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BigE1's avatar
BigE1
Explorer | Level 4
6 years ago

I can't see any sync icons next to my files in my Dropbox folder, what can I do?

For some reason my drop box files and folders no longer show the "green tick" when synced. If I right click the system tray icon there are only two options Dropbox or uninstal. I can see no way of accessing the gearwheel lots of the replies to this issue suggest.  I have installed the latest versio of the app and running windows 10. Any ideas?

desktop
sync
Windows
  • Daphne's avatar
    Daphne
    6 years ago

    Thanks for checking that BigE1!

    There's a few reasons that could explain why you're not seeing the sync icons next to your files. If you didn't install the app with admin permissions, you may need to just reinstall the app with admin permissions. The steps to do so are outlined here.

    Also, Windows does have a limit of only 15 overlay icons that are able to load in Windows Explorer. You can check the overlays that you have registered with these steps:

    1. Press the Windows key + R and enter regedit.
    2. Navigate to the following registry key with this path: 
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers     
    3. Scroll right for complete command line.
    4. If the Dropbox overlays are in the first 15 positions, they will display; otherwise you'll need to make room for them. Please note that this requires you to delete or deprioritize other applications' overlays, so only proceed if you're sure about what you'll affect.
    5. If you decide to proceed, you can select individual keys and delete them by right-clicking on the desired key. If you don't want to delete them, you can rename them and place a Z at the beginning to send them to the end of the alphabetically sorted list.
    6. Quit explorer.exe and launch again from the Task Manager, or restart your computer.
    7. Launch Dropbox, and the sync icons should re-appear.

    I hope this info helps, let me know what you find - thanks!

  • Daphne's avatar
    Daphne
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    6 years ago

    Hello there BigE1, welcome to the Dropbox Community!

    From what you mentioned about the options you see when clicking the Dropbox icon in your system tray, the options indeed sound a little strange. Just to confirm, are you clicking the small icon that appears next to the clock display in the bottom right corner of your screen?

    Also, please let me know which version of the desktop app you have installed on your computer, so we can ensure it's not a beta version.

    Let me know what you find and we'll go from there - thanks!

    • BigE1's avatar
      BigE1
      Explorer | Level 4
      6 years ago

      Ah just found the icon on the system tray, I was trying the toolbar icon.  That said I have found preferences - Selective sync and all my folders are checked to sync, but I still have no "green ticks" My app ver is v81.4.195

      • Daphne's avatar
        Daphne
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        6 years ago

        Thanks for checking that BigE1!

        There's a few reasons that could explain why you're not seeing the sync icons next to your files. If you didn't install the app with admin permissions, you may need to just reinstall the app with admin permissions. The steps to do so are outlined here.

        Also, Windows does have a limit of only 15 overlay icons that are able to load in Windows Explorer. You can check the overlays that you have registered with these steps:

        1. Press the Windows key + R and enter regedit.
        2. Navigate to the following registry key with this path: 
          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers     
        3. Scroll right for complete command line.
        4. If the Dropbox overlays are in the first 15 positions, they will display; otherwise you'll need to make room for them. Please note that this requires you to delete or deprioritize other applications' overlays, so only proceed if you're sure about what you'll affect.
        5. If you decide to proceed, you can select individual keys and delete them by right-clicking on the desired key. If you don't want to delete them, you can rename them and place a Z at the beginning to send them to the end of the alphabetically sorted list.
        6. Quit explorer.exe and launch again from the Task Manager, or restart your computer.
        7. Launch Dropbox, and the sync icons should re-appear.

        I hope this info helps, let me know what you find - thanks!

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