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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.
Thanks for letting me know. I suspected as much. I anticipated lots of work and time on my end, without a resolution in the end.
This is clearly a Dropbox issue - and a hope an update that reinstates the context menu comes out soon. I use the "Copy Dropbox link" several times a day. Also, the "View on Dropbox.com" link. To have to open a browser, go to Dropbox.com, and find the file there that I'm looking at in File Explorer just so I can share it with a team member -- just doesn't work.
Hannah
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffHey everyone, thanks so much for bringing this to our attention.
We have moved all similar reports to this thread, to keep track of the issue.
Can everyone please confirm the following:
- Is the Dropbox application "Up to date" and not still syncing?
- Are you running the latest version of the Dropbox application (current stable version is 159.4.5870)?
- Has everyone tried the steps in this thread?
- Is the Dropbox application "Up to date" and not still syncing?
YES - Are you running the latest version of the Dropbox application (current stable version is 159.4.5870)?
YES - Has everyone tried the steps in this thread?
YES
Tried everything. Literally. Still not working. But working fine on WIN10.
- Is the Dropbox application "Up to date" and not still syncing?
Yes, to all three questions that Hannah asked.
Yes to all three questions. I am seeing sync icons and have proof that Dropbox is, in fact, syncing properly. It's just the Dropbox context menu that is missing. Thank you for your help, Hannah.
- Walter
Hi all, thanks for all the additional information and clarifications you provided.
At this point, for anyone affected, would it be OK if we reach out via email to investigate a bit further?
same problem. It worked for a while, then the context menu disappeared.
My Dropbox: 160.3.4650 - Up to date
no other program in the context menu
thanks!
- Is the Dropbox application "Up to date" and not still syncing?
--> YES - Are you running the latest version of the Dropbox application (current stable version is 159.4.5870)?
--> YES - Has everyone tried the steps in this thread?
--> YES tried ALL of them
But I still have dropbox context issue. Alternatively I use web version but it is EXTREAMLY INCONVENIENT.
- Is the Dropbox application "Up to date" and not still syncing?
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.
Yes, that is fine. Happy for you to email me. I'm traveling at the moment though, so might take me a while to respond, especially if you require things like screenshots, etc.
