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Forum Discussion

TomFuller's avatar
TomFuller
Helpful | Level 7
3 months ago

My files don't always to my online Dropbox account, even when the app says it's up to date.

On my Macbook M1 Pro, I add files to the local hard drive, but they do not always appear on my Internet dropbox account or on my iPhone. Sometimes I "touch" them with a slight modification, and that ...
Desktop
Mac
Sync
  • TomFuller's avatar
    TomFuller
    2 months ago

    SUCCESS!

    I finally figured out the problem and solved it! It is a very subtle "bug" in Dropbox. If a file is copied into a folder under Dropbox control, but its name is changed within a couple seconds, Dropbox loses track of it and does not sync it. I have a program that produces text files that are always named "notes.txt". I copy these into my Dropbox folder and immediately give them more useful names. If I do so too quickly, Dropbox "loses" them. A work-around is to re-name them before placing them in the Dropbox folder. Another work-around for files already "lost" in the Dropbox folder is to slightly edit (I add a space character) and save them. Then Dropbox is suddenly aware of them and syncs them. Both work-arounds work perfectly.

Mark's avatar
Mark
Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II

What does Dropbox say if you mouse over its icon? Are the files stored in Dropbox on a local drive with no symlinks etc.?

TomFuller's avatar
TomFuller
Helpful | Level 7
3 months ago

It says "up to date" and it will do so even when some files are missing. 

 

I just learned a new word today "symlink." I don't think I've ever done such a thing. How can I check?

  • Walter's avatar
    Walter
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    3 months ago

    Hey TomFuller - could you clarify your device's OS version and the version and status of the Dropbox desktop app as shown in your menu bar?

     

    As for checking for symlinks on your device, you can find out more with an internet search. 

    • TomFuller's avatar
      TomFuller
      Helpful | Level 7
      3 months ago

      MacOS: Sonoma 14.6.1

      Dropbox: 207.4.5821

       

      And I do not use symbolic links, internal or external. But I would still like to be sure that all my ~quarter million files made it to the Dropbox cloud. 

      Thanks!

      • Nancy's avatar
        Nancy
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        3 months ago

        TomFuller, out of curiosity, have you tried reinstalling the Dropbox app, since the issue emerged? I’d like to see if that’ll help at all.

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