Want to know more about Dash? Check out how Amy uses Dropbox and Dash to make her day easier here!
Forum Discussion
Solved
Stop syncing a drive but keep the files in Dropbox
Hi,
I backup my D:\ drive in Dropbox (a 1tb ssd, only for media) but as it is full now, I want to delete most of the files, but keep them in my Dropbox account. Is there a way to stop syncing this particular drive, keep it hooked up to my pc, and retain the files in the Dropbox account?
Just to be clear, the Dropbox folder is on my other drive (C:\ ) and in Dropbox the backup of D:\ appeas as an external "New Volume"
Sorry to jump in, DioNik, how are you today?
I'm afraid that if the drive remains plugged in and the backup feature is still enabled, the drive will keep syncing.
Alternatively, you could copy the files into your Dropbox folder, allow them to sync and then remove them with selective sync, like Walter suggested.
I hope this helps!
7 Replies
- Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi there DioNik, welcome to the Community and happy Monday!
Can you please clarify how exactly are you backing up this drive to your Dropbox account?
Are you, for instance, using the Dropbox Backup feature or you've copied or moved your drive to Dropbox and have it syncing through the desktop app from within your Dropbox folder? Do you see in your account's homepage or on this page perhaps?
Apart from that, do you happen to be familiar with our selective sync feature?
Let me know what you find and we'll take it from there.
Hi Walter, I used the Dropox backup prompt that appear when I attached teh drive for the first time. I guess that selective sync could be an option, but I do not want to keep syncing this particular drive.
- Hannah
Sorry to jump in, DioNik, how are you today?
I'm afraid that if the drive remains plugged in and the backup feature is still enabled, the drive will keep syncing.
Alternatively, you could copy the files into your Dropbox folder, allow them to sync and then remove them with selective sync, like Walter suggested.
I hope this helps!
Yes that may be a good solution. Thanks! It will take some time, but it will do it.
Question. What would happen in this case if user changes the D drive to a different drive letter? Say to F ?
Would dropbox backup detect that the D was changed to F and still sync/backup the files on it? Or would it act as if D was simply not connected?
If it acts as if D is not connected then the files are still on Dropbox backup, and the user can then delete the files on the F (which was D)? Later if the user wants access to the backup files they would need to rename the F back to D, or add a new drive D. Is this correct?
Copying 82GB of files onto a laptop to stop Dropbox syncing them is a little silly. There must/should be a better way to turn on/off sync of specific folders once they start syncing. If not, please develop. Its needed. Thanks!
FOUND IT!!!
Here's how to Stop syncing to PC:
Choose which folders to store on your hard drive
Note: You must install the Dropbox desktop application to use selective sync.
To choose which Dropbox folders to store on or remove from your computer’s hard drive:
- Open your Dropbox desktop app preferences.
- Click the Sync tab.
- Under Selective Sync, click Choose folders (Mac) or Selective Sync… (Windows).
- Check the folders you’d like saved on your hard drive. Uncheck the folders you’d like removed.
- Click Update.
