How to check if your Dropbox files are syncing

The Dropbox desktop app needs to update (or "sync") whenever you add or update files in Dropbox. This article explains how to check if your files are syncing, what their sync status is, and what order they’re syncing in. You can also learn how to pause and resume syncing.

Not using Dropbox yet? See how Dropbox makes syncing files easy.

Check the sync status of files in the Dropbox desktop app

To check the sync status of all files and folders:

1. Click the Dropbox icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).
2. At the bottom of the window that appears, there’s a bar with text that says Your files are up to date, Syncing [filename], Syncing [x] files, or Syncing paused until [x].

To check the sync status of a specific file or folder:

1. Open the Dropbox folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
2. Locate the file or folder you'd like to check.
   • Note: You can use the search bar in the top right to find the file or folder.
3. Look at the sync icon next to the file or folder. Learn about the different sync icons and what they mean.

Check what order your files are syncing in

1. Click the Dropbox icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).
2. Click the Sync history tab near the top.
3. If files are syncing, they’ll show in the order they’ll sync next.

Prioritize a file to sync next

1. Follow the steps above to open your Sync history tab. 
2. Hover over the file you’d like to sync next.
3. Click Sync next.