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This article will show you how to Fix “Dropbox’s High CPU Usage” on Windows. If the Dropbox app on your Windows computer shows that it is using a lot of Memory, CPU, and disk space, this post will show you how to fix the problem. Some users have said that Dropbox is always using a lot of CPU and other system resources. Some people said that this happens even when the app isn’t indexing or syncing. This problem slows down your PC and makes it work less well overall. Most of the time, the high CPU usage is because several Dropbox processes are running to store, sync, update, and check for new Dropbox updates on your files.
Now, if you want Dropbox to use less of your computer’s resources, you can. Dropbox is a well-known service for storing files in the cloud. Most of the time, it uses very few resources when it is running in the background. But if the settings for Dropbox aren’t set up right or if you have unnecessary programs running in the background, Dropbox can use a lot of CPU resources. The good news is that it’s a very common problem that’s easy to fix. This article shows you how to Fix “Dropbox’s High CPU Usage” on Windows quickly.
What is Dropbox?
Dropbox is a service that hosts files. It is often called a “cloud storage” service. Dropbox is one of the oldest and most popular cloud storage services in use today. However, there are many other options, such as Microsoft OneDrive, Box, Sync, and Google Drive. Dropbox is a popular way to store or host files in the cloud. It lets people and businesses store, find, manage, and share digital assets from one central place.
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Cloud storage | Dropbox gives you access to your files from anywhere, on any device. You can store up to 2TB of files in the cloud, and they’ll be synced across all of your devices. |
File sharing | Dropbox makes it easy to share files with others. You can create shared folders that anyone can access, or you can send individual files to people via email or a link. |
Syncing | Dropbox keeps your files synced across all of your devices, so you always have the latest version of your files. You can choose to sync your files only when you’re on Wi-Fi, or you can sync them constantly. |
Backup | Dropbox automatically backs up your files, so you don’t have to worry about losing them. You can restore your files from any point in time, up to 30 days. |
Security | Dropbox uses industry-leading security to protect your files. Your files are encrypted on your device and in the cloud. You can also set permissions for your files, so only certain people can access them. |
Users can save files in online folders and sync them across devices with Dropbox. Dropbox also helps you organize some parts of your asset library and lets users edit and work together on files to some extent. Users can store files in folders and access them from any device at any time with Dropbox. Users don’t have to worry about losing or misplacing a file because it is backed up automatically. It also saves valuable storage space because it doesn’t use the user’s hardware.
What are the Reasons of high CPU usage?
- Multitasking: Running multiple resource-intensive applications simultaneously can strain the CPU, leading to high usage.
- Background Processes: Some background processes or applications might consume CPU resources without your knowledge.
- Malware or Viruses: Malicious software can run processes that use a significant amount of CPU power.
- Outdated Hardware: Older hardware may struggle to keep up with modern software demands, resulting in high CPU usage.
- Insufficient RAM: When the available RAM is limited, the CPU has to work harder to compensate, causing high usage.
- Software Issues: Bugs or inefficient code in applications or the operating system can lead to excessive CPU usage.
- Driver Problems: Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause the CPU to work harder than necessary.
How to Fix “Dropbox’s High CPU Usage” on Windows
Update the Dropbox application

- Find the icon for Dropbox in the system tray or menu bar.
- Click on your name or profile picture.
- Click on Settings.
- Click on “Account.”
- Check the Update to Latest Version section to see if there are any new versions.
- Wait until all the updates are done.
Check for problematic files
- Sign in on the Dropbox website.
- Choose Settings by clicking on your avatar.
- Look for the “Most recent activity” section under the “Security” tab.
- Check for files that say “Couldn’t sync” and think about deleting or fixing them if you find any.
Disable other apps accessing your files
Your Dropbox directory can be accessed by a number of programs, such as antivirus software, security tools, and backup programs. Dropbox might think that these accesses are changes, which would start unnecessary sync processes. If these apps keep asking for access, Dropbox may always try to sync the changes it thinks have happened, which uses more CPU.
- Find programs accessing Dropbox files.
- Turn off programs one by one.
- Check their settings.
- If possible, block their access to Dropbox.
- For backup or antivirus software, ensure it doesn’t scan or back up Dropbox folder.
- Restart Dropbox to check reduced resource usage.
Reinstall Dropbox
- Right-click on Start and select Apps and Settings.
- Scroll down the list to locate Dropbox.
- Click on “Uninstall,” then follow on-screen instructions to remove the app.
- After completion, visit the Dropbox Official website and download the latest version.
- Reinstall the app following the download.
Manage synchronization settings
- Click the icon for Dropbox in your system tray or on your menu bar.
- Click on your name or profile picture.
- Click on Settings.
- Click Select folders on the Sync tab.
- Manage your selective sync settings so that you only sync the folders you need to.
- Click Update when you are done.
Kill Dropbox’s process or restart your PC
- Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Right-click on Dropbox and click “End task”.
- If there are any dependencies (e.g., running processes), shut those down as well.
Conclusion
We hope that you find this article helpful and that it helps you deal with your Windows 11 PC’s high CPU usage. Even though the Dropbox desktop app is designed to use as few system resources as possible, there are times when it uses more RAM or CPU than expected. That can make a big difference in how well your computer works or slow it down.
Questions and Answers
If a file or folder is available offline, you can open it from the Dropbox folder on your computer or the Dropbox mobile app even if you aren’t connected to the internet. This means that it will take up space on your computer or mobile device and on dropbox.com.
Using a lot of CPU can be a sign of a few different problems. If a program is using up all of your processor, it’s likely that it’s not working right. A full CPU can also mean that you have a virus or adware that needs to be fixed right away.
If the CPU usage is close to 100%, it means that your computer is trying to do more work than it can handle. This is usually fine, but it may slow down programs a bit. When computers are doing things that take a lot of processing power, like running games, they tend to use close to all of the CPU.
If your computer doesn’t have enough memory, it may use the CPU to make up for it. Adding more RAM can help reduce how much the CPU is used. To use less CPU, you should make sure you have enough RAM for the tasks you are doing. But it’s also important not to have too much RAM, since that can also make the CPU work hard.