Files have a brown box on their icon and dont open in Windows 11

Anonymous
2022-02-12T17:29:29+00:00

What is going on here? There is no information anywhere so it obviously isnt a problem for everyone.

Most of my files stored on Dropbox now have a small brown file box icon on the lower left corner of the main icon for all MS Office files. They open perfectly well on the phone and a laptop running Windows 10 but not on my laptop running Windows 11.

I get an error message saying the program cant open it because the file is unsupported or may be corrupt.

Why the **** do they release an OS that doesn't work with their own programs??

Please help,

Thanks

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-12-12T16:21:12+00:00

    (replying to orig so people don't have to scroll)

    1. Open File Explorer (easiest way is to hit the Windows {4 squares} button then type "File Explorer")
    2. In the left pane, right click on your OneDrive (in my case, it's named "MyName - personal")
    3. Scroll down to and click on "more options"
    4. Click on "Always keep on this device"

    It'll take a minute or two to update all your files.

    I'm sure there are better ways to make these files accessible without actually keeping them on the device, but I don't know how.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-09-30T15:53:10+00:00

    I also found this to be the problem. I think my Antivirus system (I use AVG) had stopped Dropbox. Anyway, whatever the cause, Dropbox was stopped and (almost) every file had a brown box on its icon. I started Dropx again through searching for the app and opening it. About 2000 files then updated and all the brown box icons have disappeared.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-09-27T06:22:59+00:00

    Just happened to me too and I realized my wifi was off, so the PC couldn't access my Dropbox. Once I put my wifi on the little brown boxes disappeared and I could open all my files again. Hope that helps you!

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-09-11T21:56:35+00:00

    Couldn't agree more. I, for one have deleted Drop Box.

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-09-11T20:35:53+00:00

    DropBox App needs to be running to access the files. Probably some setting somewhere that says "Hey DropBox, please keep a copy of all my files and then make sure I cannot access them without you knowing when and where i access them". Just plain stupid the amount of data everyone collects on you and this is another example.

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