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feliks PROLAND's avatar
feliks PROLAND
New member | Level 2
3 years ago
Solved

I deleted files from the desktop app, but they were also deleted from my web account

Hello,

On Monday, there was no free space left on my computer. After checking, it turned out that Dropbox downloads all the files to my computer. I turned off dropbox and deleted all downloaded files from my computer. Then I turned on dropbox and changed the sync settings, online. It did not help. But today it turned out that I deleted files not only from my computer, but also from the dropbox server (see photo) and they continue to be deleted. I turned off dropbox but files are deliting.
Is it possible to stop it?

 


  • feliks PROLAND wrote:

    ...
    Is it possible to stop it?


    Hi feliks PROLAND,

    No exactly to stop, but there is a way. You can restore all just deleted, so nothing dramatic; just do it. Dropbox keeps the things in sync; it sync file content as well as file move, creation, deletion, etc. All this gets done immediately or when there is possible. So why did you think at all it won't delete files online? If so, that would be a Dropbox bug!

    If you want to keep files online but removed local, Selective sync is the feature for you; just remove/uncheck the folders you don't want locally. 😉

    Hope this helps.

7 Replies

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  • Здравко's avatar
    Здравко
    Legendary | Level 20
    3 years ago

    feliks PROLAND wrote:

    ...
    Is it possible to stop it?


    Hi feliks PROLAND,

    No exactly to stop, but there is a way. You can restore all just deleted, so nothing dramatic; just do it. Dropbox keeps the things in sync; it sync file content as well as file move, creation, deletion, etc. All this gets done immediately or when there is possible. So why did you think at all it won't delete files online? If so, that would be a Dropbox bug!

    If you want to keep files online but removed local, Selective sync is the feature for you; just remove/uncheck the folders you don't want locally. 😉

    Hope this helps.

  • janecaruso's avatar
    janecaruso
    Explorer | Level 3
    3 years ago

    Please help. I have the same problem. My hard drive is overloaded.  I went to the notification center and changed sync to online only.....but everything I do ....add a file or delete a file, still shows up in my "windows...user...dropbox" file AND my "dropbox.com folder". I need to get everything off my hard drive and ONLY store in dropbox.com.

  • janecaruso's avatar
    janecaruso
    Explorer | Level 3
    3 years ago

    I went in and changed my preference to online only......but that is apparently just for future files. 

    An online chat with Dropbox advised me to go into my local copies and right click each one of them and change to online only.  That did NOTHING to recapture any space on my C drive, it is still completely full.

  • Здравко's avatar
    Здравко
    Legendary | Level 20
    3 years ago

    janecaruso wrote:

    I went in and changed my preference to online only......


    janecaruso, Can you explain to me how exactly you changed "Selective Sync" to "online only"? (something impossible by the way) Did you read the article pointed by the my link above? Take in mind that "Smart Sync" (the only thing you consider) and "Selective Sync" (something you are completely ignoring) are different things. If you want check it...

    Good luck.

  • janecaruso's avatar
    janecaruso
    Explorer | Level 3
    3 years ago

    I dont know what selective sync is.  I was just following the directions provided in a dropbox help chat.

    Notification center...click on Dropbox...click on your picture...preferences...sync....online only.

    THEN go to local copies and click on each individually and change to online only.

    This did NOT work. my hard drive is still full.  If you have better advice, I am listening.

    Thank you

  • Здравко's avatar
    Здравко
    Legendary | Level 20
    3 years ago

    janecaruso wrote:

    ....  If you have better advice, I am listening.


    janecaruso, hm.. 🤔 Probably I forgot, but if scroll up, you may see some advices... 🙋

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