To upload 200 GB of files, do I need to use my hard drive space?

Question

I purchased the business plan. My question is very specific: to upload 200 GB of information, do I have to use the space on a device? What happens if I don't have space on that device? Can't I simply upload it to the cloud, like a server, without using the capacity of my computer?

Rich · Answer

@fdobedolla&nbsp;wrote: 
 
 to upload 200 GB of information, do I have to use the space on a device? What happens if I don't have space on that device?

If you're using the Dropbox app to sync the files located in your Dropbox folder, then yes, you'll need to use the space on your drive, at least initially. Once synced, files and folders can be marked as Online-only so they don't use any disk space, but only after the sync has completed.
&nbsp;
If you don't have enough local disk space, you would need to add files to your Dropbox folder in smaller batches, giving them time to sync, and then marking them as Online-only to reclaim that disk space for more files.
&nbsp;

Can't I simply upload it to the cloud, like a server, without using the capacity of my computer?

Another method would be to use the dbxcli tool in a command prompt or terminal session to upload directly to your account.

fdobedolla · Answer

Thnx so much.I did it as the first option but after upload and select as online only, the files were still using my space drive, I delete them and they were erased even from the platform. Did I miss something?Thnx for ur help.

Mark · Answer

fdobedolla&nbsp;wrote:I delete them and they were erased even from the platform. Did I miss something?Thnx for ur help.
Dropbox is a syncing tool. So if you delete them in Dropbox you delete them everywhere.&nbsp;
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They will use up space for a few days first, while they upload, as that takes time - it is&nbsp;not&nbsp;just the initial putting in directory as that's literally just putting them in to a folder. It also waits for a few days just to check that they upload correctly. After that they will go offline only if you select it 🙂

DBX_Pedro · Answer

Hi fdobedolla,
&nbsp;
Has this issue been sorted out for you?&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Would you require additional help on this?&nbsp;
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Once we have the information we can take it from there.&nbsp;&nbsp;

fdobedolla · Answer

Unfortunately no, I uploaded it in parts, using my available disk space, and then selected the online-only option, however, after days of the files being stored both in my Dropbox folder on my computer and on the platform (because the upload was successful), it ended up being useless to delete the files from my computer to free up space, as they were completely deleted from everywhere. I have had the Business plan for a month now and it has been impossible for me to upload all my information to the cloud because I don't have enough capacity on my computer's hard drive. I will be on the lookout for additional help to avoid having to move my external hard drive with the risk of losing all my information. Thank you.

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To upload 200 GB of files, do I need to use my hard drive space?

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