How can I get the new files I add to Dropbox to sync as online-only, instead of available offline?

[Scott63]

Hello.  I used to use Selective Sync, which has been replaced by "Keep Online Only."  That is fine, as I don't want my Dropbox folders slowing down my computers.  However, it seems that whenever I copy a file into one of these folders, Dropbox then defaults the folder to OFFLINE.

Is there a way to stop this feature?  I want my "Online Only" folders to STAY "Online Only"!  

[Scott63]

Hi.  How do I KEEP my folders online only?  I don't like the new default, where every time I copy a file into my online only folder, it flips to offline. 

I don't want these folders using up space and slowing down my computer!  That's why I'm paying for Dropbox.

[Hannah]

Hey @Scott63, thanks for posting your question today.

When you add files to your Dropbox folder, they will need to initially take up space to sync to your account. 

Afterwards, you can manually switch them to "online-only".

But, there is a setting in your Dropbox preferences, that allows you to choose how new files are synced.

You can change this setting by following the steps in this article.

See the 'Set files you add to web to online-only by default' section.

Let me know if you have any questions.

[Scott63]

Hi Hannah. My issue isn’t with the file, but the entire folder. I’ve set all my folders to Online Only.  I’ve noticed that offline folders really slow down my computers.
     But when I copy a FILE into a FOLDER, the entire FOLDER flips to Offline.  Why is this?  I want the Online folders to STAY Online.  This is making it really difficult to utilize Dropbox.  Every time I copy something into it, to store online, it’s doing the opposite.  It’s dumping the entire folder back onto my computer.

     I don’t think I had this problem with Selective Sync, but I really have it now.  And the problem is across all computers.  So if I copy some files into folders, those folders are now offline on every single computer, until I remember and manually fix each one.

   How can I fix this?

[Megan]

Hi @Scott63, happy Monday! 

I would like for you to locate your Dropbox icon, next to your WiFi and hover your mouse there. That should tell you the version of the app you're using. Can you let me know? 

Also, feel free to send me a few screenshots demonstrating what you described above. 

[Scott63]

Hi Megan.  Sorry, I just saw this message.

My Dropbox version is 154.4.5363.

Here's a screenshot.  I try to keep all my folders online only.  (The cloud icon.)  But I just copied small file into the "Documents" folder.  This suddenly flipped the folder to "Available Local," which means it'll slow down my computer.  That folder is gigantic.  So then I need to go in and manually make the green icon a cloud icon again.  This happens EVERY time I copy a file into a folder.  How do I stop this from happening? 

[Scott63]

Thoughts?

[Walter]

Hey @Scott63, sorry to jump in here, but could you send us a couple of screenshots so that we can have a visual too?

One of them would be of the folder's content before you copy a file there and the second one from what it looks like after you copy a file there. 

Thanks!

[Scott63]

Hi Walter. There's a screenshot above, in the message to Megan.

The folders normally have a cloud icon, which is good. It means they're online only.

But as soon as I copy something into a folder, they go from a cloud to a green check mark icon, which is bad. It means the folder is now local.

[Scott63]

Megan, did you get my message and screenshot?