Can't see new file on iPad (can on Macbook Air)

Scrivener Scrivener for iOS
1

I had a huge scare this week, when I realized Dropbox wasn’t saving any files for two years. Luckily, I found a recent version of my m/s on iCloud, and I was able to fix my Dropbox problem. The issue now is that I can see the files in Scrivener on my Macbook Air, but not on my iPad. Seems the Scrivener version on my iPad is still looking at Dropbox, as if I’m not logged in.

Any thoughts? When I look at Dropbox on my iPad, I can see the new files. But when I try to find the new files in Scrivener (on my iPad), they’re not there. Something isn’t synced. (And yes, I clicked the sync button on Scrivener on my iPad. It says it’s synced to the most recent Dropbox history.)

Details on my system:
Macbook Air: MacIOS (Monterey), Scrivener 3.2.3
iPad: iOS 15.1, Scrivener 1.2.2

I have a really old version on my iPad, and I’m guessing that’s the issue. If so, how do I update?

Thank you,

Laura

2

Hello Laura, and welcome to the forum.

The first step I recommend checking is to confirm that your iPad doesn’t have any pending updates for either Scrivener or Dropbox.

To do this, please open the App Store.app on your iPad. Please tap on your Apple ID, which should open a panel titled “Account.” If you tap and hold on your Apple ID here and then swipe down, your iPad will check to see if any apps need updates. You may need to scroll down on the Account panel to see the “Upcoming Updates” information. Tapping “Update All” should get your iPad to ensure that all your apps have the current versions.

The next step I suggest testing is to confirm that Scrivener for iOS is correctly linked to your Dropbox.app. That process is outlined on this Knowledge Base article.

But, just to hit some of the high points, please open the Scrivener app on your iPad and tap “Edit” on its main project screen. Then, please tap on the gear icon, which should have appeared along the bottom edge of the Scrivener interface.

If you have already established Dropbox syncing within Scrivener, I would like to have you tap on the “Unlink Dropbox” option. This will prompt Scrivener to ask you if you want to store your projects locally or keep them on your iPad. I recommend selecting “Keep Local Copies,” which will give you a second copy of them after we re-establish Dropbox syncing.

Next, please tap “Edit” again and then please tap the gear icon at the bottom of the screen again. Then please tap “Link Dropbox.” This should prompt your iPad to open the Dropbox.app, and you’ll see a panel saying “Scrivener would like to access the files and folders in your Dropbox.” Please tap “Allow.”

Your iPad will switch back to the Scrivener app, which will show a window indicating that Dropbox projects are stored in “Apps/Scrivener.” Please tap “Done” on the top right corner of that panel.

Once you’ve re-established that link, please create a small test project on your iPad in Scrivener and see if it will correctly sync that project to your Dropbox/Apps/Scrivener folder.

You’ll want to open that test project on your Mac/PC using a Finder/File Explorer window and by navigating to Dropbox.

If that test project works correctly, then please make sure that the project you’re trying to access on the iPad is stored in that same folder. I’m suggesting this because sometimes users will find they have two Apps/Scrivener folders, which causes issues.

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This was unbelievably helpful. I followed the steps out outlined and discovered that I had not placed the updated files in Dropbox/Apps/Scrivener. Once I moved the files there, I could access them on my iPad. Now I need to be sure that they’re equally accessible on my MacAir. If not, I’ll need to move the files and/or change where they’re accessed on one or both devices.

I can’t thank you enough. The last three days have been so awful, and I appreciate your detailed outline of steps I can take to get my files restored and accessible as they should be. I’ll be adding additional layers of backup for the future.

Thank you again,

Laura

2 Likes
4

I’m glad that was helpful, Laura.

And, since you mentioned adding additional layers of backups, I suggest reviewing this Knowledge Base article that explains how to create manual iOS backups.

Adding that process to your writing habits when working with Scrivener on a mobile device will give you some additional options if needed.