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Forum Discussion

Chrille's avatar
Chrille
Explorer | Level 3
3 months ago

I made my folders online-only, but they still appear downloaded on my computer.

Hi!   I have selected to folders to be only online. But when checking the files again I still that they are still downloaded to my computer in the dropbox folder.   How can I change this?
Desktop
Storage space
Sync
DBoxTips's avatar
DBoxTips
Experienced | Level 12

Hello Chrille,

 

When you make a folder online-only from the Dropbox context menu it makes the contents of the files in those folders to be online-only, but placeholders for them still appear in the Dropbox folder on your computer, just like you experienced.

 

Was your expectation that by making the folder online-only the files would no longer show up in the Dropbox folder? If so, you can achieve that using the Selective Sync feature of the Dropbox desktop app. To find the selective sync settings, open Dropbox preferences and go to the Sync section.

 

In there you can uncheck the folders that you want to keep online, but not be downloaded to the Dropbox folder on your computer.

 

Hope this helps,

Andrew (DBoxTips)

 

I am an individual contributor to the Dropbox Community forums, not affiliated with Dropbox. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Chrille's avatar
Chrille
Explorer | Level 3
2 months ago

Hi!

 

I know that the folders will continue to be in finder in my MacBook although I made the files online only. But when I check storage of my computer the total free GB on my hardrive has not changed even though my Dropbox folder is several GB,s.

 

I do not have that menu alternative that you suggest. Last week I found what you are suggesting but on another place when logged into my dropbox account. But it did not help because the folders and files is still saved on my hard drive.

 

Regards Christian

  • Nancy's avatar
    Nancy
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    2 months ago

    Hey Christian! If you check the top right corner of your Mac computer, can you see a small Dropbox icon? If yes, I'd like to know the syncing status and app version you see. 
     

    Also, if you right-click on the Dropbox files in your Finder now, do you see any other Dropbox options or nothing shows at all?

     

    You can also attach a screenshot here by clicking on the following button: 

     

     

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