks could possibly explain that! ))
