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pimvh's avatar
pimvh
Helpful | Level 5
2 years ago
Solved

Dropbox folder size includes backed up files

I have an issue on mac with the way finder calculates the size of my dropbox folder

I have about 20gb in the folder but it measures as over 200gb.

That would include the folders i have selected as to be backed up online, so now they are counted double. Once on their actual locations, and another time as part of my dropbox folder.

When i measure the dropbox folder it says 200gb, when i go into the folder, select all and then measure its only 20gb

Something strange is going on there and i have no idea what

I cleared the cache few times but so far no luck 

desktop
Mac
Storage space
  • pimvh's avatar
    pimvh
    2 years ago

    Right clicking and selecting online only solved this issue, saved me 200gb 

6 Replies

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  • Walter's avatar
    Walter
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Hey there pimvh, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

     

    Could you please send us a screenshot of where you're spotting the discrepancy? 

     

    Also, what it your computer's exact OS version and the version and status of the desktop app as shown in your system tray/menu bar?

     

    When you say folders you selected to be backed up online, are you referring to files that are syncing in your Dropbox folder and made them online only or maybe you were talking about folders you backed up via the Dropbox Backup feature?

     

    Any additional information you can share is more than welcome! 

  • pimvh's avatar
    pimvh
    Helpful | Level 5
    2 years ago

    It has to do with the dropbox backup feature

    Im on Monterrey 12.5.1

    dropbox version v179.4.4985

    All contents of the folder selected:

    Full dropbox folder selected:

     

  • Walter's avatar
    Walter
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    And is your desktop app 'up to date' or still syncing pimvh?

     

    Also, have you rebooted your computer to see if that makes any difference? 

  • pimvh's avatar
    pimvh
    Helpful | Level 5
    2 years ago

    everything up to date and syncing.

    Reboot does nothing, this is a long term issue that i have had for months

  • pimvh's avatar
    pimvh
    Helpful | Level 5
    2 years ago

    I found the culprit which is a hidden folder which just contains the same files as the ones that need to be backed up. 

    But in fact this should be online only, i will try to put it online only and see what that does

    I find it a bit strange though because i already have those folders on my harddrive, thats the whole reason for backing them up

    So its strange that dropbox in fact copys the whole folders into the dropbox on my harddrive, thats why its counted double

     

  • pimvh's avatar
    pimvh
    Helpful | Level 5
    2 years ago

    Right clicking and selecting online only solved this issue, saved me 200gb 

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