This article applies to Dropbox desktop app users on macOS.
Note: If you’re not using a macOS computer, see Dropbox sync icons on Windows or Dropbox sync icons on Linux.
Sync icons appear in two places:
To check the sync status of a file or folder:
Note: If you can’t see a sync icon, close all non-Dropbox applications then quit and relaunch the Dropbox desktop app. If the issue persists, restart your computer.
Dropbox sync icons on macOS vary, depending on which of the following sync engine powers your desktop app:
To check what sync engine powers your app:
A green circle with a white checkmark.
Your file is synced and available offline.
Note: Dropbox keeps files with this icon offline, even when hard drive space is low.
All files in the folder are downloaded and available offline.
No icon
No icon.
Notes:
Your file has been opened (by double-clicking or through a third-party application) and is synced.
When hard drive space is low, some files with no icon may be automatically set to online-only to save hard drive space. The icon will change to a white cloud with down arrow.
One of the following applies:
Your folder contains at least one syncing file.
All files are downloaded and available offline.
There is at least one available file in the folder, but no online-only files.
A white cloud with a black outline and down arrow.
Your file is synced and available online.
Online-only files appear in the Dropbox folder but don’t take up hard drive space on your device.
These files only download to your device when you open them.
There is at least one online-only file in the folder.
Note: There may also be files that are downloaded and available offline in the folder.
A white cloud with a black outline.
Your file is being uploaded.
This doesn’t apply to folders.
A white cloud with a black outline and an exclamation point.
Your file can’t update or sync.
Your folder can’t update or sync.
A white cloud with a black outline and back slash.
Your file is ignored and won’t sync.
Your folder is ignored and won’t sync.
Note: When a folder is ignored, this icon only appears on the folder, not on its individual files.
Dotted cloud.
There are issues or the file is waiting to be uploaded.
There are issues or the folder is waiting to be uploaded.
A circle slice.
Your file is being downloaded.
Your folder is being downloaded.
Green circle with a white check mark and a cloud with a down arrow in the middle.
This doesn’t apply to files.
Folders with both icons will contain at least one online-only file and may also contain files that are available offline.
Any newly-added files in this folder will become available offline by default.
If an entire folder is made available offline and you then make a file within that folder online-only, the folder will show both icons.
Note: Explicitly marked by user as available offline.
All files in your folder are downloaded and available offline.
A white cloud with a gray or blue outline.
All files in your folder are online-only.
A white circle with a green border and a green checkmark.
Folder contains both online-only and available offline (downloaded) files.
A pair of arrows going in a circle.
Your file is uploading.
Your file is downloading.
Folder contains at least one syncing file.
A red circle with a white X.
A gray circle with a white minus sign.
A brown box.
OneDrive is causing a sync conflict.
Note: To manage which files are online only or offline, open the desktop app, click your avatar (profile picture or initials) in the bottom left, click Sync & storage, then click Manage hard drive space.
You can also see the sync status of your Dropbox account on the Dropbox icon in your menu bar. This is visible when the Dropbox desktop app is running on your computer and it shows the status of your entire account, not just files and folders.
The icon colors may vary, but you’ll see the following icons:
A solid black Dropbox icon with no other icon.
Fully synced
The files and folders on your Dropbox desktop app are fully up to date. Any changes you made are reflected everywhere you access Dropbox.
A solid black circle with two white arrows going in a circle.
Sync in progress
The files and folders on your Dropbox desktop app are updating. Any changes you made are updating everywhere you access Dropbox.
A solid black circle with a white pause icon.
Syncing paused
Changes you make to files and folders on your Dropbox desktop app won’t update everywhere you access Dropbox until you resume syncing.
Learn how to pause and resume file syncing in the Dropbox desktop app.
A gray Dropbox icon.
Not connected to internet
Changes you make to the files and folders on your Dropbox desktop app won’t update everywhere you access Dropbox until you’ve reconnected to the internet.
Learn why Dropbox might not be connecting and how to solve it.
Note: This icon can also mean that the Dropbox desktop app is starting up or closing down.
A red circle with a white number.
Unread notifications
You have new Dropbox notifications.
Learn about how to manage Dropbox notifications.
A camera icon.
Camera uploads in progress
You’ve connected a camera or mobile device with a camera to your computer and your camera roll is being uploaded to Dropbox.
Learn more about camera uploads.
You can also check the sync status of your entire Dropbox account in the bottom left of the app window. To open the app window, click the Dropbox icon in your menu bar. If your files are fully synced, this status will show Your files are up to date.
Learn more about other sync statuses.
Note: Dropbox Backup users will see slightly different wording on some sync statuses.
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