User Case: Dropbox iPhone Does Not See or Upload All Photos

 

My iPhone running the most recent version of iOS and the Dropbox app has been giving me constant trouble with the Dropbox camera upload feature for the past few years.

The Dropbox app frequently does not view all of the photos, which is my issue. Approximately 20% to 80% of photos from different time periods are visible in the Photos app but not in the Dropbox app. The create/modify timestamp is removed by iCloud, and manually copying to Dropbox takes time.

- Question from dropboxforum.com

What is Dropbox Camera Upload and How to Use?

Dropbox camera upload is a feature that can automatically upload photos from your device to Dropbox for backup. The photos will be especially kept in the “Camera Uploads” folder on Dropbox. By using this feature, you can securely protect your photos and free up local space.

To use Dropbox camera upload on iPhone, you can:

Step 1. Download and install the Dropbox app on your device.

Step 2. Go to the Account page and choose “Camera uploads

Step 3. Switch on the button next to "Camera Uploads" and grant Dropbox access permission to your photos and videos. Then, Dropbox will back up your camera photos and videos.

Turn on Dropbox Camera Upload
Turn on Dropbox Camera Upload

Why Dropbox Camera Upload Not Working?

Camera Upload Dropbox Not Working
Camera Upload Dropbox Not Working

Although you complete the process of enabling Dropbox camera uploads, you may also encounter the camera uploads not working error. What may cause this issue? Here are some probable culprits.

• Permissions Problems: You may not grant full access to Dropbox for accessing your photos and videos on your device.

• App Not Updated: Outdated Dropbox apps can interfere with syncing.

• Low Storage: Uploads may be prevented by insufficient Dropbox or device storage.

• Background App Refresh Disabled: If this option is turned off, background uploads will not occur.

• Network issues: Uploads may be interrupted by erratic or weak Wi-Fi or mobile data.

• Battery Saver Mode: This mode may limit background activity in order to save power.

• Problems with Dropbox Accounts: Conflicts may arise from having multiple accounts or from being signed out.

• Corrupt Cache/Data: Uploads may be hampered by corrupt app cache or data.

• Camera Uploads Disabled: It's possible that the feature is disabled in the settings.

• File Format or Size Limits: Large files or unsupported file formats may not upload.

Fix Dropbox Camera Upload Not Working

Whether you meet the not uploading issue on your iOS or Android devices, there are solutions that can help you get rid of the issue.

1. Check the Dropbox Camera Upload Permissions

On iPhone:

Step 1. Open Settings.

Step 2. Go to Privacy & Security > Photos.

Step 3. Find Dropbox and select Full Access.

Fix Dropbox Camera Uploads Not Working iPhone
Fix Dropbox Camera Uploads Not Working iPhone

On Android:

Step 1. Open Settings.

Step 2. Go to Apps > Dropbox > Permissions.

Step 3. Make sure Photos & Videos permission is Allowed.

2. Update Dropbox App

iPhone: Open the App Store, search for Dropbox, and tap Update if available.

Android: Open the Google Play Store, search for Dropbox, and tap Update if available.

3. Restart Your Device

Step 1. Press and hold the power button, then select Restart.

Step 2. After rebooting, open Dropbox and check if the Dropbox camera upload not working still.

4. Check Available Storage

Option 1. Dropbox Storage:

Open the Dropbox app > Tap Profile > See if storage is full.

Note: If storage is low, delete unnecessary files or upgrade your Dropbox plan.

Option 2. Device Storage:

iPhone: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.

Android: Go to Settings > Storage and check if space is available.

5. Enable Background Uploads

On iPhone:

Step 1. Open iPhone Settings.

Step 2. Go to App > Dropbox.

Step 3. Turn on Background App Refresh.

Fix Dropbox Camera Upload Not Working on iPhone
Fix Dropbox Camera Upload Not Working on iPhone

On Android:

Step 1. Open Settings > Battery.

Step 2. Tap Battery Optimization > Select Dropbox.

Step 3. Choose Don’t Optimize or Allow Background Activity.

6. Switch Internet Connection

Option 1. If using Wi-Fi, try switching to mobile data (and vice versa).

Option 2. Restart your Wi-Fi router if the internet is slow.

7. Disable Battery Saver Mode

iPhone: Go to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode and turn it OFF.

Turn off Low Power Mode on iPhone
Turn off Low Power Mode on iPhone

Android: Go to Settings > Battery > Power Saving Mode and turn it OFF.

8. Clear Dropbox Cache (Android Only)

Step 1. Open Settings > Apps > Dropbox.

Step 2. Tap Storage > Clear Cache.

9. Sign Out & Sign In Again

Step 1. Open the Dropbox app.

Step 2. Tap Profile (bottom right) > Sign Out.

Step 3. Sign back in with your account and enable Camera Upload.

10. Reinstall Dropbox

Step 1. Uninstall Dropbox from your device.

Step 2. Restart your phone.

Step 3. Download Dropbox from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android).

Step 4. Log in and enable Camera Upload.

Bonus Tip: Easily Sync iCloud Photos with Dropbox via MultCloud

If you are also using iCloud to save device photos and videos, you can try to sync iCloud Photos to Dropbox for backup when Dropbox camera upload not working on your iPhone. To automatically sync iCloud Photos/Drive to Dropbox in real-time, MultCloud Cloud Sync is recommended to you.

MultCloud is a professional cloud management service that offers multiple functions, such as Cloud Transfer, Cloud Sync, Cloud Backup, Email Migration, Remote Upload, and so on. Among the functions, Cloud Sync is specially designed for cloud-to-cloud file sync. Whether you want to sync iCloud Photos to Dropbox or from iCloud Drive, it can help you automate the process without downloading the photos or any app (MultCloud is a web-based app).

  • Cloud Transfer: MultCloud can transfer files from one cloud service to another directly without downloading and re-uploading.
  • Cloud Sync: With MultCloud, you can easily sync two folders between different cloud services in real-time.
  • Cloud Backup: You can back up and restore data between different cloud services automatically.
  • Instagram Downloader: MultCloud can help you download Instagram videos, photos, reels, and stories to local device or remotely upload them to your clouds.
  • Email Migration: You can directly back up and save Gmail emails as PDFs to your computer or cloud drive in bulk. 
  • Manage all cloud accounts in one place: Connect all your clouds to MultCloud and you'll find it so easy to access and manage multiple cloud storage files with a single login.

This method can be quickly mastered by anyone even if you are not tech-savvy. Let’s see the steps for syncing iCloud Photos to Dropbox.

Step 1. Go to the MultCloud website and create a free account.

Step 2. Add iCloud Photos and Dropbox to MultCloud by clicking Add Cloud and the cloud logo. When you add iCloud Photos, you will go through two-factor authentication to verify your account.

Add iCloud Photos and Dropbox
Add iCloud Photos and Dropbox

Step 3. Select the Cloud Sync feature in the left sidebar and choose iCloud Photos in the FROM box and Dropbox in the TO box. If you prefer real-time sync, switch the button from Normal Sync to Real Time Sync.

Sync iCloud Photos to Dropbox
Sync iCloud Photos to Dropbox

Step 4. There are various sync modes like Incremental Sync, Move Sync, Mirror Sync, or Full Backup Sync in Options that you can choose to apply to your task. When everything is ready, click Sync Now to start this task.

Cloud Sync Modes
Cloud Sync Modes

Conclusion

When you find the “Dropbox camera upload not working” issue, you can try to fix it with the above 10 easy solutions here. If they cannot help you, you can contact Dropbox Help for more specific suggestions. Moreover, you can try to use MultCloud Cloud Sync to automatically sync iCloud Photos to Dropbox in real-time if you also use iCloud.

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