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How to disable selective sync to keep all files locally ?

Hi,

I'm looking for the option to disable the selective sync. I want to keep all the files locally, at all times.

I don't find the option to disable selective sync. In the sync settings, I only see two options:

1) Selective sync: Hide folders you don't want to see on this Mac. Hidden folders will be available on dropbox.com

2) Dropbox folder location: This version of macOS requires Dropbox folders to be stored here: /Users/.../Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox

Edit: I'm on macOS 13.1 and Dropbox v165.4.4300

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Mark

Hi @AntoineHlmn

You need to use the first option and then RE-TICK the boxes next to the folders you want to sync locally: https://help.dropbox.com/sync/selective-sync-overview

AntoineHlmn

Thanks @Mark,

You mean I have to un-tick and re-tick all the folders? All my folders are already ticked, but they remain "in the cloud" and not locally. Of course, the folders have always been visible in the finder (I'm on macOS, by the way, should have mentioned it), but not downloaded locally.

Mark

Hi @AntoineHlmn

So that means you are not actually using Selective Sync you are actually using Smart Sync 🙂

You need to go in to Preferences, go in to Sync and then 'New files default 'Available Offline'.

However, you will need to right click on all the ones with the little cloud and set that to 'Make appear offline'.

AntoineHlmn

Well I think that's the issue...

In the preferences (on the app, not web), I only have the two options in my original post:

Jay

Hi @AntoineHlmn, as it looks like you're running the new version of the Dropbox desktop application for Mac OS, all files added via the site or other devices would be downloaded as online-only by default.

AntoineHlmn

That's exactly my issue: I'm looking for the expected behavior where everything is downloaded locally, and not kept on the cloud ...

Jay

Currently, it wouldn't be possible to change it to make all files local on the new version Mac OS version of the Dropbox app.

You should still be able to mark folders as available offline by right clicking them in Finder and choosing that option.

AntoineHlmn

Wow! That's a HUGE bug! Has it already been reported? If yes, will it be solved soon?

In the meantime, I see a couple of big issues with this:

By right clicking all the folders and checking "Mark available online", this option does not disappear, so that's a shady behavior. The folders get a green checkmark, though
This does now work when creating a new folder --> not the behavior by default!
This checkmark does not appear on the Dropbox folder itself (parent folder)
1. Either it's a bug
2. Either it doesn't work as expected

Benoahb

Have you found any work around this? I also struggle with offline files all the time.

jb43

I experience the same behavior on Windows.

I wouldn't say it's a bug. It looks like Dropbox shipped "Selective Sync" and "Smart sync" features without making the user understand what both do, and how to enable/disable one or the other.

I find it especially confusing that Selective Sync has its setting in Preferences, but Smart Sync is just a contextual menu when you right click on every folder in Finder/Explorer.

I think they'd benefit talking to their existing and paying users instead or trying to shove down Family plans and Signature down their throat.

Right now my Dropbox client is uploading or downloading 80 GB of files for hours, it's not clear and I don't know why, because the same files exist as full binaries on both sides. I wanted to avoid the Dropbox client shadiness by uploading my files directly to Dropbox web, but I've created a giant mess instead ...