User Case
My Dropbox renewal was about to expire. Not wanting to pay for 2,000 gigs I did not need, I chose to move to iCloud. The Dropbox files were pulled into a single folder on my MacBook desktop. Then, I dragged the folder into iCloud from my MacBook desktop. After that, I removed the Dropbox files. However, some files on iCloud say zero bytes.
Why Dropbox to iCloud Files Show Zero Bytes in iCloud?
It is frustrating to find Dropbox files showing zero bytes in iCloud after moving. How can it happen? There are some probable reasons you can take as references.
► 1. Dropbox does not fully download files.
Your Dropbox files may have been labeled as "online-only" in order to save local storage, which may cause them to show up in iCloud as zero bytes. Online-only files (marked by a blue cloud icon) will not be automatically downloaded to your computer through the Dropbox app.
► 2. Problems with File Permissions.
Dropbox files might have permission restrictions that make it impossible for iCloud to access or sync them correctly.
► 3. Problems with iCloud File Sync.
It is possible that iCloud did not sync the files or that processing took longer than expected.
► 4. File Type Compatibility.
iCloud may not fully support certain file types or symbolic links that Dropbox uses.
► 5. Placement of Dropbox and iCloud Folders.
Manually moved files from Dropbox to iCloud may not have been fully completed.
► 6. Conflicts with File Sync.
Conflicts or placeholders may arise when iCloud and Dropbox sync the same file.
Troubleshooting: Dropbox to iCloud Files Show Zero Bytes in iCloud
To resolve the issue of Dropbox files zero bytes in iCloud, there are 6 quick solutions that you can try. However, before all the steps, it is highly recommended to backup all the files that you plan to transfer.
Solution 1. Ensure Files Are Fully Downloaded
1. Open the Dropbox app.
2. Right-click on the files and choose Make available offline or Download.
Solution 2. Check File Permissions
1. Right-click on the file and check its permissions (use Get Info on macOS or Properties on Windows).
2. Ensure you have read and write access.
Solution 3. Resolve iCloud Sync Issues
1. Verify iCloud Drive is enabled in your system settings.
2. Restart your device to refresh the syncing process.
3. Ensure there is sufficient iCloud storage space.
Note: To enable iCloud Drive on your Mac, you can:
1. Enter System Settings on your Mac and click on your profile.
2. Choose iCloud > Drive. Then, toggle the button next to Sync this Mac and your computer files will sync with iCloud Drive.
Solution 4. Confirm File Type Compatibility
1. Verify the file formats are compatible with iCloud.
2. Replace symbolic links with the actual files, if necessary.
Solution 5. Recheck File Transfer Process
1. Use Finder (macOS) or File Explorer (Windows) to confirm files were copied, not just linked.
2. Drag and drop the files directly from Dropbox to iCloud.
Solution 6. Pause Dropbox Sync Temporarily
1. Pause Dropbox syncing before transferring files to iCloud.
2. Resume syncing after confirming the files are uploaded correctly to iCloud.
Ultimate Solution: Automatically Transfer Files from Dropbox to iCloud via MultCloud
If the mentioned quick fixes cannot help you and you have not deleted the desired files on Dropbox, you can choose to transfer Dropbox files to iCloud in another way – by MultCloud Cloud Transfer.
MultCloud is a professional cloud-to-cloud file transfer service that supports more than 30 cloud storage services, including Dropbox, Dropbox for Business, iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, etc. With MultCloud Cloud Transfer, you can directly move files from Dropbox to iCloud Drive without downloading and re-uploading. Besides, MultCloud allows you to schedule the transfer task to let it auto-start at your convenient time. Offline transfer is also supported so you can close the task window or your computer after creating a task and the task can still be finished.
Step 1. Go to the MultCloud website and sign up.
MultCloud is a web-based service and you can use it on any web browser you like. To sign up for a MultCloud account, it is free and you can enter your email address and password to make it. Also, you can quickly register with your Facebook, Apple, or Google account.
Step 2. Add the Dropbox and iCloud Drive accounts to MultCloud.
To add Dropbox, you can click “Add Cloud” and the Dropbox logo. Then, log in to your Dropbox account and allow MultCloud to access it in the pop-up window. It is similar to adding iCloud Drive to MultCloud but there is a two-factor authentication for iCloud login.
Step 3. Create a Cloud Transfer task for Dropbox and iCloud Drive.
Choose Cloud Transfer in the left sidebar and choose the desired Dropbox files in the FROM box while an iCloud Drive folder in the TO box. Then, you can open Options to check the transfer settings and tap “Transfer Now” to start transferring files from Dropbox to iCloud Drive.
Note: MultCloud uses data traffic to transfer files and you can get 5 GB of free traffic every month. If you need more, you can purchase a paid MultCloud plan to get from 100 GB to lifetime unlimited traffic.
Conclusion
This post gives 6 probable reasons and 6 quick tricks for the “Dropbox to iCloud files show zero bytes in iCloud” issue. You can check your situation with the reasons and try to address your problem with the tricks. If the 6 solutions cannot help, you can use MultCloud to transfer Dropbox files to iCloud without downloading and uploading.
MultCloud Supports Clouds
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Google Drive
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Google Workspace
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OneDrive
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OneDrive for Business
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SharePoint
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Dropbox
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Dropbox Business
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MEGA
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Google Photos
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iCloud Photos
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FTP
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box
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box for Business
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pCloud
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Baidu
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Flickr
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HiDrive
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Yandex
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NAS
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WebDAV
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MediaFire
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iCloud Drive
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WEB.DE
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Evernote
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Amazon S3
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Wasabi
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ownCloud
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MySQL
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Egnyte
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Putio
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ADrive
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SugarSync
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Backblaze
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CloudMe
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MyDrive
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Cubby