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Forum Discussion
msheppard
2 years agoNew member | Level 2
Won't stop indexing on Mac
I installed the mac dropbox update and the application began indexing my files. It has now been stuck for the last few days. I can only access some files. Many are now only available through dropbox.com and not in my app. If I add files to dropbox.com they are added to the indexing queue of the desktop app, but no progress is made regarding indexing. I've tried signing out, quitting, uninstalling, and reinstalling. I've seen similar threads, but no solutions have worked for me. Any help is much appreciated.
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for your patience while we investigated. We have confirmed that the problem with resyncing has been resolved with macOS Sonoma 14.1. Users should not experience a resync when upgrading to 14.1.
Upgrading to 14.1 will prevent resyncing, but it will not resolve this issue for users who have already become 'stuck' on the resync upon upgrading to 14.0. We can help, but we're asking that users contact support for individual assistance.
Regards,
Ben
- TimNorNew member | Level 2
5 days stuck 'indexing' since updating on Mac
Often can't access any files on my computer
Any ways to fix this please?
Thank you
Tim
- TimNorNew member | Level 2
Thank you.
I've now fixed it by signing out & signing back in again.
- jfm000Helpful | Level 5
same for me, I cannot access files after last update!!! Macbook Pro Monterrey 12.6.3
- JC31New member | Level 2
I updated my DropBox app on app a week ago and the indexing has entirely stalled. Can't access any files on my MacBook at all now. When I try to log out it asks me to Disable Backup but this also seems to be stuck??
- InnesWatsonNew member | Level 2
I really would like an answer to this
Using a MacMini M1 chip 2020
I have signed out, quit, removed all traces, re-installed and it's back to syncing at the very same point...how on earth do I stop this?
My life and work is on DropBox - now it is only online and I cannot save from my desktop...do I just stop using it as my cloud and go back to iCloud?
- cloudresExperienced | Level 12
Good morning, after updating to MacOS Sonoma, something went wrong with my DropBox installation (version 183.4.7058). Right after the reboot, DropBox started re-indexing all the files. But then - I'm not sure when - at some point, it stopped. It might have been caused by a standby that occurred after a certain amount of time; I can't say for sure. The bottom line is that DropBox is no longer able to synchronize.
Here's what I've already tried:
- Restarting my Mac several times.
- Closing the DropBox app and its instances through Activity Monitor, including restarting Finder.
- Checking permissions for Privacy and Accessibility.
I haven't logged out and logged back in yet, as suggested in other threads. I haven't done it because I'm afraid of losing files that haven't been synchronized correctly, as it happened to someone here on the forum.
In the screenshots, you can see how an unsynchronized file appears in Finder, in contrast to one that was correctly (previously) synchronized.
In this other screenshot, you can see what I see inside the DropBox app.
Does the DropBox team have any information about this issue with Sonoma?
Thank you.
- elkcilbHelpful | Level 5
Hello! Having the same issue after updating to Mac OS 14.0, also Dropbox v183.4.7058. Dropbox badge stuck on indexing, sync no longer works...
- Nate DHelpful | Level 7
Is there a confirmed by DropBox issue with Sonoma? I have an email from them closing my ticket and saying it's an Apple issue but now they won't answer the question when I ask and I don't believe I saw anything in this thread where a DropBox employee admits an issue (lot's of completely unprofessional "sign out and sign back in!" mess).
Speaking of unprofessional, I"m a huge DropBox fan and proselytizer, but their handling of this appears to be a disaster - especially for a company you're trusting with your data, etc.
- krisjanisNew member | Level 2
I have already spent 5 chats on support. So far, no fix. The customer service has been really bad and my business has been frozen because of this. The best I got today was I promised that my ticket would be escalated and sent to a professional tech team that hopefully will get back to me via email. Unbelievable... I've been fan of Dropbox and used it for years, but this got me really on pause...
- cloudresExperienced | Level 12
I'm starting to get a bit disappointed with Dropbox in terms of how the issue seems to be handled. Of course, this is my perspective as someone who hasn't received any definitive feedback, neither via chat nor here on the forum, let alone reassuring statements like "We are aware of this, and we are working on it." Luckily, I don't need to back up anything right now, but if I did need disk space, I'd literally find myself in a mess. That's not what I expect from a company I've chosen, one that I've been paying for over the years and that generates millions of dollars in revenue.
Anyway, getting back to the problem, since the only thing left for me to try to resolve the issue was to log out and log back in, and since some people seem to have done that - even uninstalling and reinstalling the entire Dropbox - I now consider it pointless to even attempt. I'd rather wait for a resolution at the app level. But when will that happen? Dropbox, if you're there, give us a sign.- elkcilbHelpful | Level 5
Hello all, I managed to resolve my issue by speaking to support staff on the chat and successively being advised to log out of my Dropbox. This means you have to redownload your entire Dropbox again which is a bit of a pain but the issue was resolved after this. I then used the File Provider tool to migrate my Dropbox folder to a new location. Everything is back to working now for me. Hope everyone else also manages to find a solution soon
- matthiNew member | Level 2
Hi everybody,
I was just about updating to Sonoma when a lucky thought brought me here first.
As i gather from 24 pages over 4 weeks in this thread, Dropbox officials here provide poor help and don't really seem to have a clue, although betas of Sonoma have been around for considerable time now.
After reading here I contacted friends with Macs including Dropbox, and what shall I tell you - everybody seems to have this problem.
Least thing Dropbox could do is issuing an email to all of their customers with this information:
- Don't upgrade MacOS till we have a solution for a serious matter.
- If you dare to do so inspite of the fact that there's danger of losing some or all of your data stored with us, care to create a backup of all files you would have entrusted us with on an external drive.
What a nuisance - provided by a wordwide renowned company dealing with the most sensitive stuff computers are meant for: data.
- Gerold1Helpful | Level 5
Dropbox for MacOS doesn't stop indexing after update to Sonoma 14. Two days now. None of the suggested actions can stop it.
Dropbox app v183.4.7058, personal plus account
- MeganDropbox Staff
Hi Gerold1, thanks for posting here today!
What version of the Dropbox desktop application are you currently running on? Is the Dropbox folder located in the CloudStorage location?
Have you rebooted your computer since you first noticed this?
Also is the app still stuck at syncing the exact same number of files, could you send us a screenshot of the app's status and version as shown in your menu bar?
Let me know more!
- Gerold1Helpful | Level 5
What version of the Dropbox desktop application are you currently running on?
GB: v183.4.7058
Is the Dropbox folder located in the CloudStorage location?
GB: on the harddrive
Have you rebooted your computer since you first noticed this?
GB: yes, various times
Also is the app still stuck at syncing the exact same number of files, could you send us a screenshot of the app's status and version as shown in your menu bar?
GB: No number of files, see screenshot attached
Thank you for your reply
- kimbrianjNew member | Level 2
A few days ago my Dropbox stopped working and instead of syncing my files it says "Indexing..." (does not specify the number of files). This happened on both a Windows 10 computer and a Mac laptop running macOS Sonoma (recently updated but I don't think that's the issue).
I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling, clearing up long file path names, restarting or completely shutting down both computers, hitting pause syncing for 30 mins, going into Account settings and pressing Alt + H and pressing fix hardlinks, trying to see which are the broken links in Alternate Modules or whatever but none of my files were in there (just random stuff), etc. Nothing works!
I've contacted Dropbox Support email about this but they weren't very helpful either. Can someone help me figure this out? I've seen all the other threads and none of the solutions work.
In response to this article on Dropbox's own website, NONE of the solutions work. I have plenty of storage space.
- kimbrianjNew member | Level 2
People are going to ask for photos so here you go:
- SaylorvilleExplorer | Level 4
I'm having the same issue but the "fix hard links" and "fix permissions" didn't fix it. I've closed and reopened dropbox and rebooted my computer. Here's my basic info:
MacBook Pro 16" 2021Apple M1 Max
macOS 14.0 (23A344)
Dropbox (Beta) v184.4.6543
- FrankieAnnHelpful | Level 6
TY
I have an M2 MacBook Pro and synched to Sonoma 14.0. I can access all files on my laptop, but cannot remotely access any files since 10-1-2023 from my phone. The SYNC history shows "indexing" at the bottom of a long list of files, but the last activity was 10-1-2023. It is almost as if there is a block, like the problem with the blank email screens that kept popping up on Macs after Ventura and have still occurred with Sonoma IF there is an email message in DRAFTS that isn't sent. POINT is, I wonder if there is something similar to "reset" the indexing. From the list of replies, it appears many folks have uninstalled, reinstalled, etc. AGREE we need DB to be proactive when new iOS upgrades are issued AND VICE-VERSA. Apple must also be getting these problems on their help desk.
- Ian1987Explorer | Level 4
Hello, Since I updated my Mac to the "Sonoma" operating system, Dropbox has stopped syncing my files online. I get a cloud with an exclamation mark in the files. I've been contacting Dropbox support since Thursday and they haven't solved anything "your case has gone to a higher department and they will contact you" - no one tells me absolutely anything. Is anyone in the same situation as me? Thank you
- FrankieAnnHelpful | Level 6
YES!
I have chatted and then told to send an email. Molly at DB said she was looking into it a week ago, but I have not heard anything.
I just got off the phone after 1 hr with Apple and they say it is DB issue.
I have TWO MacBook Pro computers. The one with the M1 chip (11-2019 purchase) is working perfectly with Sonoma and "files are up to date" is the message at the bottom of the SYNC box.
The one with the M2 chip (11-2022) will not upload files. "Indexing". Does not upload
- gyno81Helpful | Level 5
leggi il mio post di ieri
- Stewart BunnHelpful | Level 6
I've followed up on my ticket twice now and been told the exact same thing. We've escalated your problem to our specialist team and they'll be in contact. I've been waiting since 9 October. It's almost time for a social media revolt to get their attention. None of us are getting what we are paying for and there appears little any of us can do.
- ahhyeahHelpful | Level 5
I happened to have a 2nd user setup on my Mac and logged into it to do some video editing and when I switch back to my normal account, it started syncing like normal...
- Josephus F.Helpful | Level 5
This thread is no several miles long. Please finish the topic - it is a waist of time
- effinsyvHelpful | Level 5
I've been following this thread for weeks now (as I'm in the same boat). I'm really not excited about having to reformat and re-install MacOS from scratch. I'm hoping someone from DB support will contact me. Best part is I opened a ticket on Sunday night. Their response (Monday afternoon US Mountain time) was that someone else would contact me to help sort it out. Here I am 2 days after I open a ticket and no real response from DB. I'm really surprised they are handling the support of this as badly as they are. I really hope to hear from someone to sort this out.
- Teddy73Collaborator | Level 9
effinsyv I experienced the same lack of support, as did many others.
I have been a loyal customer for over 11 years and I thought perhaps I would be given a few months free subscription, or some additional storage space for all the inconvenience. I didn't even receive a message with any clear acknowledgement of the problem.
Ultimately, I had to spend a lot of time working it out myself with pieces of information gained here from others experiencing the problem and my own abilities.
All I will say is that Microsoft One Drive and Google Drive are worth considering. They had no problems with macOS Ventura and Sonoma and the upgrade to File Provider, have most of the functions that Dropbox has, appear to be rock-solid, plus are less expensive.
- effinsyvHelpful | Level 5I’ve been thinking about this actually as well. I have the free tier for google drive and it’s been working nicely. I also have OneDrive with my work and I kind of hate its integration (especially remote when I’m on my phone or iPad). DB has always played well with Mac and better than the others in my opinion. It might be time to think about a wholesale change at my next renewal (sadly next year). We have the family account and a lot of data between my wife and I to move to another service- which will be annoying but maybe better if they continue to work.
Thanks for the input. Really hoping they get their stuff together.
- WalterDropbox Staff
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