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Can I delete (old) files from my computer without deleting them from the cloud?

Hi,

I just purchased an MS Surface and after finally getting it set up and including my personal and work Dropbox accounts, I find that I have several Personal (Old) and Company (Old) folders with are taking up quite a bit of space. Can I delete these (old) folders without losing these documents?

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Rich

Jcyr66 wrote:
... I find that I have several Personal (Old) and Company (Old) folders with are taking up quite a bit of space. Can I delete these (old) folders without losing these documents?

If the folders are in your local Dropbox folder, then deleting them will also delete them in the cloud. By default, Dropbox is a file sync service, so any changes you make are reflected across all devices.

If you want to save disk space you can use Selective Sync to completely remove folders from your local drive, or you can mark a file or folder as Online-only so that it still appears on the drive but doesn't take up any disk space until you go to use it.

Jcyr66

The (Old) folders are not in the local Dropbox folder as identified with the blue avatar. They do reside on my tablet in a yellow exchange folder. I am leery of deleting these since they are our company's files.

Nancy

Hi @Jcyr66! Hope you’re doing well.

Can you send me a screenshot of what you see inside your local Dropbox folder and of the blue avatar you mention, so that I can have a look?

Jcyr66

Yes.

Nancy

Thanks for that! So, if I get this right, you want to remove the “Dropbox (Personal) (Old)” folder that appears in your File Explorer, correct?

If you open that folder, do you see any syncing icons next to your files there?

I’d also like a screenshot of what you see under the Sync tab of your app preferences to make sure that folder is not currently syncing to your Dropbox account online in any way.

Jcyr66

Correct, I want to get rid of the one folder titled (Personal) (Old) and two folders (Stern Risk Partners) (Old) and (Old) (1). Photos to follow shortly