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GigiB1's avatar
GigiB1
Explorer | Level 3
9 months ago

.xlsx files are supported but something went wrong

Hi there, 

I see this has been asked several times before, but my issue has still not been resolved.

I have recently not been able to open this file, but keep getting this error message.

The file is password-protected and is 377.5kb in size, I am trying to access it from the web (not dropbox app) on my desktop and my mobile.  

The file is not corrupt, because if I download it, it opens fine. I simply want to open and view it yet it does not work. I have downloaded it and uploaded a copy but I'm still getting the same error.

It works perfectly fine through the dropbox app.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. 

Thank you.

  • Hi GigiB1,

     

    Jumping in here to note that we found that we actually cannot support password protected Office files on Dropbox at this time. The problem is that we are asking the users to input their password then saying there is an issue. We are looking to do the following to resolve this issue:

    1. Show the correct error message -- that password protected Office files cannot be previewed. Downloading the file to preview is recommended at this time.

    2. We are also looking into if and when we can support password protected Office files on Dropbox though at this time, I'm unable to say when.

     

    Thank you for flagging this issue and my apologies for the inconvenience. I definitely understand that download to preview is not ideal.

     

    Please let me know if you have any other questions or ideas. Happy to help!

    Hannah

     

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

    Hi GigiB1! Hope you’re doing great. 

     

    The issue here may be that the file is password-protected, but let's have a look. 

     

    Can you upload a full screenshot of what you see on your end? I’d like to have a visual and check this further.

     

    Also, is this the only Excel file you’re having trouble with? Are the rest previewing properly on the Dropbox website, even if they're password-protected? 

     

    Ping me, when you’ve got more info.

    • GigiB1's avatar
      GigiB1
      Explorer | Level 3

      Hi Nancy, 

       

      Hope you are well too.  Thank you for your reply. 

       

      The message I am getting is as per below:

      Other Excel documents are opening fine. I have just tried opening another Excel file with a password and I get the same message. 

      So you are quite right it could very well be the password protection that is causing this.

      But how come it was not happening before?

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

        Thanks for giving that a go, GigiB1! Do you perhaps remember when this started happening more or less?

  • winnieB's avatar
    winnieB
    Explorer | Level 3

    I've got the same message on Samsung pc Windows 11.  My backup is several years old for that excel file.  I try two recent pw's but neither works.  Have no idea how it may have been changed.

    • winnieB's avatar
      winnieB
      Explorer | Level 3

      Only one other excel file in that folder opens but is not pw protected.  Having trouble getting dropbox to work on my phone but that is user error.  The affected excel file contains all my pw's so am reluctant to download it.  Looks like I am pretty screwed...

      -winston

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

        Hey winnieB - sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

         

        Can you please let us know if this file is a shared one or if you're the original owner? 

         

        Are you able to preview it on the website normally or on your devices after downloading or exporting the file locally?