Problems syncing dropbox after windows update

Hi Malane Pike,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum.

I can see that Q&A Assist has already shared a few suggestions. If you’ve already tried those steps and the problem is still happening, please try the following:

Since you’ve already removed unused apps that use icon overlays and restarted the PC, the next thing to check is whether your device has completed all available Windows updates. Some fixes related to cloud‑synced apps like Dropbox are delivered in follow‑up updates, so please open Settings > Windows Update and install any pending updates, including optional ones. Once that’s done, restart the computer to ensure Windows fully reloads its background components and File Explorer integrations.

After restarting, please check whether the Dropbox app is running and signed in. You should see the Dropbox icon in the system tray near the clock, open it to confirm syncing isn’t paused and to see if any status or error messages appear. If changes are syncing correctly on dropbox.com but not on the PC, that usually points to a local app integration issue rather than any problem with your files.

If the issue continues even after these checks, the best next step would be to contact Dropbox Support directly. Since Dropbox is a third‑party app, their support team can review the desktop app logs and confirm whether there’s a known compatibility issue with your current Windows version.

*Disclaimer: Microsoft provides no assurances and/or warranties, implied or otherwise, and is not responsible for the information you receive from the third-party linked sites or any support related to technology. 

If you notice any specific error messages, missing tray icons or changes in behavior after trying the steps above, please let me know. I’ll be happy to help guide you further.

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Windows updates can affect apps that integrate deeply with the shell (like Dropbox), especially when they rely on icon overlays and shell extensions.

A common issue is that Windows supports only a limited number of icon overlays. If other apps are installed that also use overlays (for example, other sync or backup tools), they can take priority and prevent Dropbox overlays from working correctly. This can make it look like Dropbox is not syncing, even when it is running.

To improve Dropbox behavior after updates:

1. Uninstall unused applications that use icon overlays (for example, other cloud storage or sync tools that are no longer needed). This unregisters their overlays and can allow Dropbox overlays and shell integration to work again.
2. Restart the PC after uninstalling those apps so Windows reloads the shell extensions and overlay registrations.
3. After restart, verify that Dropbox is signed in and running, and check whether sync status indicators (check marks, sync icons) appear again.

If Windows updates also caused general device or driver issues, run Windows Update again so it can reinstall any drivers or components that did not migrate correctly during the upgrade.

References:

• "Finish installing update" appears in the system tray after you restart OneDrive.exe
• Devices not working after a major Windows update