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Forum Discussion
Solved
Smart Sync and Quick Preview on Mac
Smart Sync causes my quick preview function (spacebar) to not function properly on my Mac. I can't preview thumbnails, or quick preview any videos or photos. Any ideas why this happens?
Likely because you're trying to preview a file that doesn't exist on your computer.
When you set a file to Online Only, the only thing that's left of that file on your computer is the necessary information to make it appear in the folder. Since there's no content in the file, your OS (nor any other program) is able to preview it.
Remember, when you set a file to Online Only, the file is removed from the computer leaving behind only a marker file. In order to access that file, whether it be to open and edit it or simply preview it, the file needs to be on the computer (Smart Sync doesn't allow you to open files directly from the Dropbox servers). When you open a file, it's synced back to your local drive and then opened as normal. When you're done with the file, if you want it to be online-only again, you need to mark it as such.
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Yeah, you kept telling me that if I completely turned off SmartSync, the files wouldn't show locally and then we could test whether they loaded correctly or not. But when I tried turning it off, following your instructions to the letter, nothing changed. The files still showed locally even though they definitely weren't on my hard drive. At that point, it did what it always does - quick look worked for a few minutes, and then I had to reset it every 5-6 times I used it. Which meant quite a few times an hour when I'm working.
Either Dropbox doesn't know how its own product works on Mac, or they're just not interested in providing support. Either way, I don't have time for endless troubleshooting that I sensed was just going to end like every other conversation on this forum: blaming the Mac OS. So I removed Dropbox completely. Now I'm saving lots of money, my computer runs much better, and my workflow is much faster.The same happens to me. It's very difficult to work like this, and Smart Sync loses a great part of its sense :-(
- Jane
Dropbox Staff
Thank you, Jane.
Smart Sync would be useful if it worked properly.
However, while this issue remains unsolved, I would like to downgrade to Dropbox Plus, as I said to your colleague.
- Jane
This is NOT solved. Even downloaded files don't preview when smart sync is on.
- Jane
Ugh, same problem here. Without the use of quick look the whole point of smart snyc is lost - as I've taken to looking through my files online, to then go back and open the files smart synced on my hardrive. Will definitely be downgrading!
- Jane
Hey there (carlykoerner), as you've reported that you’re facing this issue on your end at the moment, would it be okay if I sent you a brief message on the email address connected to your Forum profile, in order to investigate the behavior you’ve described us here in a bit more depth together? Thanks in advance!
I have the exact same problem! when will this be fixed, i don't want to pay for a product the promises me "smart sync" when it clearly isn't
