Can I delete photos from my phone after uploading them without deleting them from Dropbox too?

[Jonathan B.3]

Here's the essence of the problem: I have DropBox Pro installed on an iPhone 5s, iPad Air, MacBook Pro and Windows desktop computer. I do NOT want to clog up my iPhone, iPad and MacBook with files from DropBox. I want to simply upload and then delete them from the mobile devices. I'd like to use automatic Camera Upload but when I delete the photos from my iPhone or iPad I do NOT want them deleted from DropBox...as has happened on numerous occasions (most recently when I exchanged a broken iPhone for a new one and then tried to copy content from one to the other and subsequently delete unwanted photos...on the iPhone, not "unwanted" from my DropBox space). So how do I do a one way sync? Keep in mind that after photos appear in the Camera Upload folder, I MOVE them to a different desired location...and when they're deleted from my iPhone, they are still deleted from the new location!

[imightbewrong]

Why not drag them off your phone into the 'camera uploads' folder on your PC - that will take care of it initally.

I suspect your videos are not uploaded because you have selected 'photos only' in the 'what to upload' menu in the app.

[Ethan11]

Hi, um, does the same apply to videos? Thanks!

[Jane]

Hey @Ethan11, 

Welcome on the Dropbox Community!

You may keep in mind that, should you use the Camera Uploads functionality to upload your videos, the originals remain on your phone gallery intact, so you'll have to manually remove your videos locally from your phone to free up some space. 

I hope this helps you clarify the matter! If you need additional details or assistance, please keep me updated in your reply, I'd be glad to follow-up! 

Warm regards, 

Jane

[joefilmmaker]

Would love that carousel clean up feature. Any progress?

[joefilmmaker]

I must disagree with the idea that the camera app should be responsible for cleanup as Dropbox, not the camera app, is the one that knows if the sync has been successful

[dwlloyd810]

@Elizabeth R.22 wrote:

Hi I am new to Dropbox & I have downloaded all my photos into my Dropbox on my PC & now I am wanting to delete the photos off my iPhone & iPad what I want to know is will I lose them from my Dropbox on my PC if I delete them off my mobile devices please help 

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As I understand this issue and the conflicting reports I see, one must distinguish between copied files and synced folders. If you delete a file from a synced folder, you delete it from Dropbox, and consequently from all of your synced devices; but if you delete a file you copied to Dropbox that is not in a synced Dropbox folder, there is no link between your local copy and the Dropbox copy, so the file remains in Dropbox.  

To use dropbox to clear files from your phone:
1) Select the files,
2) Select "Cut,"
3) Select a Dropbox folder, and
4) Select "Paste." (Copy and paste works also, but you will duplicate the files, using twice as much space. )
5) Make sure the files have been synced to Dropbox.
6) Make sure the files are no longer in the original location.
7) DO NOT DELETE FILES FROM THE SYNCED FOLDER, but 
😎 Clear the Dropbox cache to free up space on your phone.

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