Drop box taking up space

[msmorto92]

I have a 2T plan on my Mac the dropbox folder is taking up 1.02 T.   on line when I look at my account it says:

Regular files (208.31 GB)

Shared files (1.08 GB)

Unused space (1.8 TB)

I have 3.2 gig available on the Mac and   Drop box is saying it can't sync.  Why is dropbox taking up 1 T when there is only 210 gig on line.

[Mark]

When you've looked at the space used online you are not including the shared folders. They are using up over 1TB of space. 

[msmorto92 · Accepted solution]

Thank you for the reply what am I reading wrong it says shared files 1.08 gig and 1.8 gig free?

[Mark]

Sorry I've misread.

So, I also think you've misunderstood how Dropbox works. 

Dropbox is not, at all, like iCloud used to work. It is a real life physical folder on your device. It takes up and uses space and quota on your device. So, if you are syncing your Dropbox to your computer it is using space. You can easily prove that by disabling your internet connection and opening/editing a file. 

If you want to save space you need to use either Smart Sync or Selective Sync. 

[msmorto92]

Hi Mark I like to think  I understand how Dropbox works.  I had just turned on selective sync and apparently it did clean up but in my mind it is still incorrect.  On line is the below:  The same as before:

Personal Dropbox spaceUsing 209.39 GB of 2 TB

Regular files (208.31 GB)

Shared files (1.08 GB)

Unused space (1.8 TB)

Yet on my MAC I am using 568.18 gig. more than double.   This to me does not make sense that is more than double what Drop box is saying I am using with selective sync on.

[Megan]

Hi @msmorto92, I'd be happy to look into this! 

Can you check if you might have enabled our computer backup feature? 

Also, what's your app's syncing status? 

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!

[msmorto92]

Hi Megan

Thank you.  I do have backup on for Desktop 139.7 meg  Documents 4.8 meg  Downloads 55.5 meg

On Drop Box is says:

Regular files (208.31 GB)

Shared files (1.08 GB)

Unused space (1.8 TB)

Drop box folder on Mac is now 316.55 gig

My last response when my Mac said over 500 gig the status in the app was: files up to date, as it is now.  I actually prefer having all of my files on my Mac as opposed to using smart sync.  I am still confused why the dropbox folder is about 100 gig over what is on dropbox.  if you saw my first post before turning on smart sync my dropbox folder was at 1T and syncing was paused and the app said I did not have enough disk space ,  I have a 1 T drive and I had 1.9 gig free.  thank you..

[Megan]

Can you send us a few screenshots of what you see on your end, @msmorto92? 

That'll help us get the visual you have on your end, regarding the files you have online and what you see in your Dropbox folder's properties. 

Thanks a bunch.

[msmorto92]

Not sure what you are looking for.  Now my dropbox folders is at 231.  Question you had asked about backup,  when I look at personal space below does that include the backup?    Also with Smart sync on why am I just getting to the total space used on Dropbox?   I have a Microsoft Laptop that I have really just as a backup and I do have smart sync turned on and if you look below it says size 208 gig disk space used 3 gig.  

From Drop box

From my computer

Details from the Dropbox folder on my computer

from PC.

[Hannah]

Hey @msmorto92, sorry to jump in here.

Another odd thing is that your Dropbox folder on your Mac was initially 1 TB large and now it's gotten down to 231 GB.

How did this happen, did you do something on your end?

Selective sync would remove folders from the Dropbox folder, but 1 TB of space is too much, when the website says 209 GB.

So, just to make sure, are your computer and the Dropbox website both signed in to the same Dropbox account?