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Dropbox removing external disk support for Mac users
In case anyone's unaware... if you're a Mac user storing your Dropbox on an external drive, you'll shortly lose that ability.
https://help.dropbox.com/installs/macos-support-for-expected-changes
Just confirmed this with DB support (see below). Gutted - been with Dropbox for years and our entire video team flow is based around it 😕
>Hi there, I read today that you are scrapping the ability to store the Dropbox folder on external disks, on OSX. I'd like to ask more about this please.
> Hello Jon, and thank you for contacting Dropbox Support. My name is Joseph, and I will be more than happy to look into your request, right away.
That is correct Jon, as part of the Dropbox for macOS update, the Dropbox folder must be located in ~/Library/CloudStorage.
>This is a showstopper for us, and will mean we have to move to another service. We have a large distributed team using DB for video work, no way it'll fit within internal drives.
Is there a workaround?
> I totally understand and I apologize for the inconvenience. Unfortunately, there is no workaround on this as changing the location of your Dropbox folder is no longer supported by macOS.
>This change doesn't seem to have hit us yet - we're running a variety of machines inc Ventura
What will trigger its enforcement? Can we stay on an earlier OS or Dropbox version?
>The updates happening automatically every time the Dropbox app is restarting, for example if your device never restarts it should maintain the older version but we can't guarantee full functionality on older versions of the application.
>So what will happen - if we have a Dropbox folder on an 8TB drive and a tiny internal drive - will it try to clone stuff across and eat up the space? What's the mechanism?
>That's right, it will try to move the content on your internal drive until it has no space and gives you an error.
>Is Smartsync still supported? I.e. will it move stuff to being online only if it won't fit?
>It is, however it is now known as online-only.
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So no work arounds?
melking If by “work-arounds” you mean “ways to get Dropbox to work with external drives”— strictly speaking, I don’t think anyone knows yet, because the “no external drives” rule hasn’t yet been enforced. The stroke of doom will (apparently) occur in May.
Dropbox has, however, informally told us in this forum that it is seeking ways to keep supporting use of external drives. I think this means that our discussions here have caught someone’s attention.
But, if and when the new rule is enforced I don’t expect there will be anything you can do short of switching to a different provider.
At least a few of us have either switched or are preparing to do so. Count me among the cautious latter, looking twice before I leap.
Among alternative cloud storage providers, at least one — namely Sync.com — is on the record supporting use of external drives, according to a recent post by UKD . I’ve been investigating user experiences with Sync.com and so far, the reports I’ve seen are great.
Before going through the tsores of switching, however, I’m procrastinating until[ mid-April, hoping against hope that Dropbox will announce it has found a way to keep supporting external drives AND Apple’s new API.
Windows users are, I expect, SOL.I'm looking at it now because I will have to move 41TB off from Dropbox to another company and that's no easy feat.
I don't think people realise that if they have updated their MacOS already to 12.3 and above, that when Dropbox do launch their final update/new version then the software is going to start moving files for you to the new location (I believe anyway).
If that happens people are going to seriously screwed...
That is the most scary scenario I've heard this whole time. dbox_ , is it true that 10.13 and above OS will make that when Dropbox upgrades it will start moving all files to a internal HD location?
fjazzfjazz UKD melking Bookpast I asked the Help Desk on Sync.com about the migration path and received an answer within an hour. Here's what I was told:
Migrating your files to Sync is as easy as dragging and dropping the folder into Sync. You can learn more here: https://www.sync.com/help/how-do-i-move-my-files-from-dropbox-to-sync/
________________________________________________________________________
Upgrade to a Pro plan, risk free - all Pro plans come with a 30 day full money-back guarantee.
Upgrade here:
https://cp.sync.com/account/getspace
Let us know if you have any other questions.——————————————————————--
I just tried out these instructions by moving a half-Gig folder full of PDF receipts. It executed quickly and, as much as I can ascertain by my tests, the files transferred accurately. I'll be investigating more throughly in the ensuing days and will report back on my results.
A couple of caveats:
1. When I first installed the SYNC desktop app, I was concerned because I couldn't find any icon on my desktop menu or in my dock. I subsequently discovered that the icon was there, but that I had too many icons for it to show. After removing a number of icons from my menu, I saw it, and used the CMD key plus my trackpad to move it toward the left side of the menu.
2. I can't find any settings to show the icon in. my dock. People using 27" monitors shouldn't experience any trouble showing th SYNC icon on the desktop menu, but if you have a 14" or smaller laptop, watch out for this.
I continue to get more and more surprised about Dropbox.. allowing us to talk freely about competitors here is crazy, especially without addressing their long term plans for this. This message board seems just crazy dysfunctional. I wonder how many people are ready to pull the trigger on Sync in a moment? I'm one. I have a Sync.com account but it's the free version. I may move there depending on Dropbox. Your move Dropbox... but don't take too long.
Hey there's my friend. Yes, I would sure agree with you that dropbox seems dysfunctional. But that would be my opinion of them overall. This is simply their latest manifestation of it.
From what I have heard, sync.com is benefiting from this snafu significantly. Although I haven't heard any numbers. So one would have to guess what significantly means.
Our company sure did go there and I have been thrilled. We pay $30 a month for two people in total. This gives us unlimited storage. It is slower than dropbox but I am doing just fine with it. Takes a little bit of getting used to but if a person doesn't have a huge number of terabytes, it could work out pretty well for them.
I'm glad to see you considering this. And hope all is well for you.
