[video tutorial] How to use Dropbox Smart Sync and save space locally

[Ed]

Dropbox Smart Sync allows you to choose whether to save your Dropbox files locally on your computer or keep them online-only in the cloud

Level: Intermediate

Questions about how to use Smart Sync? Leave it in the comments below

[ThinkMattClark]

What is the possbility of DropBox being down (even if for minutes) and you can't access client files (if it is synced only in cloud)?
I realize this does not take the place of a well-planned "backup"... but local hard-drive space on my computer is different from (main desktop to laptop). Hence the reason I would want to keep most (if not all)... synced in CLOUD only.

[Walter]

Hey there @ThinkMattClark, sorry for the delayed response.

I understand your concerns when it comes to 'Online Only' files as those don't actually reside in your computer's hard drive as a whole; rather than taking up a minuscule amount of space (stored information about the file, such as its name and size) of the actual file's size. Apart from Smart Sync, another great way of freeing up space locally on a computer using our desktop app is our selective sync option (or even uninstalling the app, removing the Dropbox folder from your computer to free up space and access your files only through the website). 

Moving on to your concern now, in the scenario of an outage of our services you should still be able to access your files through our wesbite at www.dropbox.com .

In that case, you'll be able to learn more through our status page at: 

https://status.dropbox.com/

Make sure to subscribe to updates from that page in order to get notified in case of an outage too if you like. 

I hope this information helps and please let us know if you have any more questions Matt.