Selective sync on Android

Hi Rich,

Thank you for the reply,

That is what I thought but doesn't help when I don't want another user with an Android device seeing what private files I have on my own desktop, also if they click it, it will then open / download for them to view, not ideal!

I would have thought the developers would have addressed this by now.

Cheers.

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Cinbor wrote:

I don't want another user with an Android device seeing what private files I have on my own desktop ... I would have thought the developers would have addressed this by now.

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Why would another user have access to your account on a device other than your own? Dropbox accounts are intended for individuals, so no one else should be signing in to your account.

If this is happening when you hand your device to someone to use, you can set a PIN on the Dropbox app so it can't be opened without entering the PIN.

Really, I pay my subs so surely I can use it how I please.

Example I have everything on my desktop, I let a family member use an android tablet to view family photos via Dropbox that are on my desktop. The family member (child) may take it round to a friends houses, so do I want all the desktop folders displaying? some marked personel or private that can be clicked on and viewed? may have my bank details, passwords, or pictures of my girlfriend in the buff! that would be available for the child or anyone else to see, I think not.

I can let the same child use another desktop, with selective folders only displayed, it's not beyond the realms of seeing why this wouldn't be a useful feature on an android device.

Thanks for your input

Hey Cinbor, I hope you don’t mind me jumping in. 

If you’d like to have some files/folders hidden and you’re on a paid plan, you could perhaps use Dropbox Vault and move them in there, so that only someone with the PIN you’ve set can access them. 

If you have further questions on the feature though, give me a nudge.

Hi Nancy,

That sounds feasible, I will have a look into that option after work.

Thank you for the reply.

No worries at all!

You can check this whenever you have some free time.

The responses to this question apparently misunderstand the full issue. The issue isn't mainly storage, it's privacy. I want employees to have mobile access to most business folders but not to my personal folders (tax returns, other private stuff). Also certain business information (like personnel or wage information) needs to be private.  If all files and folders are visible and downloadable to mobile phones there's no more confidentiality.  We use selective sync on their office computers but apparently it can't be done on Android phones. Nor iPhones. I suppose I could pay for multiple Dropbox accounts but then that's not as convenient for the computers.  <Groan!> 

Hi mike2567, we appreciate the feedback on this matter. In general, if you have private files on your Dropbox account, and someone has access to a device of yours, then they can access anything on your account. Even with selective sync, if people know where to look, they can easily re-enable those folders to sync again.

It isn't possible to prevent access to your own files on any of your devices, as that would defeat the point of syncing files. As noted, Dropbox Vault might be a good suggestion to keep some files hidden. An entirely separate account that isn't connected to any of your business accounts, or even placing a password on sensitive documents could help.

Hi Mike,

Exactly same situation as you, the only work around is to use the Vault, it's annoying because you have to wait for it to download the files everytime you access it and then if you forget and keep those files open longer than the allocated time of 20 minutes it has a meltdown and takes some time to correct itself. It's a shame they can't make the Android system function the same as it does on a Windows PC.

Yes agree people could 'with selective sync, if people know where to look, they can easily re-enable those folders to sync again'  but in mine and probably Mike's situation this would be unlikely.

Kind regards

Rob