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Best way to stop my Dropbox desktop app from removing local files?
Device
multiple Mac and PC devices
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
multiples
Dropbox App Version/Browser Version
232.4.5988 on Mac and PC
What is the best way to turn off removing files from my hard drive on all my devices? I want all my files that I have checked in selective sync on all my Mac and PC devices. I don't ever want them removed and made online only. The only place I want to access them online is on my iPhone and iPad. There I have checked to download whole folders that I need when offline. I regularly am offline on my PC laptop and need all my files accessible without an internet connection. I've been using Dropbox for a decade or more, and I don't remember ever checking anything that said I wanted files to be removed from my hard drive.
Since you’re using macOS Tahoe, then the system extension isn’t applicable to you indeed, as mentioned in the Help Center article Megan linked above.
If your sync preferences are set to make files available offline by default, as demonstrated here, then you should be all set.
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I think they stay there. That was never a problem before. I’ll watch to see what happens.
They do sync from other devices.
I’m still curious whether I should have Dropbox system extension turned off? There seems to be some redundancy that I don’t quite understand.
- Nancy
Dropbox Community Moderator
For now, I'd suggest leaving the extension enabled, as is.
In case your files return back to online-only though, without you taking any actions on your end, please let us know and we’ll be happy to look into this further.
I have the extension turned off now.
I'll leave the extension turned off unless you give me further direction. I don't really understand what that does at this point.
I really have no reason to have files online only. My Mac has enough memory to keep them all there as the master.
Is there a good reason to leave the desktop extension enabled? I can’t see the use case.
- Megan
Hi TomMunch!
Essentially, the Dropbox system extension is required in order to make your files and folders online-only.
Being opted-out of the system extension may also mean that if you have existing placeholder files (files with the grey cloud icon) and try to open them by double-clicking the file, you may see an error. You can ultimately open these files by right-clicking on them and choosing 'Make Available Offline'.
To use online-only files, you will need to enable installation of the system extension. You can see more about that here.
For macOS 11 (Big Sur) or above, you no longer need to install the system extension.
If you need something else, please let me know and I will be more than happy to help every step of the way.
Okay, I'm macOS Tahoe, so I don't need it turned on anyway? How does that change the behavior of Dropbox then?
- Nancy
Since you’re using macOS Tahoe, then the system extension isn’t applicable to you indeed, as mentioned in the Help Center article Megan linked above.
If your sync preferences are set to make files available offline by default, as demonstrated here, then you should be all set.
Great! Thanks for the clarification!
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