Storage Usage reported for online-only folders on Finder doesn't match the "User Info".

[nino2]

So after more than a year of discussion on pretty much the same topic, this  still has not been resolved. Sugesting that issue will be resolved in the next version of software is somewhat unacceptable, and if you try to imagine this in any other profesion, you will agree, it would not be tolerated. We just designed a house for you and although it says its 200m2 it is acctually 150m2. But don't worry we can build another one for you and it will now be 200m2. 

When storage gets limited on computer, there is something starting to happen with all computers, that cause them to overheat. I am no computer genious, but many will agree this is just what acctually happens. So basically I had 500gb SSD and becouse of this issue I am acctually using only about 100gb, becouse the rest is taken by files I do not have on my computer but rather on Dropbox online, yet still it makes the rest of my disc unusable. So not only this feature is completely useless, might as well have files on my computer in the first place, it also damages my computer. 

I had similar issue with Box before, now Dropbox... amazing. 

[Jane]

I appreciate your prompt reply here @HGohar & please accept my apologies for the slight delay in getting back in touch with you. 

Now, I’m also interested in seeing whether your Documents folder that’s taking up the 35 GB of your hard disk space consists entirely of files stored in Dropbox. If you can’t upload a screenshot directly on our Forum, could you upload it on your account & post us a shared link here, so as to get a better understanding of what’s happening? Thanks in advance! 

[HGohar]

Thank you @Jane. Here is a link to the screenshots: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1sgmbkystwh7ht7/AADy7rXKg_Hb0fY4BqYw5Wzja?dl=0

[Jane]

Thanks a lot for taking the time to post these screenshots for me here @HGohar, it was really helpful! 

To re-iterate my post in the previous page, some third-party apps may read the nominal file size rather than the physical size of the Dropbox folder & this pertains to the way the app or functionality is built. Despite the fact that the two values aren’t matching, I wouldn’t be worried if I were in your shoes, since the most accurate source to obtain this information (i.e. the file Properties- Get Info) reports the file-size correctly, therefore your files in Dropbox don’t take up any physical space on your device. 

Hopefully this sheds some more light on the matter & please do keep us updated on this discussion if you have any follow-up questions! 

[HGohar]

 Thank you @Jane for the clarification. So in your opinion, the large files I have on dropbox.com and don't see on my computer (as per settings) won't take any physical space if I chose to "see them" on the computer even if the storage info shows they occupy space so long the get info isn't confirming that, correct?

[Jane]

That’s just right @HGohar, provided that the Get Info reports the file-size correctly (namely your Smart Sync placeholders should take up approximately 0kb on your disk)!

[ledbetterpro]

I'm having these same issue on my macbook.  OS 10.12, Dropbox v59.4.93

I have everything set to auto selective-sync, but when I select a folder to sync and not bring onto my computer, it seems to bring it straight to my computer (only with the blue icon, turning to grey cloud, never with a green icon) because my hard drive fills up quickly. I have logged out, disconnected, clearned my cache, but still my computer thinks I have 150GB of Dropbox files when I only have about 37GB synced locally.

I spend hours each day synching and unsynching trying to get a few files before my computer and dropbox tell me they are full again, when I know it's not true.  I have cleared my cache over and over but only seem to gain a few GB each time.  Where are these invisible files located? How do I get rid of them? How do I prevent this from happening so I can just get back to work? I can't work with my computer hard drives filling up with magical invisible files all the time.  Help!!

here is a screenshot

[AntMask]

Same issue here, this has been going on for a while now and the best solution is a work around.  Has the dropbox team made any progress on this? Its annoying enough for me to move services.

[HGohar · Accepted solution]

According to Dropbox team @Jane, if the info about the dropbox folder is close or equal to zero bytes, it means it doesn't take any physical space on the hard disc. The problem I guess that the operating system still sees it as if it is taking that physical space and acts accordingly, i.e., full disc or neat full. I don't know what is the way around that.

[CharleyW]

I agree with HGohar.  When I check individual files on the Dropbox folder it confirms zero bytes on disk.  However, when I go to About This Mac/Storage it shows a huge amount of documents on my Mac HD.  When I click Manage and go to Review Files it lists the largest files for me to check. When I trace one of the large files back to its folder (in Dropbox) I discover that it is online and shows zero bytes when I check info.

So the issue is that the Mac is reading the size as stated for that file in the finder (it still shows the original size) even while synced online. 

Dropbox may be successfully moving the file to online only but the Mac still believes that it is present on the hard drive.  That creates an issue for storage management within the Mac system.

This exact problem has been reported repeatedly to Dropbox but apparently has been ignored.

I believe that the Dropbox team needs to address this issue and stop telling everyone to just check the info for individual files.  The fact that the Mac system believes the files are still there continues to cause confusion and storage conficts.

Dropbox team can you correct this issue so that the Mac storage management system agrees with Dropbox?

[Jane]

Hey there (@CharleyW) & to all following this discussion, I have an update to share with you, as Ross S. (who’s one of our team experts) posted an explanation that could address your concern under this thread. Please feel free to have a look at his last comment at your convenience & let us know should you have any follow-up questions whenever you get a chance. 

Thanks for taking the time to write us your thoughts on the Dropbox Community & I’m always here in case you’d like to discuss that in a bit more detail!