# My files don't download to my computer

Files show in your Drime folder but won't open offline, or never appear on your computer? Online-only files, folder selection and sync errors explained.

Updated: 2026-10-21  
Source: https://drime.cloud/support/troubleshooting/desktop-files-not-downloading

![Drime Desktop Preferences, Sync: default sync preference, Warn before deletions and Selective sync](https://drime.cloud/media/01M5AZVC8H4081ZENRZ8KAV4H1/4320929b9bf2-windows-desktop-prefs-sync.png)

**Symptoms**

- Files show in the Drime folder but do not open without internet.
- Some folders never appear on your computer.
- Files stay in a waiting state and never finish downloading.

**Possible causes**

- Files are **online-only** by default: they are listed, but only downloaded when you open them.
- Some folders are unchecked in **Drive folder selection**.
- A sync error, the network or a paused sync blocks the download.

**How to fix it**

### Keep files on your computer

In File Explorer, right-click the file or folder and choose “Always keep on this device”. Or, in Drime Desktop, open **Preferences** \> **Storage** \> **Manage hard drive space** and choose **Make available offline**. See [Online-only and offline files](https://drime.cloud/support/desktop/online-only-and-offline-files).

To keep every new file on your computer, set **Default sync preference** to **Available offline** in **Preferences** \> **Sync**.

### Couldn't make files available offline

The download failed. Check your connection and try again. If **The sync engine isn't running. Wait a few seconds and try again** appears, Drime is starting or restarting its sync: wait a moment, then try again.

### Bring back missing folders

In **Preferences** \> **Sync** \> **Drive folder selection**, click **Choose folders** and tick them. See [Choose which folders sync to your computer](https://drime.cloud/support/desktop/choose-folders-to-sync).

### Unblock the sync

- Check the Drime icon: is sync paused or offline? See [Check your sync status](https://drime.cloud/support/desktop/sync-status).
- Not enough disk space on your computer stops downloads: **Not enough disk space**. Make files online-only, or clear the files Drime kept aside on this computer: see [Free up space from Drime Desktop](https://drime.cloud/support/desktop/free-up-space).
- Open the account menu \> **Issues** for errors: see [Fix desktop sync errors](https://drime.cloud/support/desktop/fix-sync-errors). A name that Windows does not allow (characters such as `:` or `?`, a name ending with a dot) keeps a file off your computer: click **Rename on Drime** on the issue.

### Messages in Issues

| Message | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| **The file is locked by another program** | Close the program that has the file open, then wait for sync to retry. |
| **The file path is too long** | Shorten the names of the file or its folders on Drime, or move it higher up. |
| **A file with the same name (different case) already exists** | Windows sees "Report.pdf" and "report.pdf" as the same name: rename one of them on Drime. |
| **Access denied, check the file permissions** | Check that your Windows account can write to that folder. |
| **Drime storage quota exceeded** | Your Drime storage is full. See [My storage is full](https://drime.cloud/support/troubleshooting/storage-full). |
| **You are offline. Syncing resumes as soon as the network is back.** | Check your internet connection: sync restarts on its own. |

### Folder selection errors

If **Unable to load the folder selection** or **Unable to apply the changes** appears in **Drive folder selection**, check your connection, close the dialog and open it again.

**Still stuck?**

If files still do not download, [send your desktop logs to support](https://drime.cloud/support/desktop/send-logs).