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Online-only files are shown as zero bytes

I am currently on MacOS Monteray 12.4 and using SmartSync (online-only) by default. The Dropbox App version is v151.4.4304 . I noticed that all the cloud files are now shown as Zero bytes. I could still download them (make them available offline) but I remember in previous versions, I could see the size of the files before choosing to download them. Is there some fix for that? I just followed some discussion groups and clicked on "Fix Permissions" under the account tab, which is syncing many files. Not sure if that will fix the issue. Any other tricks to fix this?

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Megan

Hi @zolabola, how are you today?

If the file or folder isn't synced locally to the device, it'd make sense that you'd only see zero bytes and not the full size of them. That is expected behavior.

You can check online to see the size of the file or folder, or download it locally.

I hope this clarifies.

zolabola

Hi Megan,
I don't think this was the case with previous versions of app or perhaps MacOS. I used to be able to see sizes of remote files before syncing them. Did something change?
Thanks

Megan

Hi @zolabola!

This has been the usability of this specific feature, for the content to take up zero hard drive space, therefore 0 bytes.

Is there maybe a chance that you were viewing a different path, or maybe the placeholder each file or folder holds?

In any case, I'll forward your feedback to the appropriate areas so we can continue to improve.

If you need anything else, let me know.

tonieads

We received an email stating there was a Dropbox update over the weekend. Now ALL of my files (that were synced to my Mac) are showing Zero bytes. I work in InDesign and ALL of the links are broken. Dropbox says all my files are up to date. I went into the account, held down Option and Fixed Permissions and Hardlinks; it did nothing. If I double click on a file, the size and is restored. But, I have 10,000+ files that are showing Zero bytes... which means I would have to relink EVERY single image/file in ALL of my InDesign documents. Please advise ASAP.

Walter

Hey @tonieads, thanks for joining the discussion here.

Can you give some additional information about the update that was mentioned in the email you received?

Also, it sounds like you're looking at files that are online only and not locally available to your computer yet.

Have you tried selecting the files or folders you'd like to have available for local use (like when working in inDesign etc.) by right clicking on them and setting them to be local instead of online only?

Keep us posted!

HTDUCK

I all of a sudden am now having this exact issue. The whole point of using Dropbox and storing files online is to link to them without having to download copies locally and filling up your hard drive. Until this past weekend, linked files in InDesign always worked with Dropbox (without storing them locally) and now all of a sudden they do not. I am only experiencing this on my Mac running Monterey. On Macs running Catalina, everything works okay.

Has a resolution/solution been found?

Thanks!

Hannah

Hey @HTDUCK, thanks for joining this discussion.

If you right-control click on a file and choose "make available offline" first, does it help?

And have you performed the update on the Dropbox app to Dropbox for macOS on your computer running Monterey?

HTDUCK

Hi Hannah -

Yes, I can access files working with them offline, but that's not what I want to do. That would require downloading every single file that is linked in any InDesign file, which would fill up my laptop and defeat the purpose of using Dropbox.

I know this is a Montery issue as my laptop just updated and broke my Dropbox Links. My other Macs running Catalina work as intended.

I thought Dropbox was supposed to have a fix to what apple did by now. I read it was to be rolling out by January. Is there a link that I should be going to or a method to force an update for Dropbox?

Thanks!

Nancy

Hey @HTDUCK!

As soon as you’re eligible, you should receive a notification from the Dropbox icon in your menu bar to install the Dropbox update for macOS.

Depending on your current plan though, you may be able to join the beta version instead. Can you please clarify what's your Dropbox plan?

HTDUCK

Nancy - we have an advanced plan for work and I also have a personal account as well.

Hannah

Thanks for the update, @HTDUCK.

We appreciate your feedback about this matter.

At the moment, you can keep an eye on this article for any updates about the Dropbox for macOS support.

This article also includes links to articles about the expected changes after the update etc., which you'll definitely find helpful.

Trappist

Apologies if this has been discussed before but I couldn't seem to locate anything related in the search.

As stated in the subject line. My new MAC (I'm still becoming accustomed to) is not reporting the Online Only filesize in Dropbox.

I have checked off the setting in the online account for 'Online-only files on Mac' OFF. It was originally set to OFF, I tried both ON and then again OFF again.

I have closed and reloaded the app and rebooted the Mac.

Files still report 'zero bytes' in the DropBox Size Column.

The description isn't so clear to me as this setting states;

'This displays online-only file sizes in Mac Finder as zero bytes so you can easily review which files are taking up hard drive space.'

If they display as zero bytes, how would you determine what is taking up space? Likely I'm going down the wrong path?

I use freefilesync to keep data sync'd up across drives and with DropBox. Because freefilesync detects the DropBox file size on the Mac is different than the source files on my portable SSD, 'xxx bytes' vs 'zero bytes', it always want’s to overwrite all. I have .8TB to sync so this isn't an option to do with online files.

If I select a file to on the Mac to be 'available offline' it will update and report the size accordingly. Setting it back to online reports back as zero bytes.

On my windows machine, DropBox reports the file size regardless if the file is set to Offline or Online only so no issues syncing my devices with DropBox there.

MAC

Windows

Thanks in advance.

Shawn

Hannah

Hey @Trappist, thanks for reaching out to us!

I've moved your post to this relevant thread and want to let you know that with the release of macOS 12.3, some changes were introduced, which mean that all online-only files will display a file size of Zero bytes.

You can see more details on Dropbox support for macOS 12.3 and higher here.

I hope this clarifies things.