Dropbox for Windows update: an overview

Updated Nov 09, 2023

This update is a beta experience currently available to select users who have opted into early releases and is not available to download as a specific build. Dropbox early releases are subject to additional terms and conditions.

The Dropbox for Windows update is focused on the changes introduced with Microsoft’s new sync API called Cloud Files. This update applies to Windows 11 devices. To properly integrate with Windows going forward, we have revamped our sync engine to make use of the Cloud Files API.

Dropbox is actively working to preserve the reliability and quality of our sync experience along with these changes.

To check your eligibility for the Dropbox for Windows update:

Click the Dropbox icon in your task bar in the lower right corner of your screen.
Click your initials in the upper right.
Click Preferences.
Navigate to the Sync tab.
Click Update now.
- If you’re not eligible for the update, you won’t see Update now. Instead, you’ll see a brief explanation of why you’re not eligible to update at this time.

You’ll receive a notification from the Dropbox icon in your task bar when the Dropbox for Windows update is available. If you’re interested in joining our early access program, here’s how you can opt in:

Dropbox Basic, Plus, Professional, Essentials, Standard, Advanced, Business, Business Plus, and Family: Turn on early releases and keep an eye out for a notification to opt-in.
Dropbox Enterprise and Education: Contact your Account Team or Customer Support for more information.

Note: You can delay this migration when prompted and update at a later time from your Preferences.

Expected changes

The following charts outline the changes you can expect when using Dropbox for Windows beta experience. We’ll continue to update this list as we work to improve the Dropbox for Windows experience.

Changes to sync icons

The sync icons next to your files and folders in the Dropbox desktop app have been changed to align with the Cloud Files API.

There are four locations where sync icons appear:

In the Dropbox folder on your computer.
In the notification center at the bottom right of your screen.
In the detailed list view.
In the icon view, the sync icons will now be displayed next to the file view.

Below is a quick summary of the expected icon behavior.

	File	Folder
	A solid green circle with a white checkmark means your file is synced and available offline.	For folders, this icon means all files in the folder are available offline.
	A blue cloud icon means your file is fully synced and online-only.	For folders, this icon means there is at least one online-only file in the folder. There can also be files that are “available” and/or “available offline” in the folder.
	A circle with a green border and a green checkmark means that a file was opened (directly or with a third-party application) and synced.	For folders, this icon means there is at least one available file in the folder, but no online-only files. There can also be files that are available offline in the folder.
	A pair of blue arrows going in a circle means that your file is in the process of updating.	The same is true for folders.
	A red circle with a white “X” means that your file can’t update or sync.	The same is true for folders.
	A gray circle with a white minus sign means that your file is ignored.	Ignoring a folder only displays an ignored icon on the folder and not on the individual files inside.

Status column

The Details view in your File Explorer will now include a Status column. This column is where the relevant icon for the file or folder will be shown.

If you have support questions or general feedback on how we can improve this experience, let us know by creating a topic in our community forum.

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