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Forum Discussion
No Option to "Make Available Offline."
Honestly, this seemingly late "bringing to the forefront" (I guess you'd call it) of the whole "Online Only" vs. "Make Available Offline" thing has been more of a headache than a help, if I may offer...
Not sure if this is okay to share but in the interests of keeping everyone in this loop up to date...
Update: My Dropbox context menus are back. This solution works. Fingers crossed it stays that way!!
I have been exchanging emails with a very helpful Dropbox engineer and he has stepped me through a few options. Most didn't work. This latest one does, but it's a step back to a previous stable version of the app.
I was told that Dropbox are working on an updated version of the app that will bring back the context menus as they are aware of the problem. However, this may take a week or more. In the meantime, he suggested I roll back to an older version of the app that still works with the context menus on the latest version of Windows 11. You can find the download link to the install file here: https://www.dropbox.com/downloading?build=158.4.4564&plat=win&type=full&arch=x64
Now, a few things to note:
1. You do not need to uninstall the existing app. Just click and install this older version on top of it. It will override the existing version.2. Give it time. It takes a bit after the install to click online. Check that the older version of the app has "taken" by hovering over the Dropbox app icon and checking the app version. It should be 158.4.4564.
3. After the install is finished, Dropbox will sync and will re-index all your local files on your hard drive in the Dropbox folder. That will take a while, depending on how many files you have and how big the total storage space is. Be patient.
4. Your context menus will slowly come back online in Windows Explorer when you right-click as each file and folder finishes syncing and indexing. If you right-click and the Dropbox context menu isn't showing, it probably means it is still syncing and indexing. Again, be patient. Once that's finished, your context menus should be back for all your files and folders in Dropbox.
5. VERY IMPORTANT. You need to DISABLE the auto-update for Dropbox until the new stable version is installed (when it eventually comes out) and you stay on this version. 158.4.4564. To do that: open Task Manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL) and go to the PROCESSES tab. Scroll down to BACKGROUND PROCESSES and keep scrolling until you get to "Dropbox Update Service (32 bit)" and click on that to highlight it. Then right-click and select "End task." That will disable the auto-update TEMPORARILY.
NOTE: if you reboot your computer, the Dropbox auto-update task will enable again, so each time you reboot, you will need to disable the auto-update process. Just repeat STEP 5. There is no real way to turn it off permanently, and there's a whole Dropbox thread about it. If you want to read about it, it's here. https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Apps-and-Installations/How-to-disable-DropBox-Update/td-p/199292 I wouldn't recommend it anyway because you do actually want the auto update to work, and it's part of Dropbox's policy. I wouldn't mess with it anymore permanently. If you are in contact with a Dropbox engineer via email as part of this issue, they will be able to turn it off for you on their end, but you have to ask.
Good luck.
Shout out to the Dropbox engineer helping me. He was super helpful and very responsive.
NancyI just opened my preferences and early releases is already switched off. So not sure how I could have the Beta running. Maybe you released a beta into the wild?
I'll open a ticket... but please keep us all updated here.
Over the weekend, when I was away from my desk, I received emails saying that a ticket was opened, and then resolved. I see no ticket, no discussion, no updates, and have no resolution.
I just tried to right-click again on a Dropbox file in File Explorer - and there is no Dropbox context menu either on the first right-click or under Show More Options.
Just an update - this issue has yet to be resolved for me. Anyone else have resolution?
I still have the same issue on my Win11 Desktop/Laptops.(3PCs are all same situation)
Just another update for "solving the issue" by re-installing with the change of Windows UAC.(Instructions below)
Right to the point, it does not work, so please save your time and do not re-install.
Below is the "solution" guide i received from support:
-----
The issue you are seeing is likely related to an incorrect level of permissions when the Dropbox application was installed.
To correct this, use the following steps:
Note: Please be sure to take note or take a screenshot of any Selective Sync settings you may have applied prior to re-installing in case you need to re-apply these settings upon re-install.
1) Verify that the Windows UAC levels are set to default levels. This can be changed in your Security settings in the control panel.
For more information about UAC levels please see the following link (The instructions in the website are also applicable to Windows 10/11):
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/975787
2) Uninstall the application using the steps in the following article. Please note that you do not need to remove the Dropbox folder or any files from the Dropbox folder:
https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/desktop/uninstall-dropbox
3) Download the newest version of the Dropbox application by visiting the Dropbox website:
https://www.dropbox.com/downloading-----
...and so on.
As i said, please do not waste your time on trying this. It does not fix the current problem.
Thanks
LUNARWAVE thank you so much for this update and taking one for the team.
- Megan
Dropbox Staff
Hi mroman, how are you today?
I was able to locate your ticket number, and I saw that you responded there last night. I am assuming you were able to locate it then, right?
Also, onodanaoto, I just sent you an email too, so we can investigate on this. Thanks!
Hi there, a quick update.
When this problem occurred, I was traveling and on my laptop. My laptop is running Windows 11 22H2.
I am home now, and on my desktop again which I have not used for over 2 months from being away so the OS has not updated on the desktop. The desktop is running Windows 11 21H2 and the Dropbox context menus are showing and working on my desktop with this version if the Windows 11 OS.
Please note the two different versions of the OS.
Windows 11 22H2 (latest version) - Dropbox context menus DO NOT work
Windows 11 21H2 (older version) - Dropbox context menus DO work
Hello
My 2 PCs:
a) 22H2
b) 21H2
they both do not show the context menu.
LUNARWAVE so strange that it works for me but not for you.
My desktop was an upgrade from Windows 10 originally when the context menus were working so I do not know if upgrading to Windows 11 21H2 carried over from that.
I know that my laptop which came with Windows 11 originally and I was just letting the automatic updates roll through each time they were available was always problematic with the context menus.
- Megan
Hey LUNARWAVE & langshipley, thanks for updating this thread!
I can see that Nancy sent an email to both of you individually. Were you able to respond back to her?
Megan I saw Nancy's email, but I've literally just got off an airplane not too long ago and am just settling back into things. I will respond in the next day or so and provide her with all the information she's asked for. I haven't turned on my laptop yet to respond to her and get some screenshots that were requested. I'm working off my desktop right now which is okay as mentioned above.
- Megan
Sure thing, langshipley! Don't worry about it, take as much time as you need.
