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Forum Discussion

Julian G.2's avatar
Julian G.2
Helpful | Level 6
3 years ago

How to permanently / forever / for real ... turn OFF Smart Sync

Hello, 

 

When Smart Sync was introduced, I tried it, disliked it, and had to search how to disable it (which was not intuitive). It was gone. Auto app update worked fine and did not introduced it back. 

 

Now I just installed the release Apple Silicon version of Dropbox (v163.4.5456) and sure enough, it's back to the Online-only default behaviour for every newly created file.  And again, there's no obvious option in Settings to turn it off, and to make the matter worse, posts describing how to do it do not work! https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Create-upload-and-share/How-to-disable-Smart-Sync-really-and-truly/td-p/533822

 

I really do not need to save space in my hard drive.

Quick View on macOS doesn't work on an Online-only file placeholder!

 

Please help me disable the function.

And please consider asking users to opt-in on this feature.....

 

Thank you!!!

desktop
Mac
sync
    • Julian G.2's avatar
      Julian G.2
      Helpful | Level 6
      3 years ago

      Thanks.

      I wonder how not allowing to change the default behaviour could be a deliberate decision, as Quick Look is a basic functionality of macOS, it just doesn't work with a placeholder, so....

       

      But: According to your link:

      • Files added to your Dropbox account from another device or that are shared by another user will default to online-only.
        (which is my case), and given the second topic:

      as a workaround, I will select "Make available offline" on the root folder that holds the files form that computer. And see how it goes..

      The first time it crashed my computer:

      Regards,

      • Julian G.2's avatar
        Julian G.2
        Helpful | Level 6
        2 years ago

        Ok...

        So much for the "workaround" of setting the desired behaviour in the root folder.

        It seemed to work at first, but now I pay attention: an amount of seemingly random files, folders and subfolders are appearing have te dreaded cloud icon of "online only". So also the root folder because it contains "some" placeholder files.

        But making the root folder "available offline" again, does not seem to do anything with the status of their contents. Also, nothing happens when acting on any single file..... 

         

        FOR THE MOTHER OF GOD: I DON'T WANT THIS.

        PLEASE LET ME TURN OFF "ONLINE ONLY" FUNCTIONALITY.

        I NEVER WANT ANY FILE TO BE ONLINE ONLY, EVER, EVER!

         

        Please let me turn this off.

         

         

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