Hey @Niall D., thanks for posting your question to the Dropbox Community.
When you install the Dropbox desktop app on your computer and login to your account, the app syncs all your files to a local "Dropbox" folder.
That means that your Dropbox files take up space on your hard drive.
Uninstalling the app doesn't free up your space, though. Do you intend to use the Dropbox application?
If so, you can make your files online-only, or use selective sync to free up hard drive space.
Using Dropbox from the website, does not affect your hard drive space at all.
I hope this helps, but let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks for your reply Hannah
On my work laptop it's showing as connected to Dropbox even though I uninstalled the app (it says its taking up 108GB of the HDD space which is a concern).
On my home laptop it is installed with online-only set in the preferences, do I need to do that on the work laptop by installing the app again?
Thanks for the additional info, Niall!
Indeed, if you do want to use the Dropbox application on your work laptop, to access your Dropbox files from the Dropbox folder, you'll need to install the app again and set the files to online-only, to free up the space they're taking up.
I see Dropbox on the side bar in File Explorer, if I delete files from there will they also be removed from everywhere else - last thing I want is to lose my stuff.
When I installed the app the first time it did so without admin privileges, this meant I couldn't access preferences to change sync options.
Hi @Niall D., if the Dropbox desktop application is installed and running, deleting files from the Dropbox folder in Explorer will also delete those files from the site, and from the Dropbox folder on any connected devices.
I do not have the app installed and I am not logged in on any browser, is it therefore OK to delete from sidebar with it only affecting that laptop and nowhere else?
I just want the 108Gb back.
Could you attach a screenshot showing the Dropbox folder in Explorer, while hiding any names or other personal details, just to be certain we're on the same page?
Is this enough?
Thanks, given that the icon is still visible, this means that the app isn't uninstalled from your machine, so you won't be able to delete this folder, since it is in the system itself.
Please could you ensure that you've fully uninstalled the app from Windows using these steps.
I'm not off work until Monday so won't be able to access the laptop until then, but I remember uninstalling the app (it's no longer in ''add or remove programs' and doesn't appear in a search of my laptop), it was previously installed without admin privileges, meaning I couldn't access preferences.
If I were to install again with admin privileges and change 'storage of new files' to 'online-only' would that sort things out?
When I was on the work laptop yesterday I opened Dropbox in the sidebar and deleted a file to see if it remained on my home laptop and via the browser, it did remain - but I am very concerned about the possibility of losing anything!
Hey @Niall D. - sorry to jump in here and happy Monday!
Did you have the chance to check the affected computer if the desktop app is completely uninstalled indeed?
As for your additional concern, yes, that would be a way to go. Apart from setting your files to be online only, another thing you could do is use the selective sync feature to free up some hard drive space by un-syncing some folders from your computer.
In any case, please keep us posted.
Thanks for getting in touch Walter
I searched 'Dropbox' and found no results, though when I look up the storage settings on the laptop it tells me there is a folder on my C:/ drive called 'Dropbox'.
I haven't had a chance to reinstall the app with admin privileges to test out the 'online-only' preference, but I'll respond here once I do.
Thanks again!
This must be the Dropbox folder that remained after uninstalling the desktop app from the computer @Niall D.
Since you uninstalled the app, this is a local copy of the content of your Dropbox account at that time and you should be safe to delete it.
Absolutely 100% + infinity sure it's fine to do so without losing anything? lol
You can test it out with a sample file or folder @Niall D.
If it ends up being deleted, it means you're still running the desktop app and the deletions synced. You'll be able to restore any deleted files or folders via the events page though.
I hope this helps!
I tested with a sample file and it was only removed on the work laptop - I then removed everything and now have my 108Gb back - thanks so much for your help!
Amazing news @Niall D.!
We'll be around if you need further assistance! 😎
