Why is the Dropbox badge not showing?

Updated Jun 13, 2024

This article only applies to users who are using the Dropbox badge, and haven’t enabled Microsoft co-authoring. If you’ve enabled co-authoring, the badge will no longer appear.

For more information on co-authoring, visit this article.

The Dropbox badge shows you information about who is currently working in a shared Microsoft Office file with you.

What should I do if the Dropbox badge isn’t showing?

If you don't see the Dropbox badge, check the following:

The file you're working on is saved in your Dropbox folder
The file you're working on is a Microsoft Office document, opened with Microsoft Office
Your computer is connected to the internet
If your Office file opened in Protected View (e.g., files downloaded from the Internet or other potentially unsafe locations), you'll need to enable editing
The Dropbox icon is showing in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac)
You’re using your team account, not a linked personal account
Make sure you have the Dropbox badge enabled

What to check if you’re using Windows:

You must be on Windows 8 or later
You're using Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint (versions 2007, 2010, 2013, or 2016)

Note: If you run Dropbox in Compatibility mode, then the badge won't appear. You'll need to run Dropbox in a supported version of Windows (8 or later) in order to see the badge.

What to check if you're using a Mac:

You're running OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 or later
You're using Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint (version 2011 or 2016)
You've enabled Accessibility for Dropbox in your Finder preferences

Note: For files saved in Office's Compatibility Mode (.xls, .ppt, .doc), the Dropbox badge won't show when another person is viewing the file and it won't prompt you to update to the latest version of the file. To ensure the badge is reporting accurately, use Save As to save files in a non-Compatibility Mode file format (.xlsx, .pptx, .docx).