Recently Changed Files aren't...recent.

[Dave E.1]

I'm baffled as to why when I look at the dropbox app's list of supposedly 'Recently Changed FIles' NONE of them are recent;y changed files.
Right at the top of the list are often files I'd totally forgotten I'd even got in dropbox!
How come this list seems to be totally random files from my dropbox storage and certainly ***NOT*** recently changed or added files?

[Mark]

Is something else changing them? 

For example updating the metadata due to being updated in iTunes?

[Dave E.1]

I guess that's exactly why I came here to ask.
If I knew anything that would be changing or updating my dropbox files, then I'd know the answer myself.
The list of supposedly 'recently changed files' are of varying file types.
A lot of PDF's, some image files, documents, spreadsheets etc.
Some of when they are indeed 'recent' may have been changed by me, but they're mostly old files, and PDF's and images, are not being edited or changed, so why are they in the list?

[Dave E.1]

At the very top of the list right now is a PDF document that - when I look at it with my file manager - shows it was created and modified on 23/10/23 three months ago. So that's the date I will have saved it in my dropbox folder.
It will not have been touched - or shouldn't have been touched - by anything since then.
Why is it showing up as being a recently changed file?

[Dave E.1]

I created and saved a new file in my dropbox folder two days ago and that doesn't show up anywhere in the 'recently changed files' list???

[Megan]

Hi @Dave E.1, I'd be happy to help!

As a first step, can you clarify your OS, and the version of the Dropbox app that you're using on your end? 

What is the syncing status of the app at the moment?

Also, I'd like to see a few more screenshots of the web, and how the same shared content shows there. Are you able to see the new added files, when checking your Recents online?

Keep me posted!

[Dave E.1]

OS is Linux Mint 21.2 Cinnamon

Dropbox version is v190.4.6383

Syncing status is always syncing unless I tell it to pause which I never do!

Yes I can see new files I've added on the webpage version of dropbox, but again in that list of 'recent' files, just a few down the list is a PDF file it reckons was (added or altered?) yesterday.
I know for a fact that file was uploaded on 1st January 2 weeks ago and hasn't been touched since.
My linux file manager says it was accessed yesterday, but it wasn't by me! Not knowingly!
I'd be surprised if Dropbox records it as being uploaded (or altered) yesterday if it were just an access even if it's an access I know nothing about!

I don't share these files with anyone else.

[Jay]

HI @Dave E.1, most likely there is an app or service on your machine that is accessing the file somehow. 

It shouldn't necessarily change anything in the file, unless you see any new version history on the site for those files?

[Dave E.1]

I appreciate your comments, but I'm not at all sure how this is helping?
All it's doing is raising more questions about different ways of looking at dropbox 'recent' files?
My original questions stands still stands.
"when I look at the dropbox app's list of supposedly 'Recently Changed FIles' NONE of them are recent;y changed files.
Right at the top of the list are often files I'd totally forgotten I'd even got in dropbox!
How come this list seems to be totally random files from my dropbox storage and certainly ***NOT*** recently changed or added files?"

[Dave E.1]

I can see I'm not getting anywhere here.
I don't have Itunes, and it's quite obvious that *something* is changing them! That's why I'm here asking for help.
But it seems no one here has any knowledge of how the system works and why it should report random files that haven't been altered in the 'Recently Changed Files' tab.
That's a shame. I guess I'll never find out!
It does make me slightly worried though that there could be some sort of security breech.
I have no way of knowing if someone is gaining access and looking at my files without my permission.