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Forum Discussion
Dropbox taking up "System Data" even when using online-only files on external drive?
Hi there!
I'm setting up a new system and I'm trying to keep the internal hard-drive clean, with lots of free space by using an external drive for my Dropbox and other data. I'm keeping the internal drive for the OS and application data only. The external drive is a fast, encrypted SSD and meets all the requirements to use "Dropbox on File Provider".
My question is: Does Dropbox still store information or data of some kind in the form of "system data" on the system drive or within the Dropbox application folder, despite specifying the external drive for my Dropbox folder and files?
Most of my files are online-only and on the external drive, but I am still seeing the system data increasing, thereby reducing the amount of space I have on my internal drive. It's not ideal.
I've already attempted to restart to see if that gives me back some disk space on my internal drive, but no luck. Please let me know what Dropbox is doing that it takes up System Data on internal drive even when that's not even where the Dropbox folder is installed.
I'm afraid to sync my entire folder out of fear of what it will do to my internal disk space.
Please help! Thank you.
5 Replies
- Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi there timpsmith - thanks for using Dropbox and welcome to our Community!
Just to make sure we're on the same page, can you send us a screenshot of where you're spotting the discrepancy in your used hard drive space so that we can have a visual too?
Also, what is your computer's exact OS version and the version and status of the Dropbox desktop app as shown in your menu bar?
Let me know what you find!
Sequoia 15.4.1
Dropbox 222.4.5042It's only my OS and Applications on the internal drive. Dropbox folder is on the external drive. Why is Dropbox (slowly) eating through space on my internal drive as "system data" when a) most of my dropbox files are "online-only" and b) my Dropbox is located on the external drive. It may be important to note that the Dropbox application — not to be mistaken with the Dropbox folder, is installed on the internal drive.
Sequoia 15.4.1
Dropbox 222.4.5042- Walter
Yes, that would be expected as it can only be installed on your computer's primary drive timpsmith
That said, I'm afraid I can't really tell if Dropbox is taking up your hard drive's space by your screenshot. Why do you believe that Dropbox is taking up so much space on your computer if your files are online only and on your Dropbox folder located on your external drive?
Is the app 'up to date', by the way, or still syncing?
