What does the above mean in the "manage hard drive space" section of my account? According to the way I sync my account everything is supposed to be stored online only, even though I constantly have to "delete" files from my "dropbox on hard drive". It also looks like something is being stored somewhere on my computer as "other hard drive space used". How do I get rid of this other than deleting the app? I have a 2023 MacBook Pro running Sonoma 14.1. I have a similar issue on my IMac and apple support had me delete the app and my space problem was solved.

I figured out the problem since no one with Dropbox would make the correct suggestion. As mentioned, Apple told me to remove the Dropbox app because it was messing with the storage on my IMac. Once I removed the app, everything on my computer went back to normal, however, I didn't come to this realization for 5 months. The same problem was beginning to happen on my Macbook Pro. After reaching out to Dropbox, and multiple messages, screen shots sent, NOTHING was resolved. I just kept being asked for the same information by different agents. As a training tool, the [removed per Community Guidelines] is what the "other hard drive space" should look like if it is representing the proper relationship to the computer. All it took was removing the app and relink my account! And while the "storage" represented in the app isn't an exact match to the storage indicated for the computer, it's closer than the issues I'm having with the laptop, which are 200GB off! The irony is I moved all my files to Dropbox because I was having similar storage issues with iCloud. The reality is it wasn't dropbox I liked it was Box, because I didn't have any issues with storage and I could see folder details at my account. Box doesn't have practical individual user account options. Now I have to move everything someplace again at some point.

Hi there rwright - thanks for using Dropbox and welcome to the Community! Could you send us a full-page screenshot so that we can make sure we're on the same page? Also, what is the version and exact status of the Dropbox desktop app installed on your computer? Are all of your files online only or you have some that are available offline on your device? If the app is 'up to date' and not still syncing, have you tried deleting the cache folder? Let me know what you find and we'll take it from there.

Could you send us a full-page screenshot so that we can make sure we're on the same page? This is the full page Also, what is the version and exact status of the Dropbox desktop app installed on your computer? 198.4.7615 If the app is 'up to date' and not still syncing, have you tried deleting the cache folder? I believe it is syncing. Are all of your files online only or you have some that are available offline on your device? All files are online only. Mac "Get info" says: 525.8 MB on disk thanks

Hey rwright, sorry to jump in here. Can you let me know how much hard drive space your computer has (in total)? Also, how much space do the files in your Dropbox account take up? You can see this in the plan tab of your account settings here.

Can you let me know how much hard drive space your computer has (in total)? 494GB Also, how much space do the files in your Dropbox account take up? 2T On my IMac Apple Support saw that the Dropbox was taking up 400+ GB as system data and right now my system data is using 84 GB.

I need some clarifications on the "manage hard drive space" section of the Dropbox preferences.

27 Replies

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Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
2 years ago
Hi there rwright - thanks for using Dropbox and welcome to the Community!

Could you send us a full-page screenshot so that we can make sure we're on the same page?

Also, what is the version and exact status of the Dropbox desktop app installed on your computer?

Are all of your files online only or you have some that are available offline on your device?

If the app is 'up to date' and not still syncing, have you tried deleting the cache folder?

Let me know what you find and we'll take it from there.
rwright
Explorer | Level 4
2 years ago
Could you send us a full-page screenshot so that we can make sure we're on the same page? This is the full page

Also, what is the version and exact status of the Dropbox desktop app installed on your computer? 198.4.7615

If the app is 'up to date' and not still syncing, have you tried deleting the cache folder? I believe it is syncing.

Are all of your files online only or you have some that are available offline on your device? All files are online only. Mac "Get info" says: 525.8 MB on disk

thanks
Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
2 years ago
Hey rwright, sorry to jump in here.

Can you let me know how much hard drive space your computer has (in total)?

Also, how much space do the files in your Dropbox account take up?

You can see this in the plan tab of your account settings here.
rwright
Explorer | Level 4
2 years ago
Can you let me know how much hard drive space your computer has (in total)? 494GB

Also, how much space do the files in your Dropbox account take up? 2T

On my IMac Apple Support saw that the Dropbox was taking up 400+ GB as system data and right now my system data is using 84 GB.
rwright
Explorer | Level 4
2 years ago
sorry, I'm using 1.9 of the 2 T.
Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
2 years ago
Thank you so much for all the info regarding your local and Dropbox space rwright!

You mentioned that you're already using our online-only feature.

If you access your Dropbox folder, does the folder/file icons show the relevant online-only icons? If you have a screenshot of the content inside your Dropbox folder, feel free to attach it here.
rwright
Explorer | Level 4
2 years ago
yes, all files have the following
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
2 years ago
Hey rwright - sorry to repeat myself here, but did you try deleting the cache folder to see if the space is freed up then?
rwright
Explorer | Level 4
2 years ago
no, because the following instructions don't produce the folder identified

Open your Dropbox folder in Finder.
Press Shift-Command-. (period).
A folder named “.dropbox.cache” will appear.
Open the “.dropbox.cache” folder.
Delete the files in your cache by dragging them into your Trash.
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
2 years ago
Thanks for that clarification rwright

Could you also check the app's preferences and let me know the location of your Dropbox folder as per the Sync tab?