Need to see if your shared folder is taking up space on your dropbox đŸ‘šâ€đŸ’»? Find out how to check here.

vjmass's avatar
vjmass
Explorer | Level 4
5 months ago
Status:
Open

Selective sync from search on the Dropbox desktop app

"Selective Sync from Search" feature would allow users to easily initiate selective sync for files or folders discovered through the search function. This would streamline the process of managing synced files, especially for users with large Dropbox accounts and complex folder structures. Currently, users need to navigate through the Dropbox preferences and the folder structure to manage selective sync, which can be time-consuming. 

Here's why this feature would be useful and how it could work:

Problem:

Time-consuming navigation:

  • Finding specific folders or files within a large Dropbox account to manage their sync status can be tedious.

Difficulty managing large accounts:

  • Users with many files and folders often need to selectively sync to manage storage space and optimize performance.

Potential for errors:

  • Users might accidentally sync or unsync the wrong files or folders due to the complex navigation. 

Solution:

Integrate selective sync into search:

  • Allow users to right-click on files or folders discovered through the Dropbox search and initiate selective sync directly from the search results.


Simplified workflow:

  • This would eliminate the need to navigate through the Dropbox preferences and locate the specific item within the folder structure.


Improved user experience:

  • A more intuitive and efficient way to manage synced files, especially for users with large Dropbox accounts. 

How it could work:

  • Search for a file or folder: Use the Dropbox search bar to find the desired item.
  • Right-click the search result: A context menu would appear.
  • Select "Selective Sync": Choose this option from the context menu.
  • Toggle sync settings: A panel would appear, allowing users to easily check or uncheck the sync status for that specific item.
  • Apply changes: The changes would be applied immediately, syncing or unsyncing the item as requested. 

Benefits:

  • Increased efficiency: Users can quickly manage sync settings for files found through search.
  • Improved organization: Users can easily tailor their Dropbox experience to their specific needs.
  • Reduced storage consumption: Users can selectively sync files and folders to optimize storage space.
  • Enhanced user satisfaction: A more streamlined and user-friendly experience. 

This feature would be a valuable addition to Dropbox, making it easier for users to manage their files and optimize their storage space. 

3 Comments

  • Walter's avatar
    Walter
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    4 months ago
    Status changed:
    New
    to
    Open

    Thanks for sharing this potential enhancement. This idea is now live and open for feedback.

    For anyone following along, if this idea is something you’d like to see please click the upvote button and show a little support! 

    The more interest an idea gets, the more likely it is to be reviewed by our product team during their regular check-ins.

  • vjmass's avatar
    vjmass
    Explorer | Level 4
    5 months ago

    It's definitely an option, but I have 3TB, and I really don't want to put all of that into my HD, because I don't really use all of it all the time

  • Mark's avatar
    Mark
    Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
    5 months ago

    As a work around you could stop using Selective Sync completely and use 'Online Only Folders' which stay visible on the local machine, but, crucially dont use up space on the disk.