Memory leak in the mobile app on Android

[Christian A.8]

Hi, I am using dropbox an various devices (Windows, Mac, iOS, iPadOS and Android).

I prefer to keep all contents offline available, so I activated these options.

Right now, there is around 16 GB of data kept in my dropbox space.

I rarely delete files. In most cases, existing files are updated or some new files are added.

There's no problem on Windows, Mac, and Apple mobile devices.

On iPhone and iPad, the app needs about 17,x GB memory, that sounds okay.

When updating or changing files, the memory consumption on iPhone and iPad changes as expected, depending on the changed files.

However, this isn't the case an Android devices.

Here, the memory consumption keeps growing and growing.

I made a test, at the same time I deleted and re-installed the apps both an Apple and Android devices from scratch.

Downloaded all files again and made them available offline.

After some weeks, memory consumption on the Apple devices is rather constant and within an expected range, still around 17.x GB.

While on my Android tablet, the app uses 28 GB. And on my Android phone, it needs 22 GB.

Is this a known issue? Why does the Dropbox Android App need so much more memory, and why is it growing and growing?

My only solution is, to clear and re-install the apps everyone 1-2 months.

[Walter]

Hey @Christian A.8 - thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Just to clarify, how large are the files you've offlined on your Android device? Could you send us a screenshot of where you're spotting the memory discrepancy?

Also, what is your device's exact OS version and the version of the Dropbox mobile app?

Any additional information and/or screenshots are more than welcome! 

[Christian A.8]

Hello, the largest file is around 800 MB, but this is an exception.

There are many small JPGs and XLSX and also lots of mid-sized PDFs (50 to 200 mb)

I've attached some screenshots:

Windows 11 23H2, patch level October 2024

iPhone 13 Pro - iOS 18.0.1

Samsung Galaxy Phone A53, Android 14, latest patchlevel (no updates available)

Samsung Galaxy tab S6, Android 12, latest patchlevel (also no updates available)

Screenshots:

[removed per the Community's Guidelines]

[Walter]

Could you use the camera icon within your reply box to attach your screenshots instead of sending us 3rd party links @Christian A.8? 

[Christian A.8]

I've tried, but it didn't work. At least, I could not find an option to upload the screenshots.

Embedding the URLs also didn't work.

[Walter]

In that case, you could share a link to the screenshots instead @Christian A.8 

[Christian A.8]

Windows

iOS

Samsung Galaxy Phone A53

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

[Nancy]

Hey Christian! Thanks for the screenshots. Before reinstalling the Dropbox app on your Android device, did you clear the Dropbox app’s cache (via the app settings)? I’d like to see if that makes any difference.

[Christian A.8]

Yes, I did that.

The screenshots were taken 1 (!) day after the complete deleteing + reinstall on both iOS and Android devices.

[Walter]

So just to clarify here, are you referring to the difference in the total amount of GB you notice or to how fast the cache is increased on Android @Christian A.8?  

As for your offline files, have you marked the exact same files to be available offline across all of your devices?