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How do I do one-way sync that only copies to Dropbox?

How do I sync a folder from my Mac TO Dropbox, while PREVENTING Dropbox from updating that folder on my Mac?

I use Dropbox to remote backup roughly 1.6 TB of data in the form of a virtual disk. (Functionally, the virtual disk is a folder containing a zillion data files.)

I want my files to sync TO Dropbox when local files change.

I want to PREVENT sync in the other direction, because it risks corrupting my virtual disk.

I discovered this was an issue when today's sync got interrupted. Rather than continuing where it left off, Dropbox started downloading files which the interrupted sync hadn't yet deleted. This would have catastrophically corrupted my virtual disk. Fortunately I was able to revert the source from backup.

How do I set up Dropbox and/or macOS to do only one-way syncing? My search fu has failed me.

Tech: Sync is from a Mac tower running macOS 10.13 High Sierra + Dropbox desktop app. Other machine: Mac laptop running MacOS 14 Sonoma.

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Jay

Hi @RelevantSalience, thanks for messaging the Community.

Currently, the Dropbox desktop app only allows for two-way syncing, so what you're looking for wouldn't be possible via the app.

We do have the Dropbox Backup feature, however, this is for specific system folders, or external drives. These file are also only accessed via the Backup site, and can't be synced or shared elsewhere.

There is a Dropbox command line interface, which can be found here, however, there is no formal support from Dropbox. There is an upload feature there which might help for your requirements.

If you have any further queries, feel free to message back.

RelevantSalience

Thank you, Jay!

When using Dropbox command line interface, how does Dropbox handle re-upload of a folder when some files have been added, modified, or deleted?

Using sync, I can do operations that add, change, and delete just a few data files in my 1.6 TB virtual disk, and Dropbox updates only these changes. This takes just a few minutes.

When using Dropbox command line interface to upload that folder to where it already exists, does Dropbox only change the altered files as above? Or does it delete the old version and re-upload the 1.6 TB?

Nancy

Hey @RelevantSalience, sorry for jumping in. I’m afraid this isn’t something we can provide much support on. As a result, I can only suggest testing this with a small size of files to see how it works for you and if it helps with what you’d like to achieve.