Troubleshoot a Dropbox data import

This feature supports all Google Workspace editions.

Here's how to address common issues you may encounter when setting up a data import.

Can't start an import

If you get a To start migration, you must have super admin privileges and complete all previous steps error, make sure that a super administrator for your Google Workspace account sets up and starts the import.

Need permission to access resources error

If you get a Needs permission to access resources in your organization that only an admin can grant error, make sure you connect to the Dropbox account with a Dropbox Team admin account. For details, go to Connect to your Dropbox account.

User account issues

Before starting a data import, you must set up the user accounts in Workspace. For details, go to Workspace requirements.

A user account that isn't set up, or that's set up incorrectly, can cause the following issues in the logs:

Logs message How to fix
Google Drive is not enabled for the User
  • Set up a Workspace account for the user if they don't already have one
  • Enable access to your organization's Google Drive for an existing user account
Dropbox is not enabled for the User
  • Confirm that you have the user's correct email address in the CSV file that you're using to import files and folders
  • Confirm that you have this user's correct Dropbox email address in your identity map

Error uploading list of personal & team folders

When you upload a comma-separated values (CSV) file with the list of personal and team folders to import from Dropbox, you might get one of the following errors:

  • Upload sensitive CSV failed
  • Validate CSV failed
  • Bulk action initiation failed

To fix, confirm the items below and then re-upload the CSV file:

  • The CSV file has only 3 columns, with the headers Source DropboxValue, Target Drive FolderId, and Target GUser.
  • The Dropbox user email addresses and team folder paths are valid.
  • Each Dropbox file or folder is only listed once.
  • For each Dropbox team folder that you're importing, there's a valid value for Target Drive FolderId and Target GUser, and Target Drive FolderID isn't empty.
  • Each user has a Workspace account.

Import completes, but there are failed items

  1. In Workspace, click View data import logs.
  2. Identify the items that didn't import and the reasons for their failure. For details, go to Understand a Dropbox import report.
  3. Fix the issues, and then run a delta import.

Missing files, folders, or permissions

If you have missing files, folders, or permissions after an import, follow these steps:

  1. Check that the import scope file includes the emails of the users who own the missing items. Learn more about how to select folders to import.
  2. Verify that your identity map contains the correct list of users. For details, go to Create & upload an identity map.
  3. Make sure that at least one owner of the Dropbox file or folder has a Workspace user account.
  4. Check your import settings to determine if any filters are excluding files that you want to import. For details, go to Import files from a Dropbox account.
  5. Export the import report. For details, go to Understand a Dropbox import report.
  6. Search for the missing file using the file name. File names are included in the import report's Source URI.
  7. If the message shows as failed in the report, locate the error code in the Dropbox import report. Then follow the instructions to troubleshoot the error message.
  8. In your Admin console, run a delta import.


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