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Forum Discussion

BoxyBeat's avatar
BoxyBeat
Helpful | Level 5
5 years ago

Stop renaming my files! (on auto phone upload)

Video files ( possibly photos too ) get renamed on automatic upload from the phone to Dropbox. There must be a really good reason for Dropbox to rename files and I'd like to hear it. It's very an...
Android
Camera uploads
Mobile
sync
BoxyBeat's avatar
BoxyBeat
Helpful | Level 5

Test Video File , approx 10sec long.
1.
On my phone, details from "Gallery"
20 01 23 12:08 am
Filename is 20200123_000803.mp4
I think it's safe to assume it's HH MM SS there at the end.

2. Opened Dropbox on my phone and I've let it do it's thing.

3. This is the file name I have on my computer, Dropbox sync folder:
2020-01-23 00.08.14.mp4
and with a 10 sec video file it checks out the initial theory about final write time of the file and filename.

3.
When uploading manually to Dropbox, filename stays as the original.

4. My OS

Thanks for looking into this !

 

Daphne's avatar
Daphne
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
5 years ago

Thanks for checking on that too BoxyBeat!

In this case, I can only suggest to use manual uploading for videos if you'd like to keep the original filename I'm afraid.

Camera uploads is expected to upload and name the file based on the timestamp of when it was take.

While I can't provide you with a work around for this while using camera uploads, I'd suggest sharing your thoughts here if you'd like to maintain the file name itself rather than the timestamp.

Sorry that I couldn't be of further help with this, but please don't hesitate to get back to me here.

Thanks!

  • BoxyBeat's avatar
    BoxyBeat
    Helpful | Level 5
    5 years ago

    So this was an exercise in futility.
    Why did you made me twirl around like a little princes ?
    You got it pretty clear the first time, I thought we were getting somewhere.

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

      I'm sorry to hear you feel that way BoxyBeat!

      I wanted to ensure that what was occurring on your device is the same as what I was trying on my side as I wasn't aware of which device and OS you were using.

      In my first post I explained that this would be the expected behaviour if you saw the same difference in the video details and why the renaming occurs. Apologies if I wasn't clear!

      Just to note, I moved your request over to the "Share an idea" section so that it's in the right place for others to upvote it.

      If there's anything else I can help with, just give me a nudge here.

      Thanks!

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