Iphone doesn't sync with computer

[Jeff267]

I use the free DropBox version to track hobby purchases.  I update an Excel file on my PC to indicate the items I have purchased and have DropBox installed on my iPhone and my iPad.  I seem to have always had sync issues and have ended up buying items, basing purchase decisions on the DropBox file found on my iPhone, that I already had and had indicated on my PC file.  I have two questions before doing away with DropBox:

1- why doesn't my iPhone file sync with the file on my computer;

2- why does the desktop DropBox app eventually change into a simple folder that looks like this:

My thanks in advance to anyone who can enlighten me.

[Jay]

Hi @Jeff267, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

If you upload a new file to the Dropbox site directly, does that file appear on both the desktop and mobile app?

This will help me to assist further!

[Jeff267]

Thanks Jay,
I clicked on the link you provided, then clicked on upload and then selected the appropriate file.  I received an "Upload successful" message. However, when I go on my iPhone, I still have a previous version of the file?

[Jay]

Is your phone connected to a stable WiFi network? Are you using cellular data at all?

Have you tried completely rebooting the device?

[Jeff267]

Yesterday, the file on my phone was accessed through a cellular connection and today through my wifi connection.  In both cases I was accessing an older version of the file.

[Jeff267]

I also rebooted the phone and do not have the latest version of the file.

[Jay]

If you're not on a Dropbox Basic plan with more than 3 devices connected, could you try uninstalling the app, rebooting the device, and re-installing it to see if this helps?

[Jeff267]

I am on the Dropbox Basic Plan (the free one), with PC, iPad and iPhone connected.  Would the uninstalling of the app be on the device that is not updating (i.e., the iPhone)?

[Jay]

Yes, that would be correct, you'd be uninstalling the app on the device which isn't syncing.

[Jeff267]

I did not uninstall the Dropbox app, but the files on my iPad and iPhone are now updated.  Does that mean every time I update a file that resides on Dropbox I have to go to the he Dropbox site and do the "Upload" operation?