How long can Smart Sync take to free up space when marking files as Online Only?

Hello again.  I do have Dropbox Plus, so I can use the selective sync feature.   I am doing it on one laptop at the moment, and it seemed to be finished really fast.  How can I make sure the files are all online before I delete from the hard drive?  Then I can repeat the process on my other laptop.

Thanks for all your help.

Thanks for getting back to us here Etwhalen9090!

Before removing the folder with Selective Sync, if the desktop app is showing "Up to date" then syncing should be complete and everything should be available online.

If you'd just like to double check, you can go to the folder and make sure that it's showing the :white_check_mark: icon too.

When you apply Selective Sync it should remove the folder locally automatically.

If you're referring to Smart Sync, the files will show a grey cloud icon to show they are not taking space on your hard drive. In this case, you don't need to delete the file from your Dropbox folder as doing so would remove it from your account.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions - cheers!

Hello, Daphne.  I am just a bit confused when you say removing the file from my DB folder will delete it.   I am afraid I will delete something when I remove it from my hard drive.  I may be making this more complicated than it is, but I am confused.  I run two laptops, and it's pretty much the same info on both, but I cannot delete things until I know they are in the cloud.

Sorry if I sound like I don't get it, I just need to be more clear.

Thank you.!

Hello again, Daphne.  I am still confused. I apologize.  I have DB Plus, so I guess I have smart sync.  I just need to make sure that it's set up properly, because I still am showing everything on my hard drive.

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks again for your patience.

Hey Etwhalen9090, no problem I'm here to help!

When you make a file online only with Smart Sync, it should appear with a grey cloud icon to show this has been applied, and the size it takes on your disk should be reduced.

If you apply Selective Sync to your files, it will remove the local files for you automatically. Either way, you shouldn't need to delete any files manually as doing so would just delete the files from your account.

Let me know if this helps!

Thank you for your response, Daphne. I did an online "chat" this morning with a DB person, who was as helpful as you have been,  and I am now in the processing of converting all my DB files to online only, and have set it up so that all future files will automatically be onlline only.

Thanks again!

I'm very glad to hear that Etwhalen9090!

If there's anything else that I can help with, feel free to just give me a nudge here. I'd be more than happy to help. :grin:

I hope you have a great start to the week - cheers!