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How can I avoid downloading all my files when I install dropbox app?

Hi,

We have a Business account with a amount of files bigger than our laptop harddisk. Every new employee we have the same problem : when they download the dropbox app on their computer (Mac Os), it start to synchronize all our folder. But it saturates the laptop's hard drive before we are able to active Smart Sync and choose the folders we want local.

Is it a way, when we instal the app to select, previously to the first synchronisation, only some folder to download ?

Thank you for your help

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Lusil

Hello @Vict0r87, welcome to the Dropbox Community!

In general, when you carry out an advanced reinstall or you install the desktop app on a new device, you'll be asked if you want to selectively sync folders and how you want your content to be Smart Synced before the installation is complete.

If you've previously signed in to that computer and there's an existing folder for that account, you need to do an advanced reinstall and:

Choose the "Advanced" setup option during the installation process.
Select the parent folder of the existing Dropbox folder as the location for this new install.

However, could you clarify for me if there have been multiple users signing in to the desktop app on the same device?

Keep me posted!

All comments

Lusil

Hello @Vict0r87, welcome to the Dropbox Community!

If you've previously signed in to that computer and there's an existing folder for that account, you need to do an advanced reinstall and:

Choose the "Advanced" setup option during the installation process.
Select the parent folder of the existing Dropbox folder as the location for this new install.

However, could you clarify for me if there have been multiple users signing in to the desktop app on the same device?

Keep me posted!

Vict0r87

Hi Lusil,

I can confirm you that there is only one user per device. I was not aware of the selective sync option. I will have a look next time or try a reinstall.

Thank yoiu

Lusil

No worries, @Vict0r87!

Let me know what you find or if you have any other questions.

In the meantime, have a lovely day ahead!

suel

I'd like to know this as well. I installed the program, all my files downloaded from my computer which I didn't want. Now I can't deleat them off of the dropbox without deleated them from my computer which really upset me. I want to deleate this app from my computer but have heard that I will lose all of my computer files. No way to talk to the admin about this they just refer you to questiion section. Really annoyed.

suel

Can you tell me how to remove this app without losing my computer files. PLEASE !!!!!

Lusil

Hi @suel, thanks for nudging us on this thread, and sorry to hear about your frustration.

If your computer's folders, such as your Downloads and Documents folders, were added to your Dropbox folder, that would mean that the computer backup feature was enabled.

In this case, have a look at this article which mentions how to turn off the feature and move the files back in to their original location.

If you have any trouble along the way, just give me another nudge. Cheers!