We’re Still Here to Help (Even Over the Holidays!) - find out more here.
Forum Discussion
Manage hard drive space and selective sync aren't working; my files are still offline.
I have 2TB of Dropbox for my Photo Albums (and have had for many years).
All folders were synchronised to my laptop but a mix of online and offline.
My laptop has circa 1TB free.
Last mon...
Nancy
Dropbox Community Moderator
Dropbox Community ModeratorThanks for all the screenshots! Appreciate them.
Can you please try to set a file as online-only again now (if possible) and then, open it with VLC? Do you notice the syncing icon change at that point?
The specific sync icons that you’re seeing next to your files usually mean that they files have been opened with a third-party app on your device (for more info, please also check this Help Center article).
Hi Nancy, I was setting the files to online only in the screenshots. That is what I was doing. It makes no difference to HDD usages and the fact that I then put the computer in aircraft mode with no internet access proves that the file is on my HDD.
Previously icons were solid green for on device and white background for online only.
Now I have files with green icons and files with white icons and they are ALL on my HDD which means I cannot sync all of my Dropbox on my PC because there physically is not enough room - that is why I have paid for Dropbox all these years. But as of last month it stopped working.
- Megan
Hey daniel blueyonder, let me also jump in here!
You mentioned that when you use selective sync your content behaves the same way.
Normally, when using selective sync you, the folders shouldn't be seen and accessible when accessing your Dropbox folder. Is that the case?
Also, could you hover your mouse over the little Dropbox icon next to your WiFi, on your task bar and let me know the version that you're using?
Hi Megan,
For avoidance of doubt, I am only using selective sync because Dropbox is malfunctioning.
I would like my entire Dropbox (all of it), to sync on my PC (not just a selection). But my PC HDD is not big enough - that is the only reason I am using selective sync, (because I can only fit a very small part of my Dropbox library on my PC without using up all space).
The folder I select will sync to my HDD but then I am unable to make it online only, (to free up enough space to sync the next folder and so on).
I have been a Premium Dropbox customer for years and it has all worked fine but since Nov-24 it can only sync the number of files I can fit on my PC HDD and it is therefore utterly pointless and I am wasting my money. Very frustrating.
I have checked and am running v214.4.5217
Please help!Just tried again with 'Manage Hard Drive Space'.
Selected the top six largest files.
Clicked "Move to Online Only" and got a black banner message "Success! You saved 3.65GB of hard drive space."
No Hard Drive space was freed and on the blue bar at the top of the dialogue box and when I check the files are still on the drive locally.
Close 'Manage Hard Drive Space'.
Reopen 'Manage Hard Drive Space' and black banner says; "Your files have been updated." and the files I moved to online only just now are back on the list.
This has been happening since November.
