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Storage space on my device hasn't changed even after using selective sync & online-only.

Patricia V.2

Hi. I have 1.9TB left of my DB quota.

My computer is out of space (240 out of 245 Gb used) due to the DB folder.

I used BOTH selective sync AND online-only to storage my files in the cloud.

Yet, my computer HD is still out of space. The storage space taken up buy DB has not moved a notch.

I have DB Essential.

It is impossible to speak to a DB customer service rep.

If someone could help out I would appreciate it.

Many thanks.

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Megan

Hey @Patricia V.2, I'd be happy to look into this with you!

The first thing we want to check is that the changes you made (making content online-only, and using selective sync) have synced.

Would you be able to check the app's syncing status, and let me know what you find?

If you locate your Dropbox folder, and right click on it in order to check its properties, what do you see there?

Let me know more, and we'll take it from there!

Patricia V.2

Hello Megan, thank you for your message.

Here goes a snapshot of my DB information.

I am not sure if that is what you were asking.

I look forward to your assistance!

Patricia

DB folder view.png

Jay

HI @Patricia V.2, the screenshot was to confirm that the size on disk is smaller than it should be. In this case, it looks to be the same, meaning that no files are marked as available online.

Could you attach a screenshot of the Dropbox folder in Finder, showing the sync icons specifically to confirm that they have a cloud icon on them?

Patricia V.2

Since I did the online only and selective synching changes, the DB folders disappeared from my Finder in my computer. Check out the screenshot below.

I am also sending four screenshots of the folders that are on my DB account online for you to see the difference. I am sending 4 screenshots of this cuz I wasn't able to fit it all in one.

DB in computer folder.png DB in DB folder (4).png DB in DB folder (3).png DB in DB folder (2).png DB in DB folder-1.png

Hannah

Thanks for the screenshots, @Patricia V.2.

If you used selective sync on some of your folders, it's expected that they'd get removed from your Dropbox folder.

That also means that if they're gone, they no longer take up space on your hard drive.

I do see some folders in your Dropbox folder that are marked as online-only. Are those the ones taking up your space?

If you go to this page in your account settings, are both the Dropbox system extension and the 'online-only files on Mac' settings enabled?

Patricia V.2

Yes, both settings are enabled.

Patricia V.2

How can I find out which folders are taking up space in my computer then? If you say that the folders are longer in my hard drive, I am not sure which folders are taking up the space.

Megan

Hey, Patricia!

If you click the Apple menu, and then navigate to About This Mac, then click Storage and Manage, that should give you an idea of the files taking space to your account.

Do you see any files/folders there, that you have already marked as online-only?

Patricia V.2

The Documents folder, the largest one, I thought I had set for online only. As you can see in the screenshot it is still there.

How can I verify if it is online only and/or selective synching?

documents folder.png

Nancy

Hi from me as well, Patricia! So, from what I understand, you’ve enabled computer backup on your Dropbox app, and you’d like to set your backup folders to online-only too, correct?

Can you please go here and send me a screenshot of what you see on that page, as well? That’ll help me guide you further.

Patricia V.2

Hi. Just to be clear.

My main problem is that I have no more space in my HD.

I enabled both select sync and online only to free up space, but it did nothing. I want to figure out how to continue using DB in my computer.

Additional Question: With select sync and/or online only enabled, do i need to open my DB folder from the web, rather than from my computer? I noticed that all my DB folders disappeared from the finder once I enabled those two but like I said, the HD space did not move a notch.

Here goes the screenshot.

Screenshot 2024-02-08 at 11.18.09 AM.png

Jay

Selective sync physically removes folders from your computer, and prevents you from viewing them at all through Finder. To see those folders, you'll need to access them via the Dropbox site, or check them in the selective sync settings.

Marking folders as online-only allows you to see them on your computer, but the files don't take up any quota. This is the ideal solution.

Are you certain that you've marked the Documents folder as online-only?

Patricia V.2

OK. Could you help me to verify which folders are marked online only?

Also, could you help me restore to my Finder the selective sync files I want to keep there?

Patricia V.2

Follow up to my previous message: That is, if online only will help me recover HD space.

Jay

You can check which folders are online-only by the sync icon next to the folders. If there is a cloud icon there, then the files in that folder wouldn't take up any space and free up hard disk space.

The selective sync settings can be accessed from here.

Patricia V.2

Hi. Like I mentioned earlier, all my DB folders disappeared from the Finder. Where do I have to look for the cloud or the green circle with the with white checkmark.

Hannah

Hi again, Patricia.

The thing is that if you unsynced folders with selective sync, the app would have physically removed them from Finder, thus freeing up the space they were taking up.

To confirm, if you go through the selective sync settings, do the folders appear as checked or unchecked?

If they're unchecked, they're removed completely from Finder.

Do you currently have any folders in your Dropbox folder? If you right click on those and choose "get info", what is the size they're taking up on your hard drive?

Patricia V.2

Please, find attached a screenshot of my DB folders in Finder and another one of my computer storage. The "documents folder" seems to take up most of my HD space.

Screenshot 2024-02-08 at 6.48.33 PM.png DB folder in Finder.png

Hannah

Thanks for the screenshots, Patricia.

If you right-click the Dropbox folder itself and choose the "make online-only" option, do you see any change to your used hard drive space?