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If I delete a Dropbox file synced on my computer, will it delete it from my Dropbox account?
I have been trying to copy all of my files on my computer to drop box. I am on to pictures and have a ton - now I'm running out of space on my hard drive. Can I safely delete files from my hard drive? I am worried if I do this, my synced files in dropbox will also be deleted. Please help!
Keiran wrote:
... I cannot delete it from my machine without losing my files ... Rubbish!Sure you can. As described previously, Selective Sync allows you to remove the local copy of a folder while keeping that folder in your account online. If you have a Professional account, you also have access to Smart Sync, which allows you to remove the local copy of a file or folder while still having it appear on your local drive.
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Your Dropbox in the cloud is a mirror of the Dropbox folder on the hard drive. Files added to the Dropbox folder on the hard drive are uploaded to the cloud, but must also remain on the hard drive . If you delete them from the hard drive, they will similarly be deleted from the cloud. The local and cloud folders are kept in step. Dropbox provides mirror storage, not additional storage.
Robert J, I have a similar question and was wondering if you could help. I wanted to delete the drop box files off of my pc because its taking sooooo much space. But you are saying dropbox is merely mirror storage, not additional storage? So is dropbox just like a backup? And of course a means to easily share? What is an alternative app or other choices if I really just need all the pics and vids taken off of my pc and put somewhere else so I can free up space on my pc. The main things I will be storing are photos and video tutorials from iphone, ipad and gopro. I am starting to see that maybe dropbox is not what Im looking for? My pc and both mobile devices are near capacity for storage, I need additional safe storage that I can easily reach from mobile devices and easily use again from mobile devices if necessary. Thank you sooooooo much for your help!!
- Robert S.
Super User alumni
...are saying dropbox is merely mirror storage, not additional storage?
Correct. Dropbox is a file synchronisation tool, not a cloud drive.
If it's only necessary to have your mobile devices linked, no problem, you can just uninstall it from the computer.
You could also choose to leave the computer linked, but manage the space Dropbox will use with Selective Sync.
If I uninstall dropbox from my computer, will all of my files still be in the cloud?
- Robert S.
If I uninstall dropbox from my computer, will all of my files still be in the cloud?
Yes.
Uninstalling Dropbox from your computer just removes the software, it doesn't remove any files from DB's servers or the Dropbox folder.
I have dropbox installed on my machine under two different users and would like to delete it from one of them as the account is no longer used and I'm doubling up on hd space because of it. The issue I have is that the account has be removed and cannot be logged into. I can still access the files through c drive users file in explorer. If delete it here will it delete the files that are linked on other machines? I hope not as I cannot log into the user account and therefore cannot sync to dropbox from it. I hope this all makes some sense!?
I have uninstalled dropbox, but there are still files in a dropbox folder taking up space on my computer. I tried deleting some of the folders, but then checked dropbox.com and it deleted them from there too. HELP! My computer is full and I need to free up some space.
its all very confusing to me too
- Rich
Super User II
ArizonaGirl13 wrote:
I tried deleting some of the folders, but then checked dropbox.com and it deleted them from there too.
If you're deleting a file from the local Dropbox folder on your computer and it's deleting it from your account online as well, then Dropbox is still installed and running on your computer.
- Make sure the app is uninstalled in the computer only then you can delete the files from your hard drive without worrying that it will delete it in your dropbox account.
Im using mac. I deleted the app.
as soon as I deleted the app.
I went on my hard drive files and check a file that I knew I shared in the dropbox(Of course I made sure files that are important are copied on an external drive as well).
I deleted the file in my hard drive, and check online account it is still there.
Freed up space from my computer and files are still in my dropbox account. Always make sure have a backup copy on an external drive.
