Unable to turn off smart sync / unable to make a large set of files local

[bs1991]

I have installed the dropbox (v84.4.170) on windows 10 and I am unable to force it to sync my files locally.  I have turned off smart sync in the prefrences but I still get most files online only.  I want everything to be downloaded whether I have used the files recently or not.  Additionally, when I attempt to make a large set of files local (using the drop down menu from right clicking in the file explorer) it does not work.  In this case I am trying to make my music collection of about 8000 songs local, and I only seem to be able to make 100 or so local at a time (which is not very fun).  What do I need to do to get it to just download the whole folder to my hard drive, or better yet disable smart sync all together so everything gets downloaded?

[Lusil]

Hey there @bs1991, thanks for reaching out to us! 

When you convert content from online-only to local, the number of files you have in your Dropbox folder can affect the time it takes to complete syncing.

If you want to disable Smart Sync completely, you can opt out, or you can set your Smart Sync default to local, so that all your content is fully synced to your hard drive. 

Let me know if you have any other questions!

[bs1991]

Right, I understand that it will take hours or days for all my files to sync, but what I am saying is that nothing happens when I attempt to convert all 8000 files at once from online only to local.  No syncing starts, as opposed to when I convert 100 or so at a time. I turned my smart sync off and set the default to local, but I am still getting most of my files as online only.  I even tried re-adding them with the selective sync by unchecking all my folders, waiting for them to be removed, and then re-adding them.  I looked at opting out per your linked instructions, but does that I can't use the dropbox application at all? 

[Lusil]

Thanks for writing back, @bs1991. 

When you choose to sync folders from your selective sync settings, those folders should be automatically placed into your Dropbox folder as online-only.

Also, opting out of Smart Sync will only disable the options to use it, but you'll still be able to use the Dropbox desktop app and it's features. 

However, if you've set your deafult Smart Sync settings to local and your files are still synced as online-only, could you try reinstalling the desktop app? Maybe that'll do the trick. 

Let me know how it goes!

[robotronald]

I found this post via a Google search but I'm unable to do this. There's no system extension setting on the General page of Dropbox settings (I have a 2TB limit and a paid account so I'm assuming this is Plus as required?).

[Lusil]

Hi @robotronald, thanks for nudging us. 

This option should be on the General tab on the website at the very bottom. 

If you can't find it, could you send me a screenshot (without any personal info) of what you see? 

Thanks! 

[robotronald]

I was looking on the Windows app. I've checked on the web app and couldn't see a 'General' tab but saw a 'Preferences' tab?

I've looked in there and saw I could disable 'Dropbox system extension'. I've disabled that, so will it disable smartsync on all my PCs or is any other action required?

[Lusil]

You're right, @robotronald. Opting out of the system extension, as you show in your screenshot, will disable Smart Sync. 

If you have any other questions, just give me a shout. Cheers!

[Eirene D.]

I've had a problem with this too. I don't want my files on my main computer to be 'only' in the cloud, I want originals on my computer and use Dropbox as a backup. Smart Sync is good for my laptop and iPad, but not main computer.

What I've done is gone to the main Dropbox folder on my PC and right clicked and then clicked on the Smart Sync option and chosen [Local]. It now seems to be syncing and - I am assuming - downloading the files. 

Hope it works, will see tomorrow.