Search guides

Fix Dropbox that will not sync

We'll check sign-in, storage, connectivity, and sync settings—on Windows, Mac, or web—or tell you when to contact support.

Troubleshooting · Backups & recovery
10–20 min
What you'll need
  • Dropbox account
  • Internet connection
Step 1 of 6

Quick triage — pick your path

Get started

Choose the option that matches what you see. You can jump straight to that section.

Show full guide

Steps

Goal: Get Dropbox syncing again by checking sign-in, storage, connectivity, and sync settings.

  • Confirm you are signed in and have storage space.
  • Good: Proceed to Check sign-in and storage.
  • Bad: Sign in or free storage first.

Check sign-in and storage

Goal: Confirm your Dropbox account is active and has space.

  • Windows: click the Dropbox icon in the system tray. Mac: click the Dropbox icon in the menu bar. Check that you are signed in.
  • Go to dropbox.com, sign in, and check storage. When storage is full, sync blocks. Free space or upgrade.
  • Good: Signed in, space OK. Proceed to Check connectivity.
  • Bad: Sign in or free storage.

Check connectivity

Goal: Rule out internet issues before changing Dropbox settings.

  • Open a browser and load a website. Dropbox needs a stable connection to sync.
  • Good: Internet works. Proceed to Pause and resume sync.
  • Bad: Fix Wi‑Fi or network first. Restart the router if needed.

Pause and resume sync

Goal: Clear stuck sync with a simple pause and resume.

  • Windows: right-click Dropbox icon > Pause syncing > 2 hours. Mac: click Dropbox icon > Pause syncing.
  • Wait one minute. Resume syncing.
  • Good: Sync works. You are done.
  • Bad: Proceed to Sign out and sign back in.

Sign out and sign back in

Goal: Re-link your account to clear sync state.

  • Windows: right-click Dropbox icon > Preferences > Account > Unlink this computer. Mac: click Dropbox icon > Preferences > Account > Unlink this Mac.
  • Sign in again. Dropbox will re-sync.
  • Good: Sync works.
  • Bad: Try Reinstall Dropbox. Otherwise, check status.dropbox.com for outages and contact Dropbox support.

Check folders are included

Goal: Confirm the folders you need are set to sync.

  • Windows: right-click Dropbox icon > Preferences > Sync > Selective Sync. Mac: click Dropbox icon > Preferences > Sync > Selective Sync.
  • Check which folders are synced. When the folder you need is excluded, add it.
  • Good: Correct folders selected. Bad: Add the folder and wait for sync.

Reinstall Dropbox

Goal: Re-initialize Dropbox when other steps fail.

  • Uninstall Dropbox from Settings (Windows) or Applications (Mac). Download the installer from dropbox.com/install. Install and sign in.
  • Dropbox will restart and prompt to sign in. Re-sync will start.
  • Good: Sync works. Bad: Contact Dropbox support.

When to get help

Contact Dropbox support if:

  • Dropbox does not sync after reinstall.
  • You have critical files and need help recovering them.
  • Check status.dropbox.com for outages first.

Provide the error message from the Dropbox icon and the steps you have already tried.

Verification

  • Dropbox icon shows no errors (no red X or warning).
  • Files sync—check the cloud icon on files in File Explorer or Finder.
  • Dropbox folder shows correct sync status (green checkmarks for synced files).

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Sign-in and storage Confirm signed in; check storage space at dropbox.com.
  2. Connectivity Confirm internet works; fix Wi‑Fi or network if needed.
  3. Pause and resume Pause sync, wait, resume.
  4. Sign out and back in Unlink computer or Mac, sign in again.
  5. Reinstall Dropbox Uninstall, download from dropbox.com/install, reinstall.
  6. Contact support Check status.dropbox.com; contact Dropbox support.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Error message from Dropbox icon or app
  • Storage free space in Dropbox account
  • Folders set to sync
  • Steps already tried

Are you signed in and do you have storage space?

Sign-in and storage are common blockers for Dropbox sync.

Check the Dropbox icon (system tray on Windows, menu bar on Mac)—are you signed in? Go to dropbox.com and check storage. Good: signed in, space OK—proceed to connectivity. Bad: sign in or free storage first.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Sign in or free storage

Sign in to Dropbox with your account. If storage is full, free space at dropbox.com or upgrade your plan. Retry sync.

Done

Is your internet connection working?

Dropbox needs a stable connection to sync with the cloud.

Open a browser and load a website. Good: sites load—proceed to pause and resume. Bad: fix Wi‑Fi or network first; Dropbox cannot sync without internet.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Fix internet connection

Check Wi‑Fi or Ethernet. Restart the router if needed. Confirm other devices can reach the internet. Retry Dropbox sync.

Done

Does pause and resume fix sync?

Stuck sync often clears with pause and resume.

Right-click Dropbox icon (Windows) or click Dropbox icon (Mac) > Pause syncing. Wait one minute. Resume syncing. Good: sync works. Bad: sign out and sign back in.
Question

Sync working?

Continue

You can change your answer later.

Sign out and sign back in

Unlink this computer (Windows) or Unlink this Mac. Sign in again. Dropbox will re-sync. If still fails, reinstall Dropbox or contact Dropbox support.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why would Dropbox not sync?
Signed out, storage full, internet issues, sync paused, or folders excluded. Check sign-in and storage first, then connectivity.
Can I fix Dropbox sync myself?
Yes. Sign in, free storage, pause and resume sync, sign out and back in. On Windows or Mac, check the Dropbox icon for specific errors.
When should I contact support for Dropbox?
If sync fails after reinstall and you have critical files. Check status.dropbox.com for outages first, then contact Dropbox support.

Rate this guide

Was this helpful?

Continue to