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Android phone storage is filled with dropbox files that have never been opened on the phone

My phone is running out of storage because a very large number of my dropbox files are stored in the folder /storage/emulated/0/DocumentSync. Most of these were never opened on the mobile. I have no idea how or when they came to be downloaded. The cache was only a few megabytes, deleting it makes no difference. How can I get rid of these files without removing them from Dropbox and hence from my desktop and laptop computers?

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Jane

Hey @WonderWoman,

I'm here to help you out install Dropbox across your devices.

Please keep in mind that, when it comes to the Dropbox mobile application, it functions differently than the desktop one, hence the files are previews and they do not take up any space on your phone's memory, except from the ones that you decide to use offline.

Moreover, if you'd like to free up some space on your phone, the ideal solution for you is to user the Camera uploads feature, that automatically adds photos and videos from your camera, phone, or tablet to Dropbox. Your photos and videos are then available and viewable from anywhere in your Dropbox account.

If you'd like me to further clarify, just let me know in your reply, it'll be a pleasure to follow-up.

Warm regards,

JaneA

Jane

Hey @WonderWoman,

Just keep in mind that anything outside the Dropbox application on your phone doesn't sync to the web, so it doesn't affect your Dropbox account at all. If you decide to use the Camera Uploads feature, you can go ahead and delete your files from your mobile after they're transferred on the web to free up some space.

Happy Dropboxing, hope you have a great weekend ahead!

Warm regards,

JaneA

All comments

Kaz

It appears that these duplicate documents were added from the "Samsung Device" app. Samsung created a new deep Dropbox integration for their devices that allows access to all documents in your Dropbox account from a special "DocumentSync" folder on your phone. This DocumentSync feature allows you to add, edit, and delete any files that appear in this folder and these modifications will show up both on your phone and in Dropbox.

We've worked with Samsung on a fix for this duplicate file problem and it should be released sometime soon. In the meantime, if files are still being replicated, you can temporarily disable DocumentSync until the fix is released.

DocumentSync is different from the Dropbox application on your phone and disabling the DocumentSync feature will not impact the Dropbox app. You can turn off DocumentSync on your phone by following these instructions:

Tap your device’s “Menu” button
Tap “Settings”
Tap “Cloud”
Tap “Documents” or “DocumentSync”
Toggle off

You can also disable this app from the Dropbox website. To do this:

Log in to https://www.dropbox.com/account#security
Under "Apps linked" find the Samsung Device app.
Click the small "x" at the far right of where it says Samsung Device.

Sorry for any inconvenience this might have caused, but I hope this helps!

Roland Y.

I'm trying this tonight. My android phone is at capacity. I have a SD drive that I can't move pics to from the gallery and when I delete pics from the dropbox app on my phone it also deletes the pics in the cloud. It's quite a mess.

Marcus P.6

I don't have a cloud entry in my settings on a Samsung galaxy tab 4. What is the work around for me?

ton v.1

Hi,

With my old galaxy s3 Dropbox worked great.

Now I use an galaxy s5.

I can excess my Dropbox from my smartphone see /edit /and remove files, but can't upload any pictures from my phone.

I keep getting the message Dropbox is full

As I told before I have deleted many pictures and videos from my Dropbox, and have empty my cache, but keep getting the Dropbox full message.

I also connected my (new ) galaxy s5 phone to my Dropbox account.

Please explain how to solve this problem

Rich

but keep getting the Dropbox full message.

That message is referring to the space in your Dropbox account; not the space on your phone. You can view your Dropbox usage on your Account page.

sloppysmusic

"That message is referring to the space in your Dropbox account;"

Really? then why do I pay to have the 1TB option, which at moment has LESS than 8GB in it?

The space in ac is fine so the message is NOT referring to that.

Tennisace

Hi, your message regarding Dropbox using internal storeage on Samsung Galaxy devices was in 2015, with no more information since then. My Samsung Galaxy 7 is at 95% storage and when I look at the details of the Droxbox App it says it is using 13.46GB storage so this is my problem. I have just recently signed up for Dropbox Pro with a monthly payment. Can you tell me why the app is using all my internal storage and cann I CLEAR DATA without it deleting photos from my dropbox??

Rich

Make sure you're not using Samsung's DocumentSync.

https://help.dropbox.com/mobile/samsung-gallery-app

WonderWoman

Did you every get an answer to this? I'm having the same issues and my phone is grinding to a halt....

WonderWoman

This is not the problem on my phone... Any other ideas? I have too much stuff on my Dropbox to have it all synced with my phone. Thing is I want access to the folders and I want my phone camera to sync up pics to Dropbox for safe storage. Once they're on Dropbox I don't need them on my phone as I'm now doubling up. Dropbox is quickly becoming really annoying as it is taking up too much space on my phone and laptop!

Jane

Hey @WonderWoman,

I'm here to help you out install Dropbox across your devices.

If you'd like me to further clarify, just let me know in your reply, it'll be a pleasure to follow-up.

Warm regards,

JaneA

WonderWoman

Thanks Jane. If I delete pics and vids from my phone, will these also be deleted these from my Dropbox?

Jane

Hey @WonderWoman,

Happy Dropboxing, hope you have a great weekend ahead!

Warm regards,

JaneA

mgmidget

I am not a phone techy or computer tech. Just an "average" user. I have noticed in the past few days that I cant access any downloaded files on my Samsung Andriod phone. They are usually just PDFs' or documents. I am now getting a prompt that "I need to allow dropbox access to these files" I dont want these files put in dropbox but even if I did, when I click "ok" nothing happens ???

Any suggestion that a simpleton might understand would be much appreciated as this problem means I cannot respond to anything received until I get back to my home base

pattie57

I have found the only way to stop that message coming up is disable the Dropbox app on the Smartphone i was using, it then allows you to open the documents you want to as you normally would either in word, pdf etc. you can do this by going to Apps, find dropbox and open the app press it and hold down or touch the icon in the top right hand corner it then give you an option to disable the app on the phone.

[This thread is now closed by moderators due to inactivity. If you're experiencing a similar behavior, feel free to start a new discussion in the Find Answers section here. ]