Why Is Dropbox Not Syncing?
Dropbox not syncing usually has one of five causes: sync is paused, your Dropbox storage is full, a file name or path breaks the rules, the folder is excluded by selective sync, or the device is over the Basic plan’s three-device limit. Click the Dropbox icon first. Its status message usually names the cause directly.
| Status or symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Paused” | Sync paused manually or by battery saver | Click Resume |
| “Your Dropbox is full” | Storage quota used up | Free space or upgrade |
| “Can’t sync” on a file | Bad character, long path or file in use | Rename, shorten or close the file |
| Folder missing on one computer | Excluded by selective sync | Turn the folder back on |
| New device will not sync | Basic plan device limit reached | Unlink an old device |
| Stuck on “Syncing” for hours | Large upload or many small files | Wait, check bandwidth settings |
| Nothing syncs, no icon | Dropbox not running | Start Dropbox |
What You Need Before You Start
- The Dropbox desktop app on Windows or Mac.
- Your Dropbox password.
- Access to dropbox.com to compare what the cloud shows.
Step 1: Read the Dropbox Status
Click the Dropbox icon in the Windows taskbar or Mac menu bar. The panel shows “Up to date”, “Syncing”, “Paused” or an error. Click any error to see the affected files.
If Dropbox is paused, click Resume. Dropbox can also pause itself on low battery on some laptops.
Step 2: Check Storage Space
Dropbox stops syncing when you are over your storage limit. Dropbox’s help centre says plainly that if you are over your storage limit, Dropbox will stop syncing.
- Open dropbox.com and check Settings > Plan.
- Delete or move large files you no longer need.
- Check shared folders: other people’s shared folders count toward your space when you add them.
The free Basic plan gives 2 GB, which fills quickly.
Step 3: Check the Device Limit
Dropbox Basic allows up to three linked devices. A fourth device will not sync until you unlink one.
- On dropbox.com, open Settings > Security.
- Under Devices, unlink computers and phones you no longer use.
- Sign in again on the new device.
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Step 4: Fix File Names, Paths and Ignored Files
Dropbox skips some files on purpose and cannot sync others.
- Special characters and trailing spaces cause problems, especially when moving between Mac and Windows.
- Long paths. Dropbox recommends paths under 260 characters.
- Files that Dropbox ignores, such as
desktop.ini,thumbs.dband.ds_store, never sync. That is normal. - Files in use. Close the program and Dropbox will pick up the file.
- Very large files. The limit is 2 TB, and browser uploads over 375 GB may time out. Use the desktop app.
Step 5: Check Selective Sync and Online-Only Files
If a folder exists on dropbox.com but not on your computer, selective sync may exclude it.
- Open Dropbox Preferences or Settings.
- Go to Sync and open Selective sync.
- Tick the folder and click Update.
If files show a cloud icon, they are online-only. Right-click and choose Make available offline to download them.
Step 6: Check Network and Bandwidth Settings
In Dropbox preferences, open Bandwidth and set upload and download to Don’t limit while you troubleshoot. If you use a proxy at work, check the Proxies setting. Pause other heavy uploads.
Step 7: Reinstall the Dropbox App
If Dropbox still will not sync, reinstall it.
- Quit Dropbox.
- Uninstall it from Settings > Apps on Windows or drag it to the Trash on Mac.
- Download the latest version from dropbox.com and install it.
- Sign in and let Dropbox re-index. Your files stay in place.
How to Verify Dropbox Is Syncing
- The Dropbox icon shows “Up to date”.
- A test file appears on dropbox.com within a minute.
- An edit on another device returns to this computer.
Common Mistakes
- Moving the Dropbox folder by hand. Use the app’s settings to change its location.
- Forgetting the three-device limit on Basic.
- Running another sync app on the Dropbox folder. It causes conflicts and loops.
Seeing files named “conflicted copy”? Read Dropbox conflicted copies. To understand how Dropbox sync works, see Dropbox sync explained. For problems across several apps, use our sync issues checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Dropbox say it is syncing but nothing changes?
Dropbox may be indexing many files, uploading a large file slowly, or stuck on one item. Click the Dropbox icon to see which file it is working on. Close any program using that file, check bandwidth limits in preferences, and give large uploads time. A restart of the app often clears a stalled index.
Does Dropbox stop syncing when storage is full?
Yes. Dropbox says that if you are over your storage limit, it stops syncing. Existing files stay in your account, but new files and changes no longer upload. Free space by deleting or moving files, or upgrade your plan, and sync resumes automatically.
How many devices can I use with Dropbox Basic?
Dropbox Basic, the free plan, lets you link up to three devices. Computers, phones and tablets with the Dropbox app installed all count. The website does not count. To add another device, unlink one you no longer use in your Dropbox security settings.
Why are some files not syncing to Dropbox?
Dropbox skips system files like desktop.ini and thumbs.db by design. Other files fail because of special characters, trailing spaces, paths over about 260 characters, files open in another program, or permissions. Check the error list in the Dropbox app, which names the problem files.
Will reinstalling Dropbox delete my files?
No. Uninstalling the app leaves your Dropbox folder on your computer and your files on dropbox.com. When you reinstall and sign in, Dropbox re-indexes the existing folder instead of downloading everything again. Make sure you sign in to the same account and use the same folder location.
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