Learn how to make the most out of the Dropbox Community here 💙. 

Forum Discussion

GaleAbraham's avatar
GaleAbraham
Explorer | Level 3
2 years ago

New docs are saved on Desktop but not on my PC

Suddenly, when I save any new or downloaded PDF or Word document, it is only saved at Dropbox (the 2 arrows in a blue circle) and not on my PC (the V in a green circle). Before it was always saved at both.

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

    Hi GaleAbraham, let's jump right into this! 

     

    Do you mean that now your new documents are only available inside your Dropbox folder, and not in their respective paths outside of the folder, or do you have some concerns in regards to the icons of the files? 

     

    You mentioned that your new docs are saved in your Desktop, but not on your PC. Do you refer, and have enabled our Backup feature, by any chance? 

     

    Based on what you mentioned, both the syncing arrows, and the green checkmark seem to be Dropbox icons.  

     

    Keep me posted!

    • GaleAbraham's avatar
      GaleAbraham
      Explorer | Level 3

      Hi Megan,

      As of yesterday, when I downloaded any PDF or Word document into my computer, or scanned any PDF document, I had two listings of the same such single document in my Libraries>Documents folder (Windows 7), one with the syncing arrows, and the other with the green checkmark icons. Today, I have only one document listed as downloaded in the folder, with the syncing arrows. I checked my PC memory and it contains enough free space. Are the syncing arrows to mean that the document is downloaded (saved) to Dropbox, and the missing doc listing with a green checkmark means that it is not downloaded/saved on my PC hard drive memory?

      Abe

      • Megan's avatar
        Megan
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

        Hi GaleAbraham, how did you download your documents?

         

        Also, are the files you're talking about inside your Dropbox folder? If so, then it means that the file is in the process of updating, and the changes are being synced.

         

        You also mentioned a green checkmark, is this the one you're talking about? 

         

        If so, and as the Help Center mentions: A white circle with a green border and a green checkmark means that a file or folder was opened (directly or with a third-party application) and synced. It also represents files uploaded from the computer you are using.

         

        “Synced” means that any changes you made to this file or folder are reflected everywhere you access your files in Dropbox. While this file or folder is stored on your device, it can be made online-only by right-clicking and selecting Make online-only.

         

        Therefore it is stored locally on the device.