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How can I view all Dropbox files on the desktop app and have them not take up space?

shahaf

New to Dropbox

just downloaded the app, when installing it asked me to choose which Files I wanted to Sync to my pc.

I don't have a lot of storage left on my PC so I selected none.

I want to view all my dropbox files from the folder on my desktop.

the same as I do with my ONEdrive or Google Drive

these two don't take and space from my PC and I can view all the files I have there.

Thank you

Shahaf

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Megan

Hey @shahaf, let's jump right into this!

When you install our desktop app locally, that creates a local Dropbox folder with all of your files to the device.

That folder will naturally take up your local hard drive space. If your hard drive space is low, your option to choose which folders to sync when installing the app was the wisest.

It sounds like you used selective sync to remove these folders. You can check our relevant Help Center article, in order to see how to revert this setting and choose which folders to sync to the device.

If you have any questions, let me know!

shahaf

Thank you Megan

but now all my files have this tiny gray x symbol next to them, that disappears only after I open a file and then I get a notification that the file has downloaded.

+ it takes a long time for images to upload to the folder (image attached)

again, just looking for the same thing I have with my ONEdrive or Google Drive, a folder on my PC that doesn't take space and I can access to my files quickly.

I found an article that says it means there is a syncing problem
I quit and reopened Dropbox- still slow upload and gray x

https://help.dropbox.com/sync/files-not-syncing

shahaf

Nancy

Hi from me as well, @shahaf. The grey X icon you’re seeing indicates indeed that there could be a syncing issue between the file on your desktop app and your online account.

If you go to www.dropbox.com, are you seeing all of your files properly?

When clicking on the small arrow in your system tray (where your clock settings are), do you see a small Dropbox icon? If yes, what’s the syncing status it reports?

shahaf

Hi Nancy

there is a small red x on the Dropbox icon at the tall bar and when I hover with my mouse it says "up to date"

I Do know that my dropbox is full, is that related?

Mark

@shahaf wrote:
I Do know that my dropbox is full, is that related?

Almost certainly, yes.

If Dropbox is full it wont sync updates/changes or new files added to the directory. So, those files with an X on it will be ones you've added to your machine BUT have not been uploaded to Dropbox because there is no space. Same for ones you have changed/edited on the machine - they wont sync the updates or changes to Dropbox.