cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Announcements
Want to know what we learned at IBC? Check out our learnings on media, remote working and more right here.

Storage Space

Looking for help with managing the storage space in your Dropbox account? Talk to the Dropbox Community and get advice from members.

cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Re: Dropbox folder size includes backed up files

Dropbox folder size includes backed up files

pimvh
Helpful | Level 5
Go to solution

I have an issue on mac with the way finder calculates the size of my dropbox folder

I have about 20gb in the folder but it measures as over 200gb.

That would include the folders i have selected as to be backed up online, so now they are counted double. Once on their actual locations, and another time as part of my dropbox folder.

When i measure the dropbox folder it says 200gb, when i go into the folder, select all and then measure its only 20gb

Something strange is going on there and i have no idea what

I cleared the cache few times but so far no luck 

1 Accepted Solution

Accepted Solutions

pimvh
Helpful | Level 5
Go to solution

Right clicking and selecting online only solved this issue, saved me 200gb 

View solution in original post

6 Replies 6

Walter
Dropbox Staff
Go to solution

Hey there @pimvh, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

 

Could you please send us a screenshot of where you're spotting the discrepancy? 

 

Also, what it your computer's exact OS version and the version and status of the desktop app as shown in your system tray/menu bar?

 

When you say folders you selected to be backed up online, are you referring to files that are syncing in your Dropbox folder and made them online only or maybe you were talking about folders you backed up via the Dropbox Backup feature?

 

Any additional information you can share is more than welcome! 


Walter
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


Heart Did this post help you? If so, give it a Like below to let us know.
:arrows_counterclockwise: Need help with something else? Ask me a question!
:pushpin: Find Tips & Tricks Discover more ways to use Dropbox here!
:arrows_counterclockwise: Interested in Community Groups? Click here to join

pimvh
Helpful | Level 5
Go to solution

It has to do with the dropbox backup feature

Im on Monterrey 12.5.1

dropbox version v179.4.4985

All contents of the folder selected:

Screenshot 2023-08-04 at 15.37.37.png

Full dropbox folder selected:

 

Screenshot 2023-08-04 at 15.37.21.png

Walter
Dropbox Staff
Go to solution

And is your desktop app 'up to date' or still syncing @pimvh?

 

Also, have you rebooted your computer to see if that makes any difference? 


Walter
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


Heart Did this post help you? If so, give it a Like below to let us know.
:arrows_counterclockwise: Need help with something else? Ask me a question!
:pushpin: Find Tips & Tricks Discover more ways to use Dropbox here!
:arrows_counterclockwise: Interested in Community Groups? Click here to join

pimvh
Helpful | Level 5
Go to solution

everything up to date and syncing.

Reboot does nothing, this is a long term issue that i have had for months

pimvh
Helpful | Level 5
Go to solution

I found the culprit which is a hidden folder which just contains the same files as the ones that need to be backed up. 

But in fact this should be online only, i will try to put it online only and see what that does

I find it a bit strange though because i already have those folders on my harddrive, thats the whole reason for backing them up

So its strange that dropbox in fact copys the whole folders into the dropbox on my harddrive, thats why its counted double

 

Screenshot 2023-08-05 at 09.41.14.png

pimvh
Helpful | Level 5
Go to solution

Right clicking and selecting online only solved this issue, saved me 200gb 

Need more support?