Please stop renaming our files automatically

Hi Seriously, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

In general, Dropbox doesn't rename your files automatically, unless you're using the Camera Upload feature, or the automation feature.

Could you clarify exactly how your files are being renamed by describing what you're doing, step-by-step?

This will help me to assist further.

Jay  Thank you for your reply.   I would have responded sooner, but your email went to my spam folder.  Hopefully, this will provide you the information you need to help me resolve this very inefficient issue in my Dropbox uploading processes.

First, to my knowledge, I am not using Camera Upload nor anything Dropbox automated.  When given an obvious automation option (e.g., a pop-up window), I click out of it.  I'm using a simple drag and drop as I generally do of my files from a minimized window on my system to Dropbox.  I don't share files or links from Dropbox, so it also cannot be a third party user.

My process:

1.  Open my Documents or Downloads folder on my system.

2.  Find the folders or individual files I wish to transfer.

3.  Using my mouse, I left click to highlight these files.

4.  Minimize my window.

5.  Drag and drop the files into Dropbox, either:

a.  a Dropbox Folder or Sub-folder I have created, or

b.  by simply transferring the folder into Dropbox All Files.

As they upload, I can see Dropbox actively renaming them.  I have included a few screenshots below as an example. 

First, I had to reload this file several times before it would upload without "yelling" at me and adding the underscore squiggle number (AUDIO_~1). 

When I use caps, it's for my own reasons either a) as my own abbreviation, or b) to alert myself "RETURN HERE" or "CHECK THIS" or something similar.  So you can imagine, when Dropbox began spontaneously capitalizing files (in addition to renaming them), I instantly had my work more than doubled, especially when I initially attempted to upload several folders simultaneously.  I went to sleep hoping to find them completed for a quick check when I woke. Instead I found many visual "alerts" that I had not noted but had to still open to see if they were my own alert or a Dropbox issue.  If they were a Dropbox issue, I had to rename the whole series or in the case of several folders, simply delete those uploaded files and start from scratch.

This is one simple example.  I did not use caps in the uploading of this file.  The second title is the correctly titled file.

Below are some additional screenshot files I uploaded.  First, the screenshot files weren't even included with the originally uploaded file.  I had to go back into the folder on my system to upload them, using the same "drag and drop from a minimized window" method.

Secondly, they were dropped by Dropbox as separate entries outside of the folder instead of dropping them into the folder where I myself had dragged and dropped them. 

Then Dropbox renamed them from this:

to this:

And when I open each file, it also does not show me the original name as I'm hoping it will. Instead, It comes up like this:

?!?!?!     

This is only 10 screenshots from one small file.  I cannot upload more than one file simultaneously, and I cannot upload larger files without having to check every single file to see a) if it uploaded, and b) if it was renamed or not.  

As an aside, I also cannot consistently upload audio and video files simultaneously.  Dropbox will sometimes stop with one or the other but not upload both. 

Additionally, and what was worse in the last few weeks of attempting to upload my files, some were passworded files.  I had named them with a password indicator clue.  So when I went to open those files, I could not open them.  I was glad I hadn't deleted them from my own system's Recycle Bin. I had to return them to their original locations (in my system) to get the file name, thus the PW clue before I could open them.  Then I manually renamed them in Dropbox to include the clue which I would prefer not to do.  That's the whole point of a having a PW in the first place.

I will say, this is not happening with every single folder. It's happening inconsistently but regularly.   I would say about half of my folders' contents are being renamed this way.  After the first 2 or 3 days of this, I ordered a couple of large flash drives to back up my files there instead of in Dropbox.  I did not have time to keep fiddling with it. I would prefer to continue using Dropbox.

And when I just tried to write and send this to you, I received this message, so Io hope this second response goes through.

Thank you.

Hi Seriously, thanks for the information. We're not experiencing this behavior on any of our devices.

Could you clarify exactly what version of Windows you're running and what browser version you're using? Is this a company-managed device?

Do you have any other cloud providers running on your machine at the same time?

Thanks for the additional information Seriously 

Since you've experienced this issue in the past, did you try getting in contact with our support team directly for further assistance with account and device specific information?

Also, can you please clarify your computer's exact OS version, and the version of the Dropbox desktop app? 

Does the issue persist when you temporarily disable your firewall (and any antivirus, VPN or proxy setting)? 

I see, thanks for the additional information Seriously 

Since this is happening when using a web browser, have you tried clearing your browser's cache and/or using another browser or an incognito window?

Hey K Michael R. - could you clarify how those files are being uploaded to Dropbox exactly?

Feel free to include any additional information or screenshots as they might help get to the bottom of this.