Mac seems to think HD is full of DropBox files?

[alanS]

I'm using a Mac and have about 100Gb of DropBox folders, many are local on my HD as well (I have DropBox Plus 2Tb plan).

I went through and changed all files to online only (grey icon) and now my DropBox folder says I have maybe 1GB...but in the finder when I look at overall space on the computer it's still showing HD is almost full!

I have "Online only files on Mac" set to ON.

I don't understand how DropBox deletes files because I had so much data locally stored and when I changed to online only I never saw anything show up in the Trash on my Mac...so I don't know how the files are deleted from my computer?

How can I fix this so my computer doesn't think the HD is almost full?

Thanks,

Alan.

[Megan]

Hi @rproco, sorry to jump in here! 

Can you clarify the app's current syncing status, please? Is it up to date? 

As for the file size, if you change the file to online-only, then it would take up 0 hard drive space, if you don't it would take up the actual file size space. 

[rproco]

Hi Megan,

Currently all files are synced or 'Up to Date'. My workaround for this issue has been going to dropbox.com and uploading files that way. It just takes much longer.

My question regarding file size space allocation is during the transfer, not when synced.

And of course still trying to figure out why my system data space won't free up after files are synced.

Thanks!

[Walter]

Hey @rproco, sorry to jump in here, but have you checked if your hard drive space is taken up by your cache folder perhaps?

[rproco]

Hi @Walter,

I have followed the instructions to delete dropbox cache (SHIFT, COMMAND, (.)PERIOD) which brought up a .ini file I believe. I deleted that with no success of clearing space. My overall cache folder in Library is only 7gb, nowhere near the 130+gb my system data is taking up. 

[Walter]

Thanks for clarifying that for me @rproco - much appreciated.

Could you also send us a  couple of screenshots of where you're spotting the discrepancy and confirm that your files are online only at the moment? 

[rproco]

Hello,

Just wanted to update here on this issue. After speaking with Apple Support over the phone and in person at the genius bar there was no resolve and they recommended wiping my hard drive completely and starting from scratch. This was an effort I did not want to do as it would be a pain to download all the applications I had, etc. So I took a deep dive into the systems library folder and went through every folder that mentioned dropbox. I finally found a folder that contained roughly 90GB of files! I found this under Library>Group Containers>G7HH3F8CAK.com.getdropbox.dropbox.sync>root-mount>file_clones

Deleted the files and have gained back most of my system data space! Computer is finally breathing easy again!

[jonpen69]

Found this folder, but the data isn't inside it and I cannot find where the clones are. any more help from people who still have a problem would be nice

[Walter]

Hey @jonpen69 - could you let us know some additional information so that we can assist further?

For example, what is your computer's OS version and if you're running the Dropbox desktop app, what is its current status and version as shown in your menu bar?

Also, a screenshot of where you're spotting the discrepancy would also help, so feel free to include one. 

[jonpen69]

I am On Mac OS10.15.7 I solved it. it was the Dropbox.cache folder which contained all the mirrors of uploaded files that were not cleared out of this folder after a successful upload.

[jonpen69]

So... I had to reveal the Dropbox.cache folder by pressing (SHIFT, COMMAND, (.)PERIOD) and delved inside the "old.files" folder. Why this wasn't being emptied after a successful sync is the question. And why it stored it there in the first place is a waste of space and time, I was transferring from an external drive directly to dropbox which begs the question, Why does it even get copied into the mac file system at all?