I think this is the scenario that you have. If you are downloading a file from Dropbox to edit it in an app that doesn't access Dropbox directly, like DocsToGo, you'll need to use a 3rd party syncing app like DropSync.

TL DR: If you are editing a file directly in an app that has built in access to Dropbox you don't need to worry syncing, it will happen on it's own. There are third party apps that do this, I use DropSync. This downloaded file is not monitored by or synced by Dropbox so you'd need to upload it or sync it manually somehow.

In cases like this you have to download the file to your device to access it with this app. Apps like DocsToGo don't support the Dropbox API so there is no way to directly access Dropbox files from within the app. In the Dropbox app you can 'Export' a file which means download it to a local directory on your device. I use apps like Estrong File Explorer and several note taking apps that use the Dropbox API and every change I make to a file is synced when I save the file.ĭownloading/exporting the file is different.

Essentially the file is being downloaded in the background so you can open and work on the file and then reuploaded in the background when you are done (ie syncing). Everything you do to this file is synced (assuming the app is well made and working correctly). The Dropbox app and other 3rd party apps that use the Dropbox API allow you to 'Access' files in their cloud location. There's an important distinction that needs to be made: Accessing a file vs Downloading/exporting a file.

Android dropbox api download file