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Forum Discussion
The Dropbox app can't sync one file
Dropbox has recently reported a 'sync issue' - "Couldn't upload. Give Dropbox permission to access this file".
The file is 'Lenovo Migration Assistant.lnk' and it's been on my hard drive for months without generating an error, in a folder with other files that are being uploaded ok.
The "How to fix" link doesn't list this actual error message but I have tried some of the suggestions for the errors quoting 'upload' problems, but the commands given fail.
I have a Lenovo ideapad 330S running Windows 10 Home, Version 10.0.18363 Build 18363
Hi there Gogabz, I'd be happy to help look into this with you.
Could you try, as a first step, the following in the exact order listed, and see if they do the trick?
- Click on the Dropbox icon in your system tray.
- Go to the gear in the Notifications panel.
- Select Preferences...
- Navigate to the Account tab.
- Click anywhere in the window under the tab.
- Hold down the Alt+H keys.
- Click on the Fix Hardlinks button.
- You may be asked for your computer's login credentials, in which case, please enter them.
- Wait a bit to see if Dropbox resumes syncing.
If you're still having trouble, repeat the same steps, but on the seventh one, click on the Fix Permissions button, instead.
Let me know how it goes, thanks!
- Lusil
Dropbox Staff
Hi there Gogabz, I'd be happy to help look into this with you.
Could you try, as a first step, the following in the exact order listed, and see if they do the trick?
- Click on the Dropbox icon in your system tray.
- Go to the gear in the Notifications panel.
- Select Preferences...
- Navigate to the Account tab.
- Click anywhere in the window under the tab.
- Hold down the Alt+H keys.
- Click on the Fix Hardlinks button.
- You may be asked for your computer's login credentials, in which case, please enter them.
- Wait a bit to see if Dropbox resumes syncing.
If you're still having trouble, repeat the same steps, but on the seventh one, click on the Fix Permissions button, instead.
Let me know how it goes, thanks!
For those doing this on a Mac, it seems that you hold down option (⌥) instead of "Alt+H" while following Lusil's instructions.
This worked for me (win 10 pro) but it has to win the 'mystery meat' award for obscure fix that you could never find thru the UI. "click anywhere on the window and hold down alt-H"....to fix a known problem ? Wow
Hi Lusil,
That worked - many thanks.
I tried the Fix Hardlinks option - no login credentials required - then restarted. The error was still there.
Did the same using the Fix Permissions option. Again the error was still there.
I went into File Explorer to look at the file permissions (not that I know much about them) & while I was doing that I noticed the error on the Dropbox icon had disappeared. Presumably I just hadn't waited long enough for syncing to complete but unfortunately that means I can't say which option worked.
But anyway, many thanks again.
