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Forum Discussion
Dropbox downloads all files despite online-only settings
We use Dropbox in our company and despite default settings being set to online only, I've noticed that Dropbox will sill download all files as offline. This has happened to a few users lately. The steps that I have taken is to sign out of Dropbox, unlink the account, delete the files on the hard drive, restart the computer and re-sign in. I have double verified that the settings say online only but despite this after a few days it will download all files offline again. There is something wrong with Dropbox and I'm not sure if it's a windows update or what. All we use is Microsoft Office, AutoCAD and Blue Beam PDF. The antivirus we use is Microsoft's windows defender. Any ideas what is causing this would be greatly appreciated.
8 Replies
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- Nancy
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey rmacauley. Do you mean that you tried pasting your screenshot(s) here on the forum and you’re getting an error message?
Is your Dropbox app still in the process of syncing your files locally, or has it stopped since you posted this?
Finally, do you have any third-party apps accessing the files in your local Dropbox folder?
I am having the same problem. message lower right side computer: Cant sync, hard drive full. two days ago, had 9,000 files to download, today 4970. screenshot not working. can't access files from google, have to go to dropbox.com
Roga41Dropbox Staff
Hi BrantS,
When you open an online-only file, it will be automatically downloaded to your computer for you to access. Once you close the file, it will revert to online-only, freeing up the space it previously occupied.
This allows you to save hard drive space while still having access to your files when needed, as they are automatically downloaded upon opening.
You can click on this link to find out more about this topic :
https://help.dropbox.com/sync/make-files-online-only
Thanks
- Roga41
Hi Sarroyo1,
When you open an online-only file, it will be automatically downloaded to your computer for you to access. Once you close the file, it will revert to online-only, freeing up the space it previously occupied.
This allows you to save hard drive space while still having access to your files when needed, as they are automatically downloaded upon opening.
You can click on this link to find out more about this topic :
https://help.dropbox.com/sync/make-files-online-only
Thanks
- Nancy
Thanks for chiming in, BrantS; I’m sorry to hear you’re having the same issue.
To have a clearer image of what may be happening, does the Dropbox app randomly start syncing everything locally? Are the people at your company working on their Dropbox files every time this happens, or does it occur even when they’re not looking/actively working in their local Dropbox folder?
Yes to the above. Added a comment above yours.
This happens to our company as well. All computers are set to ONLINE Only. Then out of the blue, I have someone come into my office with a FULL HARD DRIVE due to Dropbox trying to download it's entire contents on a 256GB laptop.
This has happened for years. Sporadically. Can go months and months without it happening.
I don't think all of these users are turning it on, intentionally or accidently.
Telling it to remove all files to ONLINE ONLY will NOT work, as it won't start that process until it completes its FULL OFFLINE MODE download first. In which it can'tSo, we Uninstall Dropbox... Delete the Dropbox folder... (There's an Hour or two gone) Then Reinstall Dropbox... Sync up. (Another 6 hours gone).
Self sourcing our own cloud is looking better and better.
- Jay
Hi sarroyo1, thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Just for clarification, are you referring to the default settings for new files added to your account, in the Dropbox desktop application on this preferences page?
Have you tried right-clicking the Dropbox folder in order to mark the entire folder are online-only?
This will help me to assist further!
