Dropbox sync icons in the desktop app for Windows

Q: What does the gray X icon mean?

In File Explorer, a gray X icon can appear on a file or folder in your Dropbox folder. This is a Windows icon and not a Dropbox icon. It indicates that your file or folder may not be syncing with Dropbox.<a href="https://help.dropbox.com/sync/files-not-syncing" target="_blank">Learn how to fix files or folders that aren’t syncing with Dropbox</a>. If the issue persists, <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/contactus" target="_blank">contact Microsoft support</a>.

Q: What does a brown box icon mean?

If you see a <a href="https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/onedrive-files-suddenly-have-a-brown-box-icon-on/d2fe1b38-1bc6-424a-b800-0ec401c20073" target="_blank">brown box icon</a> in the lower left of your file, this is a Windows icon, not a Dropbox icon. It indicates there is a OneDrive sync error. To resolve this issue, you should <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/sync-files-with-onedrive-in-windows-615391c4-2bd3-4aae-a42a-858262e42a49" target="_blank">sync your files in OneDrive</a>. If the issue persists, you can <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/turn-off-disable-or-uninstall-onedrive-f32a17ce-3336-40fe-9c38-6efb09f944b0" target="_blank">turn-off, disable, or uninstall OneDrive</a> or contact <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/onedrive" target="_blank">Microsoft support</a>.

Updated Jul 25, 2025

The information in this article applies to Dropbox desktop app users on a Windows operating system.

This article covers the Dropbox sync icons that can be found in your Dropbox desktop app folder and the taskbar of your Windows computer. These icons tell you the sync status of your files or folders.

Note: If you’re not using a Windows computer, you’ll need to read the article on Dropbox sync icons on a macOS desktop app or the article on Dropbox sync icons on a Linux operating system.

Where can I see the icons?

There are two locations where sync icons appear:

In the Dropbox folder on your computer
In the system notifications area on your taskbar

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

Open the Dropbox folder in File Explorer.
Find the file or folder you'd like to check.
- Note: You can use the search bar in the top right to do so.
Check the sync icon next to the 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.

What icons appear on my computer?

Dropbox sync icons on Windows vary, depending on which of the following sync engine powers your Dropbox desktop app:

Cloud f iles
Dropbox legacy

How do I check if my Windows desktop app runs on cloud files or Dropbox legacy?

To check what sync engine powers your app:

Click ☑ (Dropbox) in the taskbar.
Click your avatar (profile picture or initials) in the bottom left.
Click Preferences.
Click (Sync).
- If you’re on cloud files, it’ll say “You are using Dropbox on Cloud Files” under Dropbox folder updates.
- If you’re on legacy, it’ll say “Dropbox folder updates. This update will ensure Dropbox continues to run smoothly on Windows.”
  - Click Update now if you want to install the c loud f iles update.

Dropbox sync icons on cloud files

Icon	Description	File icon meaning	Folder icon meaning
	A green circle with a white checkmark.	Your file is synced and available offline. Notes: Explicitly marked by user as available offline. Dropbox keeps files with this icon offline, even when hard drive space is low.	Your file is synced and available offline. Notes: Explicitly marked by user as available offline. Dropbox keeps files with this icon offline, even when hard drive space is low.
	A white cloud with a gray or blue outline.	Your file is synced but only available online. Notes: 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’s at least one online-only file in the folder. Note: There can also be files that are downloaded and available offline in your folder.
	A white circle with a green border and a green checkmark.	Your file is synced and available offline. Notes: Not explicitly marked by user as available offline. When hard drive space is low, some files with this icon may be automatically set to online-only to save hard drive space. The icon will change to a cloud.	There’s at least one available file in your folder, but no online-only files. Note: There may also be files that are available offline in your folder.
	A pair of arrows going in a circle.	One of the following applies: Your file is uploading. Your file is downloading. There are issues or the file is waiting to be uploaded.	Your folder contains at least one syncing file.
	A red circle with a white X.	Your file can’t update or sync.	Your folder can’t update or sync.
	A gray circle with a white minus sign.	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.
	A brown box.	OneDrive is causing a sync conflict.	OneDrive is causing a sync conflict.

Dropbox sync icons on cloud files

Icon	Description	File icon meaning	Folder icon meaning
	A green circle with a white checkmark.	Your file is synced and available offline. Notes: Explicitly marked by user as available offline. Dropbox keeps files with this icon offline, even when hard drive space is low.	Your file is synced and available offline. Notes: Explicitly marked by user as available offline. Dropbox keeps files with this icon offline, even when hard drive space is low.
	A white cloud with a gray or blue outline.	Your file is synced but only available online. Notes: 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’s at least one online-only file in the folder. Note: There can also be files that are downloaded and available offline in your folder.
	A white circle with a green border and a green checkmark.	Your file is synced and available offline. Notes: Not explicitly marked by user as available offline. When hard drive space is low, some files with this icon may be automatically set to online-only to save hard drive space. The icon will change to a cloud.	There’s at least one available file in your folder, but no online-only files. Note: There may also be files that are available offline in your folder.
	A pair of arrows going in a circle.	One of the following applies: Your file is uploading. Your file is downloading. There are issues or the file is waiting to be uploaded.	Your folder contains at least one syncing file.
	A red circle with a white X.	Your file can’t update or sync.	Your folder can’t update or sync.
	A gray circle with a white minus sign.	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.
	A brown box.	OneDrive is causing a sync conflict.	OneDrive is causing a sync conflict.

Note: To manage files and see which are online only or available 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.

Dropbox sync icons in the notification center

You can also see the sync status of your Dropbox account on the Dropbox icon in your taskbar. 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.

Dropbox sync icons in the notification center

Icon	Icon description	Status
	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 gray Dropbox icon with an X next to it.	An error has occurred An error has occurred with your Dropbox account during the sync process.
	A red circle with a white number.	Unread notifications You have unread Dropbox notifications. Learn about how to manage Dropbox notifications.
	A gray Dropbox icon with two Zs.	Snooze notifications is on You’ve turned on Snooze 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 see the sync status of your entire Dropbox account in the bottom left of the Dropbox app window. If your files are fully synced, this status will say Your files are up to date.

Learn more about how to check your sync status with your desktop app window.

Note: Dropbox Backup users will see slightly different wording on some sync statuses.

Learn more about icons, symbols, and colors that appear on Dropbox files and folders .