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Forum Discussion

Lui Hepworth's avatar
Lui Hepworth
Helpful | Level 6
2 years ago

The operation can’t be completed because “Folder name” needs to be downloaded.

I am on Mac OS Monterey running dropbox basic. When I try to delete a folder I get the error message 'The operation can’t be completed because “Folder name” needs to be downloaded.' Also my sync icons are not showing at all. If I add or delete files they the changes sync. If I create a folder it also syncs - but I cannot delete it from Finder. I can delete it online and the change sync to Finder.
I have re-installed and also follow the advanced re-install https://help.dropbox.com/installs/advanced-reinstall
I have followed the dropbox not syncing https://help.dropbox.com/sync/files-not-syncing

and missing icons https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/View-download-and-export/Sync-icons-missing-in-the-Dropbox-folder-in-Finder/td-p/596014/page/2

I've been going round in circles with all the above - re-starting lots too. Any ideas what is going on? Thanks

  • Problem solved. I tried everything advised by dropbox support - unticking login items, making sure other back-up programs weren't affecting etc. These didn't work, so I unistalled dropbox (quit from menu bar avatar, dragged Dropbox to the recycle bin and did a clean up of residual items using CClean (free version), I also deleted the Dropbox folder located in the Cloudstorage folder (probably best to back-up before you do this) - to find where your dropbox flder is - right click it and choose show enclosing folder. I downloaded the latest Dropbox again and installed - during installation it said that it could not find the dropbox folder - I choose re-link. Now all the icons appear correctly (blue as syncing, green once synced) and I can delete folders within Finder - all my files are downloading/sycing from the online version, which will take a while, but everything seems to be working fine now.

  • Walter's avatar
    Walter
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    Hi there Lui Hepworth, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

     

    Can you please clarify your device's exact OS version and the status and version of the desktop app as shown in your menu bar at the moment too?

     

    Also, could you have a look at your app's preferences under the sync tab and let me know where your Dropbox folder is stored?

     

    Thanks!

    • Lui Hepworth's avatar
      Lui Hepworth
      Helpful | Level 6

      Hi @walter

       

      Info is
      Monterey 12.6.8
      Dropbox 179.4.4985

      Your files are up to date

      Macintosh HD > Users > username > Library > Cloudstorage > Dropbox 

       

      Thanks

  • Dmitri772's avatar
    Dmitri772
    Explorer | Level 3

    My problem may be related.  I spent a bunch of time today with support and my ticket got bumped to a specialist support group.  Powermac 16" 2019 running 12.6.8.

    Moving a large batch of data files within my Documents folder (which is backed up to Dropbox and set to sync) causes a Finder malfunction that prevents the move from completing and prevents any further actions with the source folder, the destination folder, and the files being moved.  If a few files do show up in the destination folder, they have a cloud next to them but are not accessible.  Dropbox app activity window will eventually show that the files have been updated/synced, but as far as the Finder is concerned the move or copy hasn't occurred.  Reboots don't fix it, eventually I have to delete both source and destination folders. 

    Move and copy from my Documents folder to any non-Dropbox syncing folder is unaffected, works perfectly.

    Pausing Dropbox sync before making large file moves, as I was advised to try by Support this afternoon, block any file moves or copies within a folder that is being backed up by Dropbox.

    File type is irrelevant (.txt files, music files, etc.).  All that matter is the size of the move.

     

    I can't say for sure when this behavior started, but it feels like last few weeks or during July.

    Anyone else having a similar experience?

     

    • Calvin2DBX's avatar
      Calvin2DBX
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

      Hi Lui Hepworth and Dmitri772,

       

      Let's drill down on the source of the problems here.

       

      Lui Hepworth, did the icons change at all to the kind shown here:

       

      https://help.dropbox.com/sync/macos-sync-icons ?

       

      If they're completely missing, a screenshot of how the files appear, for any clues, would still be great to have.

       

      Also, try the actions again when the Dropbox app is not running, like Dmitri772 was advised, and let me know if that helps in your case.

       

      Dmitri772, if moving from the Documents folder to non-Dropbox locations works just fine, they should also move to Dropbox locations when the app isn't running, if it's anything to do with the app, so there must be something more to it.

       

      Are either of you using Computer Backup at all, to sync folders outside Dropbox, such as Desktop, Documents, and Downloads?

       

      Do the file actions complete if you start them on the website, instead, and let the changes sync down to the computer? Also, if you can send me the ticket number for the specialized support case, that would be great!

       

      Thanks in advance!

      • Lui Hepworth's avatar
        Lui Hepworth
        Helpful | Level 6

         

        Hi

         

        In Finder I created this new folder called TEST. I added a txt file and a png - the icon at the top of the screen showed it was syncing. No icons seen in Finder at all:

         

         (Edited by moderator to remove personally identifiable information per Dropbox Community Guidelines)

         

         

        In Finder I delted the two files without any problem. But I could not delete the folder.

         

        I quit dropbox from the menu at the top of the screen and tried to delete the folder, but still couldn't. Error message shown again:

         

         (Edited by moderator to remove personally identifiable information per Dropbox Community Guidelines)

         

        I went to Dropbox online and deleted the folder without problem. I restarted Dropbox - it immediately synced and the folder dissapeared from Finder.

        In Finder I tried moving files from one folder to another - no problem with that either.

         

        I use iDrive to backup my laptop . I looked through the list of folders that iDrive backs up - I found Mac HD > Users > username > .dropbox is ticked -

        Also Library > Cloudstorage > Dropbox -
        I have unticked them.

        There is also a folder Library > Cloudstorage > .DS_Store - should I untick that? I will post this now - then re-start and post again after...

         

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