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How can I completely disable Smart Sync?
How can I completely, 100%, disable Smart Sync so that Dropbox will always download all of my files?
The settings I have found all apply to NEW files and seem to have no impact on old files.
What...
Hey there Whatever2018 - how are you today?
I'm sorry to hear you would like to opt out of Smart Sync. Depending on the account you're on now you can do it following the steps mentioned below:
Individuals that no longer wish to use Smart Sync can do so with the steps found in the following Help Center article:
https://www.dropbox.com/help/desktop-web/filesystem-integration#optoutIf you're the Admin of a Dropbox for Business team and you'd like to opt all members of your Dropbox Business team out of Smart Sync, I'd also suggest to see the following Help Center article specifically under the section "Dropbox Business team admins: how to opt out your whole team from the system extension":
https://www.dropbox.com/help/desktop-web/filesystem-integration#optout
Also note that some of your team members may have connected a work and personal account. If you opt out your team from the system extension, team members won't be able to use Smart Sync on any personal devices (or personal accounts) where they're also signed in to their Business account.
I hope this information helps and please keep me posted on your progress!
Hi all, in fact the solution I eventually got Dropbox to tell me was the following:
1. Open Dropbox.com.
2. click on your i.d.
3. click on "settings" and then scroll down for ages till you get to "Dropbox System Extension" and click that to "off".
It is clear Dropbox no longer want users to store stuff on their own computer, so they make it v hard to find this solution, I had to hassle them to admit it. Weird!! Ashley S
Thanks Ashley! I found this in the settings and if you click on the info icon next to it, it does tell you that this is what it does.
But you're right, its extremely weird that A. it's so hard to find / unintuitive and B. the Dropbox moderators either don't know or won't reveal this simple answer to that exact question from so many users.
You know, I get that tech companies sometimes find that features which used to be their core value proposition turn out, years later after massive growth, to be expensive &/or a pain point for them to manage.
But what I can't stand is when they try to game their loyal customers by deceiving us and pretending they're doing it "because we want to improve your experience". Try treating us with honesty and openess instead of elitist contempt. Who knows, you might be suprised.
The problem is not really solved.
Dropbox was always easy to use, fast and reliable. Recently became a shame and its price rised up too.
Why with OneDrive you can ACTUALLY DISABLE the "smart sync" on the client so it can function like the "old" OneDrive without the option on (no option in the right click menu, no problem at all, all the files you already set to syncing are really full downloaded), but Dropbox even if you turn it off and set the new files to "local" it won't change anything, the option with the right click persist and it mess up randomly with the "local" / "cloud only"? In particular there are some files that it just won't set to local. You click on it and it ignore the command.
If I add the fact that you raised the price and the space forcing users to have it and not adding another separate plan option, I'm wondering why I still have to be a paying customer...
To have problems? I'm already paying other cloud services to have those same problems already resolved months ago...
- Daphne
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey there Baboo85,
From what I understand, you're having some trouble with setting files in your Dropbox folder to be local, right?
So if you've changed the setting within the app preferences to sync new files as local, this will only apply to new files that sync to your account. As you mentioned, any files that are currently "online only" within the Dropbox folder will need to be changed by selecting them, right clicking and choosing "Smart sync - local" from the menu.
Is this the action that you're referring to that seems to be "ignored"?
Let me know and I'll be more than happy to help troubleshoot with you - thanks!
A solution worked - to right-click on the top folder, smart sync - local.
Hi:
I'm using a Windows 10 PC and finall found that going to my dropbox.com/account - then clicking my initials - general - then turning off Dropbox system extension "disables features like Smart Sync"
I NEVER NEVER want Smart Sync activated. I control what files are on what PC with "Selective Sync".
I agree: Dropbox deteriorates with time. It was perfect in the early days, now they messed up the web interface so it became unusable. I moved to Google Drive which also is deteriorating just a bit slower with years.
That's a shame. Good products are messed up by those who inherited them.
Glad to see that I'm not alone in this Dropbox disappointment. What ever happened to this great product? Keep it simple, guys!
I have this problem on Mac osx High Sierra Now Smart Sync is always on, even though it is turned off in the defaults, it's really time consuming as I have to manually go through and right click and set to local for every single folder I want to sync, before I had to computers, all synced up manually without thinking about it.. why doesn't this basic function work?
Also I have notifciations turned off but after turning on local every file is being notified, also very annoying.
- Daphne
Hi there iamyila, thanks for joining the discussion!
Do you possibly not want to use smart sync at all on your files (at least for the moment)? If that's the case, then I can suggest disabling the system extension to disable Smart sync on your account.
Before doing so, I'd recommend ensuring that all files are local by right clicking the Dropbox folder from your file browser and setting the "Smart sync - local" option for all files.
Regarding the notifications you mentioned, would you mind sending a screenshot of this so I can have a better understanding of exactly what you're seeing there?
Let me know if this helps at all!
Everyone needs to start calling this option "STUPID SYNC" - As that is what it is!!
