Sync issues are usually caused by account problems, selective sync settings, local file conflicts, low storage, or security software blocking the app.
Open the Dropbox desktop menu and make sure sync is not paused. If it was paused, resume it and wait a few minutes for changes to catch up.
Confirm that you are signed into the correct Dropbox account. A work account and a personal account can easily be mixed up on the same device.
In Dropbox Preferences, check Selective Sync and make sure the folders you expect are enabled on this computer.
If Dropbox made conflicted copies, compare the versions and keep the file you want. Conflicts can stop a folder from syncing cleanly until they are resolved.
Make sure your device still has enough free space for Dropbox to sync. Low disk space can prevent updates from completing.
Add Dropbox to your firewall or antivirus allow list if security software is blocking background sync or file access.
Quit Dropbox completely and reopen it. If sync still seems stuck, restart the computer or phone to clear a stalled background process.
Open Dropbox preferences, confirm sync is active, clear any conflicted files, and verify the app is allowed through your firewall or antivirus.
On iPhone or Android, make sure Dropbox has permission to access files and photos, background refresh is enabled, and battery restrictions are not blocking it.
If files still refuse to sync after checking Selective Sync, conflicts, storage, and permissions, contact Dropbox support with the exact error message and device type.
When you set up Dropbox on a new computer, Selective Sync defaults to only syncing certain folders. Open Dropbox preferences and manually enable the folders you need on each device to avoid the illusion that files are missing or not syncing.
Conflicted copies appear when you modify a file on one device before Dropbox finishes syncing from another. Wait for the green check mark before closing or editing a file on a different device to keep your files clean.
A full Dropbox account stops syncing new files silently. Check your storage usage in account settings regularly and delete unneeded files or upgrade your plan before hitting the limit and blocking future uploads.
This usually happens with very large files, a slow connection, or files that are locked open by another program. Check if the file is in use, pause and resume sync, or restart Dropbox to reset the stalled transfer.
Dropbox does not offer a built-in file type filter, but you can move unwanted file types into a subfolder and then use Selective Sync to exclude that folder from syncing on specific devices.
This usually means the files are excluded by Selective Sync. Open Preferences, go to Sync, and enable the missing folders.
Dropbox indexing a large number of new files can spike CPU usage. If it persists, check for file sync conflicts and reset the cache.
Yes. Open the Dropbox menu and choose Pause sync. You can resume it later from the same menu.
Conflicted copies appear when the same file was edited on two devices before either could sync. Compare and merge the versions you want to keep.
Enable background refresh and make sure Dropbox has permission to access files and photos. On Android, also check battery restrictions.