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All files moved to online only

I recently updated to dropbox for mac and all files and folders have been moved to online only and have to be downloaded if I want to view/access them meaning I can't access them while offline. All files with have the grey cloud icon with the downwards pointing arrow next to them - clicking on this does nothing - the icon changes to a blank grey cloud icon but the file is not downloaded.

These are all files that were stored on my mac previously but it seems like dropbox has moved them off my mac. Is there any way to fix this?

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Comments

Rich

@pb1234 wrote:
These are all files that were stored on my mac previously but it seems like dropbox has moved them off my mac. Is there any way to fix this?

Select some or all of the files and mark them as Available Offline again.

This happened as part of the Mac update and the forced relocation of the Dropbox folder into your Library/CloudStorage folder.

irenesf

I am very unhappy about this change. Before I had everything important in a folder in my (Silicone iMac) Home Folder with an alias to that folder on the desktop. That folder synced to Dropbox. Everything was easy to find when I needed information or to make changes.

Now it is on the Dropbox Website in a different arrangement. If I make many files available off line and make changes on my computer will those changes be on the Dropbox Website too?

irenesf

I want my Desktop (or anywhere on my iMac) Dropbox Folder back. Can you make that happen? I think many people find navigation on their own device with funny looking easily recognizable icons differentiating folders much easier than navigating and re-organizing the information on the DB website.

Jay

Hi @irenesf, would you be changing files directly from the Dropbox folder itself, or via the alias you created?

Have you already tried testing it on a sample file?

irenesf

I'd like to have all the items which are in DB on my computer also. I would make any changes or additions on the computer if they will still auto update to DB. Are you hinting this works?

Hannah

Hey @irenesf, how are you today?

If you're using the Dropbox desktop app, the changes you make by editing/adding/deleting files in your Dropbox folder, will sync to your account online.

So even if your files are online-only, you can always make them available offline to edit them and your edits will sync online and to your connected devices.

irenesf

Oh, thank you for telling me this. I didn't understand from the DM message about the change. Plus an Apple iCloud issue necessitated me to stop syncing the Desktop with iCloud, so my Alias Folder to DB which was in my Mac's Home Folder disappeared. I have everything set to rights now, I think.

How do I tell DB not to sync photos? I store those on Amazon Photos instead but DB often syncs them and then I delete them from DB.

Jay

Are you referring to the automatic camera upload feature which is on the mobile app, or the desktop?

Do these steps help in disabling it for you?

irenesf

It is turned off in both places now. Many thanks!

Jay

No worries, glad to have helped out, enjoy the rest of your week!

rohanvt

Hi. I'm just looking for a way to make all my files "online only" without having to do each one individually? I feel sure there must be a way, but I could do with a little help to work it out. Thank you!

Rich

@rohanvt wrote:
I'm just looking for a way to make all my files "online only" without having to do each one individually?

Select all the files at once, right-click and select Make online-only.

effinsyv

So, I've been at gettin my dropbox sorted out again for the third time in a year because it wouldn't stop caching files for weeks on end. Two weeks ago, I blew dropbox away and reinstalled the whole thing. After an entire weekend of syncing and manually selecting all of the local folders on my computer to sync offline and online, I go and look at my files today and they are all online only again! Everything was downloaded and synced three days ago. The only thing I did was setup dropbox backup for my HD yesterday (which took another three hours). that worked fine until I realized today that my entire last weekend of getting my files downloaded from dropbox was wasted (again). Dropbox worked like a charm for the last 15 years, but the last year has been one of the worst software experiences I've ever had. I'm clearly doing something wrong. Anyone have a suggestion as to why DB would override my downloads and push it to online only? I can't waste any more time on this. None of my other online storage services are giving me this much issue.