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Dropbox Basic

132 Topics

Slide show feature removed
Viewing a folder of photos as a slide show is a basic feature which was previously available in Dropbox but has been removed. In my view this is a fundamental capability. I would like to send a link to others to let them view files easily without clicking/swiping on every shot and without downloading all the files.I don't get it. Slide shows worked very well before.
KMH
6 years ago Place View, download, and export
13KViews
15likes
9Comments
I don't understand the most basic elements to Dropbox
I've never felt so dumb, but I really think it's just that Dropbox assumes I know something, and they're not making it totally clear. For reference, yes, I understand the most basic premise that I can store my files in the cloud (whatever that really is) and retrieve them from anywhere I have an internet connection. What I generally don't understand is the connection between my hard drive and the cloud and what is being used when, etc. etc. Specifically, I subscribe to Dropbox and download the app. Now let's say I use Excel. 1. I click File, Open, and I see among my choices my C: drive, some commonly used folders, and the Dropbox icon. Is that icon representing a storage area on my hard drive or a storage area in the cloud or both? Believe it or not, nothing I've read or watched precisely explains that. 2. I get out of there and am back in Excel. I create an Excel file from scratch, and I want to save it as TestFile, so I do a Save As and the same sort of box comes up with a lot of folders I can save to OR the Dropbox icon. If I save it to the Dropbox icon, where is that TestFile saved, precisely? To the hard drive, to the cloud, or to both? 3. If it's just being saved to the cloud, it appears that I'm screwed if the internet goes down. 4. Dropbox thinks it explains syncing, but again, it skips over the very basics. It keeps telling me that if I sync, I can save hard drive space. Well, maybe I don't understand syncing, but to me syncing is this: when I save a "syncing" file, it updates both on my hard drive and on the cloud, right? Isn't that what the word sync means? I mean, that's the benefit I'm really looking for here. Especially if #3 happens. 5. So, precisely how do I get #4 to happen like I think it should? That is, how do I ensure I will always have the most recent copy on both my hard drive and in the cloud? I mean, I can always save to the cloud, which means I can always copy my file on the hard drive into that Dropbox icon, but that's not syncing, that's just saving to two different places. 6. So, if there is a way to sync my files/folders like I want to do in #4, can I keep my hard drive folder structure th same, or do I have to build this file/folder structure under the Dropbox icon? If I want a folder that is currently C:\Documents\BirthdayParty to be updated both on the hard drive and cloud, what precisely do I have to do? Do I have to move it first under that Dropbox icon? So you see, Dropbox doesn't explain what's going on with hard drive vs cloud and what syncing precisely is, and that's why I have these elemental questions. Thanks to anyone patient for explaining this to me like I'm five.
Solved
tmelander
5 years ago Place View, download, and export
7.2KViews
12likes
5Comments
Syncing dropbox files on Android - third party apps?
Hi everyone, As you may know, Dropbox doesn't sync files on Android any more as of last year or so (see this, for example). They used to be in sdcard>Android>data>com.dropbox.android>files, but the new "available offline" option stores them in the cache of the Db app, which other apps cannot access (you wouldn't be able to locate them with Files, for example), to ensure their safety, I would guess. The only way to use these files on your device apart from through the Db app is to "export" them after they were made "available offline" (so basically to properly download them locally), and it is thus impossible to do what Dropbox is meant to do in the first place : read and write synced files. I personally would like to edit note files on my computer and my phone and to get them synced by Db, but there seems to be no way to reach and edit locally stored (note) files with my note-taking app. The only workaround I found to this problem is using third party app that syncs files with your Dropbox repository, such as Dropsync or FolderSync, which were explicitly meant for that : "New files in your cloud account are automatically downloaded onto your device. [...] This is how Dropbox works on computers but not on Android. Two-way automatic synchronization should be an essential function of the official app. For whatever reason, it is not the case. Dropsync is here to fill the gap." [Dropsync app description] But then I am not too keen on adding more complexity to my workflow, increase the likeliness of some incompatibility or other "technical issues" to emerge in the future and, moreover, to potentially put my professional and personal data into more covetous digital hands than they already are in (free apps that manipulate my data? I sense what the product might be)... So my questions are : has anyone in here ever tried these solutions and did it work as planned? Any (unusual) worries to have regarding privacy with these solutions? And above all (@support people?), is there any way to circumvent the issue without these? Cheers
PunkyFickle
4 years ago Place View, download, and export
13KViews
8likes
8Comments
Is Dropbox on web slow and fails often on you?
Hey everyone! My name is Ela and I’m a Product Lead at Dropbox. My team is looking to make Dropbox fast and responsive so that you can speed up actions and workflows without running into errors or failures using it. I’m looking to hear about your experience when using Dropbox in a web browser. Particularly, What parts of Dropboxfeels very slow to youand takes a lot of time to get done? What are you trying to do in the Dropbox web browser when you experience slowness? What are you trying to do in Dropbox web application when yourun into failures or errors? Please explain in detail. What type of browser are you running Dropbox on? Your inputs will help us make our product experience better.If you want to collaborate with us to shape up our product,please write “I’m ok for Dropbox to contact me by email” when you answer and we will reach out. Thank you!
ElaM
2 years ago Place View, download, and export
7.3KViews
7likes
3Comments
Using Dropbox to share photo galleries
Is there a simple way to generate a public link for a Dropbox folder that presents to a new user as a gallery? This seems like a very basic idea, and should be core to Dropbox functionality. "I'm ready to share my photos with my customer. Here's the link to the gallery" The link only goes to a file list by default. Yes, a user can choose the 'large grid' from the hamburger menu, but the user experience is dreadful here, particularly if you're a professional photographer or someone trying to make a good impression on a customer. Request: a link that presents a pleasant gallery of photos or images. Not just a file list.
Solved
Dave S.31
3 years ago Place View, download, and export
3.9KViews
5likes
2Comments
Discontinuing rendering of HTML content
Got email notice from dropbox that they are discontinuing HTML rendering. This is going to cause major issues for my wife since she uses this to distribute info and files to her students. We are running a basic account and would be willing to upgrade to a paid account to retain this feature, but this policy seems to be across all account levels. Any advice on alternatives?
Perry P.
9 years ago Place View, download, and export
26KViews
5likes
54Comments
Very slow opening files and folder
Hi everyone, I'm using Dropbox (firmware n. 166.3.2831) on my gaming laptop running Windows 11. Everything run smoothly until some days ago, when Dropbox suddenly became very slow when clicking to open folder or file: it takes MANY seconds (10-15 seconds at least). This causes a huge slowdown in the user experience, I can't even work in these circumstances. Of course this is a problem related to the Dropbox folder only, local folders run as smooth as they should. How can I fix that? Thanks. EDIT: apparently there's a conflict between Dropbox and iCloud for Windows; deleting the latter, Dropbox app works.
Solved
alecot18
2 years ago Place View, download, and export
9.1KViews
4likes
18Comments
Sync icons missing in the Dropbox folder in Finder
I recently had a new work desktop (Mac) deployed. While all my downloaded Dropbox files were successfully transferred, there are now no sync icons next to Dropbox files in Finder. I have never had this issue before. The files are showing up as synced in the taskbar and online and across devices, but there are no green check icons in Finder. Published solutions to this problem (uninstall / reinstall Dropbox; restart computer; force-quit Finder; check that OneDrive or other overlay programs are not running) have not worked for me. Help?? Programs running are Google Chrome and Microsoft Word. MacOS Monterey 12.3.1 / Dropbox v147.4.4800. I have the Basic plan.
Solved
weiskott
3 years ago Place View, download, and export
25KViews
4likes
65Comments
Is Dropbox on mobile slow and fails often on you?
Hey everyone! My name is Ela and I’m a Product Lead at Dropbox. My team is looking to make Dropbox fast and responsive so that you can speed up actions and workflows without running into errors or failures using it. I’m looking to hear about your experience whenusing Dropbox on mobile. Particularly, What parts of Dropboxfeels very slow to youand takes a lot of time to get done? What are you trying to do in the Dropbox mobile application when you experience slowness? What are you trying to do in Dropbox mobile when yourun into failures or errors? Please explain in detail. Are you running Dropbox on an iOS or Android application? Your inputs will help us make our product experience better.If you want to collaborate with us to shape up our product,please write “I’m ok for Dropbox to contact me by email” when you answer and we will reach out. Thank you!
ElaM
2 years ago Place View, download, and export
5.9KViews
3likes
14Comments
Folders showing up empty when I send a link to someone
This has only been happening to me within the past week, but it is really hurting my business. I am always sending a folder with either video files or photos. Generally people are opening the link on their phone with the intention of saving them to their phone. Basically what is happening is when I send someone the link to the folder, for them it either says that the folder is empty, or it shows the files but when they click on them it says the file type is not supported and so they can't view them or save them. This seems to happen whether they are using the Dropbox app or they open the link using Safari. The same thing also happens if they try to open the link to the folder on desktop. Also it should be noted that I upload the files via the Dropbox website, and I know they are all synced before I send the link because I check on the app on my phone before I copy the link. I have double checked and I know I am sending them the correct link and near the link when I copy it it literally says "anyone with this link will have access to these files" but I guess that is not the case for some reason. It also doesn't seem to matter if the person is signed in to their account or not. Any idea on why this is happening? Need to fix it ASAP
Solved
ejnoro
3 years ago Place View, download, and export
8.5KViews
3likes
38Comments