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Dropbox keeps trying to download and sync files set to online only
I had this same issue with a particular folder when I first set up my new Windows 10 laptop, but closing and restarting Dropbox seemed to fix it. (Derp.) Today it randomly started trying to downl...
Lusil I looked at the suggestions provided in the help ticket answer and none of them are useful. It's all advice I was already given about checking my antivirus software, any programs that may be trying to access the files (I wouldn't know what, I thought it was Windows Explorer but what's happening right now shows it isn't--all I did this time was restart the computer and Dropbox and it resumed downloading online-only files), backup services (I only use Dropbox), third-party apps that check files (I don't know of any). I was instructed to right click and make files online only...it's literally not letting me do that (I select online only over and over and over without luck), plus I have to open Windows Explorer or the Dropbox app to do so, and that makes files start downloading again. I don't have any other ideas to try. It's currently downloading tens of thousands of files and the Dropbox app itself won't let me smart sync them. I use Trend Micro antivirus but I don't know how that would affect it since I'm not running a virus scan when this happens.
I pay for this service so I wish that it would work the way it's supposed to. 😞
Precisely!
In case you didn't see my earlier message:
I read your whole thread with complete empathy. I have been facing this issue for years. I've even tried TWICE in the past years to contact Dropbox for help (I got tickets too!). Basically I've now given up. I've been told so many times the explanation that it's because something I do on my laptop activates some folder in Dropbox, though sometimes it really can't be possible, because I'm doing something totally unconnected to the folder that starts to sync. And mine happens any time, not just on Fridays.
I've followed online threads on this issue (not many - this is the clearest) but no help. Or so technical the discussion that it loses me.
I've resigned myself to conclude that the Dropbox people don't know how to deal with this, or it's such an obscure issue they're not looking into it - they just repeat the same message to me about .... what you said.
And yes, many times my laptop says that I'm running out of space. At that point, I know that Dropbox files have started downloading / syncing AGAIN, and I just have to go set them to "Online only" AGAIN, and AGAIN and AGAIN. Sometimes I just forcibly PAUSE syncing to give myself peace of mind
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