We are aware of the issue with the badge emails resending to everyone, we apologise for the inconvenience - learn more here.
Forum Discussion
what is cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url
I recently had all my files in a shared folder deleted. I was able to go in and restore them all, but in the process found one suspicious file, which I did not restore which was "cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url". Does anyone know what that might be?
Next to all my deleted files was "Dale". One of my users is Dale, but he says it wasn't him?
Hi all, apologies for the confusion here — I can help provide some information.
Background: Dropbox allows you to save website URLs to Dropbox as individual files. For example, if you were to navigate to www.dropbox.com, then drag and drop the URL from the URL bar of your web browser into Dropbox, it would result in a file being created called "www.dropbox.com.url". If you were to click on that file, it will open a new browser window or tab and take you to that page.
Now, about the "cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url" files: we had a temporary issue with our new redesigned website where, in some cases, dragging and dropping a file in your Dropbox on the website (for example, to drag it into another folder, or by accident) would mistakenly add it to your Dropbox as a URL file.
We've since fixed this issue, so you shouldn't see it happen again; however, if you have any of these cfl files in your account, you can simply delete them – they're harmless!
I too have been getting lots of this URL showing up in my account:
cfl.dropboxstatic.com.urlI've seen this discussed in other threads, but Dropbox seems very reticent to explain what it is and/or whether we should be concerned. I'm unable to view the contents of this mystery URL. Whatever it is, it's taking up 101 bytes a crack. This only began appearing in my account just recently.
PLEASE DROPBOX: can someone explain what this is and why is it being added into my account?
cfl.dropboxstatic.com.urlHas anyone from dropbox ever replied on this?
I am getting this same thing. What is this? I just deleted it. I am hoping it wont affect my files.
Clearly YES this is some artifact of dropbox processes, this file and variations of it:
cfl.dropboxstatic.com.urlWHY WILL SUPPORT NOT SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE?
I am seeing more and more of these files, and further, dropbox is advising me that they are being uploaded - despite the fact that I am obviously not the one creating them, at least not by choice or intentionally. Files for dropbox's use should NOT be identified as being my files, neither should they be appearing within my directory structures.
Please do the professional thing and speak to this issue. Dropbox support, I am speaking to you. I don't need to look at these or view their content - I know they're some artifact of the activities to upload or move files among my folders. WHY am I seeing them, and why is dropbox actually telling me that they are being created and uploaded, downloaded, etc... ??
It is a bug, plain and simple - best do the professional thing and admit it and address your customer's concerns. I doubt there's reason to panic, but it is still contrary to the way things should be working.
No offense intended. I'm a fan and perhaps at times an evangelist.
Cheers,SF
Just had one of these "cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url" files pop up in my account as I was moving a bunch of files around and would love to know where it came from.
The contents of the file are as follows:
[InternetShortcut]
URL=https://cfl.dropboxstatic.com/static/images/icons/icon_spacer-vflN3BYt2.gif
RichardDBXDropbox Staff
Hi all, apologies for the confusion here — I can help provide some information.
Background: Dropbox allows you to save website URLs to Dropbox as individual files. For example, if you were to navigate to www.dropbox.com, then drag and drop the URL from the URL bar of your web browser into Dropbox, it would result in a file being created called "www.dropbox.com.url". If you were to click on that file, it will open a new browser window or tab and take you to that page.
Now, about the "cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url" files: we had a temporary issue with our new redesigned website where, in some cases, dragging and dropping a file in your Dropbox on the website (for example, to drag it into another folder, or by accident) would mistakenly add it to your Dropbox as a URL file.
We've since fixed this issue, so you shouldn't see it happen again; however, if you have any of these cfl files in your account, you can simply delete them – they're harmless!
your "temporary" issue has been happening in my business account for almost a year now, only it actually destroys the files I have dropped in as far as we can tell: it converts the files we have saved into a cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url file, and my files disappear compeltely when it does. The link goes nowhere.
We have contacted customer service several times over the past year about this, then it seems to go away for a while. A few of the files have been restored now, yet it continues to happen, as recently as Friday (3 days ago). This issue has never been resolved for us. This time it, unfortunaltely, deleted ("converted") files for a time sensitive project for over a week, and added about 10 hours of work (and expense). This is still not resolved. I just emailed dropbox Customer Service again sicne there was no reply to my past 3 emails with links to the affected Folders from Friday's problems. Is there something we are doing on our end that is causing this? If so, I am not sure why CS wouldn't tell us.
Then here is what happened today when i click on a Word doc file that showed as successfully loaded:
.lnk files can’t be previewedNew Here Page FW May 2017 Website - revision 2.lnk · 1.29 KBThis seems to be a new glitch.Any suggestions?- Mark
Super User II
.lnk files cannot be previewed because they are not files as you havent actually uploaded the file, you've uploaded the shortcut to the file (from Windows) instead of the file.
Also, please note sending multiple emails to support may slow down your reply as it can move you back to the back of the queue. Please remember that support does not work weekends so you need to give them time to reply. You can track tickets via http://dropbox.zendesk.com
This got un-fixed. I had a user create 3 of these cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url files yesterday.
- Rich
Hi there,
I had the same thing.
It appears when I was deleting my access to share folders.
I have deleted since but I don't know what it is.
- Rich
It's likely just a file used by Dropbox. Open it in a text editor and view the content.
- Rich
I'm unable to view the contents of this mystery URL.
Why not? If you open it in a text editor (Notepad, Notepad++, Atom, etc.) you should be able to see the content of the file.
Thanks. It turns out my user "Dale" did delete the files...he just didn't know he did. I'm still not sure what the .url file is...will look at it.
I have the same issue. So, after reading all these comments, I'm not clear what to do. Should I just delete the file each time I find it? It sounds like most folks are pretty sure that it should not be there amongst my own files. I don't want to inadvertently delete some kind of functional file, especially not knowing what is does or not not do. Sorry if this is a very amateur question. I'm trying to take more ownership of my technology in terms of basic understanding of how it all works, and how I can maintain it myself. Your patience is greatly appreciated!
cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url
In my case no files were deleted but viewing a file resulted in a notification that says:
"cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url added
You added cfl.dropboxstatic.com.url
to your Dropbox"
I did no such thing. I will undo it if I can.
VickyHi Charles,
Thank you for reporting this issue. At the moment our team is investigating and we will get back to you as soon as possible.- Rich
I've seen this before, and have done it myself a few times.
Dropbox has the ability to save URLs that you drag into its window. That's all that's happening here. You're intending to click on something, whether to view or select, while you're still moving your mouse. Your browser sees this as a click and drag, and Dropbox treats that as though you're dragging something into its window. Basically, you're dragging a link into the Dropbox window and Dropbox is saving it. In this case it just happens to be a link to a Dropbox file or folder.
If you edit that URL file in a text editor you'll see the link that you dragged.
- Rich
Once again...
Rich wrote:
I've seen this before, and have done it myself a few times.
Dropbox has the ability to save URLs that you drag into its window. That's all that's happening here. You're intending to click on something, whether to view or select, while you're still moving your mouse. Your browser sees this as a click and drag, and Dropbox treats that as though you're dragging something into its window. Basically, you're dragging a link into the Dropbox window and Dropbox is saving it. In this case it just happens to be a link to a Dropbox file or folder.
If you edit that URL file in a text editor you'll see the link that you dragged.
Hi Vicky -
Same weird file in my folders. What is it ?
Thank you !
- Rich...taps the microphone...
Is this thing on?
Edit the file in a text editor and look at the content.
- Sanchez
