Need to see if your shared folder is taking up space on your dropbox 👨💻? Find out how to check here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
How can I keep my files local and not online only?
I have a new computer & I've been trying to download my DB files to my new computer. I've just discovered that YOU decided I need to save space on my hardrive & half my files are on some cloud rathe...
Hi!
Do you have a Dropbox Plus/Professional/Business subscription? If yes, it sounds like the new installation might have been completed with Smart Sync "make folders online-only" selected.
I found this help article on Smart Sync. More specifically you could try the following steps:
How to save hard drive space automatically
If you haven’t opened files and folders in a few months, they’ll become online-only. To change this setting:
- Click the Dropbox icon from the system tray or menu bar.
- Click your profile picture or initials.
- Click Preferences... from the menu.
- Click Sync.
- Choose your work Dropbox account.
- Toggle the On/Off setting under Save hard drive space automatically.
(In your case, you would want this setting to be Off)
How do I sync online-only content to my computer?
You can open a file as usual through your application or Finder. Dropbox downloads the entire file to your computer.
To sync a file or folder without opening it immediately, you can make it local:
- Open the Dropbox folder on your computer.
- Click the Dropbox icon from the menu bar.
- Click the folder icon.
- Choose Open folder.
- Locate the content that you want to sync to your computer.
- Control-click or right-click the file or folder.
- Choose Smart sync.
- Choose Local.
(In your case, you would want all Dropbox content set to Local)
How can I choose a default setting for new content?
- Click the Dropbox icon from the menu bar.
- Click your profile picture or initials and select Preferences... from the menu.
- Click Sync.
- Choose your work Dropbox account.
- Change the selection for Smart Sync Default:
- Admin default: the default setting chosen by your team admin.
- Local: all new content downloads to your computer.
- Online-only: manually download files to your computer when you need them.
(In your case, you would want all new Dropbox content to be set to Local)
Finally, you might want to consider disabling Smart Sync altogether, if you wish, by disabling system extensions on Dropbox website settings.
Hope this helps!
Joonas
Lusil
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffHi there jupiter1, thanks for joining us on this thread.
Since you mention that you're on a Basic (free) account, could you let me know if you are having trouble syncing with the desktop app?
You can check its status by hovering or clicking on the Dropbox icon that's next to your computer's clock.
Could you also go to the web and see if the files you're looking for are listed there?
Since you mention that you're on a Basic (free) account, could you let me know if you are having trouble syncing with the desktop app?
You can check its status by hovering or clicking on the Dropbox icon that's next to your computer's clock.
Could you also go to the web and see if the files you're looking for are listed there?
Yes, I am having trouble syncing as Basic does not have the space to accommodate all my files. But that is ok as I DO NOT want any of my files in the cloud. I was only using Dropbox to share a couple of files with one person. I don't need it to take my files to the cloud. I have 3 large hard drives. I am a photographer, I have thousands of images, I want them on my drives where my editing program can find them, NOT in the cloud where everything takes 4 minutes to open. I just want to put my files back where they were on my local drives and on my desktop where I need them. Please help.
- Lusil
Do you have your computer folders (like Downloads and Desktop) synced with your account, by any chance?
If so, you can turn computer backup off and move the files back to where they were, by following these steps. I have tried these instructions, however, I cannot get past the screen that allows me to select the folders to backup as it says I need to upgrade to a paid version of Dropbox because there is not enough space to backup even one of my folders. I cannot get past this screen to turn off backup.
- LusilCould you send us a screenshot (without any personal info), just to have a better visual of it?
This is still a problem. Never used Smart Sync. Never had the option during install to be local only. Since most of my work is at remote locations without internet connectivity it is IMPERATIVE my files are local. Not knowing this was being done caused me to lose a deal because the presentation I THOUGHT I had was not on my system.
The solution I found was to install Google Drive, uninstall dropbox and cancel my subscription.I don't know what brilliant Product Manager decided that the primary purpose for the existence of Dropbox was no longer going to be the default. The fact they bury the option on the website only to change means it was done with forethought. Poor forethought. Have been a Dropbox advocate for 6+ years, but no more.
About View, download, and export
Need support with viewing, downloading, and exporting files and folders from your Dropbox account? Find help from the Dropbox Community.
