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The list of local Dropbox files on my Mac are different from the web

Ok when I started on drop box about when It first came out was good.. Several Macs. later. and storage locations later. the directory of files on dropbox is significantly different then what the application shows. I have a limited number of files or folders then I want to keep on my local Mac because I need to keep the local files on an external drive. I think the difference was caused by the external drive being disconnected while the Dropbox application was open.. I only recently found out this is a bad thing. How so I "sych" up the list dropbox files shown in the application with what is in the cloud?

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Jay

By default, the files and folders should already be online-only when re-checking a folder, however, if this isn't the case, you can mark them as online-only manually.

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Mark

Is Dropbox running on your machine?

However, if it ISNT and you have had a drive disconnect you probably want to backup what is stored locally first as there is a very, very good chance it will wipe things.

If it is running what does it say if you mouse over its icon on the status bar.

Captcurrent

Yes it is running on my local machine the stays say "Dropbox 220.4.4126 Up to date"

Captcurrent

OK I think I have figured this out. My dropbox application only shows the folders I physically have on my Mac. The only way I cans ee what is have stored in the cloud is to use a web browser or elect the globe tin the dropbox icon in the status bar on the Mac right??

Mark

That isnt how Dropbox should work.

Do you happen to have multiple Dropbox folders on your machine at all OR have you set up Selective Sync?

Captcurrent

Now I see. There is one way I can see even the file structure of Dropbox unless the whole content of the dropbox is on my machine. So it saves me nothing. in term of storage on my Mac. .. Got it.

Mark

If you select the 'online only' view then it just downloads placeholders to the device. BUT when you then need to open them it will have to download them first and then open (so can be slow if they are large). It also does not automatically turn them back to online only. So, if you open and edit lots of large files you will need to keep re-activating it.

Captcurrent

the only files I can see in my dropbox folder are the files that have been down loaded to Cloudstorage in my library. I have no visibility in my app for field and folders only in the cloud

Captcurrent

k I re read that Dropbox instructions which are a LITTLE obtuse. Essentially I have something setup wrong as the way I read this I SHOULD have place holders on my desktop app for files that are on online only but I don't have the place holders. I can choose the globe on the status uiscon and be taken to the web and see my on line content. I was sort of hoping to find a off line reminder of what is available (not the actual content) on line

Jay

Hi @captcurret, you need to check all folders in the selective sync window, which would let all folders appear locally on your machine.

When this happens, you can also mark those folders as online-only by right clicking them, and the files will be replaced with placeholders.

Captcurrent

captcurret, you need to check all folders in the selective sync window, which would let all folders appear locally on your machine.

doesn't this mean all these files will also be copied to my local machine??

Jay

By default, the files and folders should already be online-only when re-checking a folder, however, if this isn't the case, you can mark them as online-only manually.

Captcurrent

Great. this is what I was looking for !!

Theresa

Hi @Captcurrent and welcome back to the Dropbox Community. I am glad to see your issue has been resolved.

By the way, my name is Theresa, and you might see me popping up around the Community 👩‍💻. I absolutely love hearing from our members and learning how they use Dropbox in their daily lives 💙

If you're open to sharing, I’d love to hear how you use Dropbox 💡. Who knows, you might inspire some helpful tips we can share with others or even spark ideas to pass along to our internal team 🤗.

T 😺 (Dropbox Community Manager)

tiffanywalkEr

You probably disconnected your external drive while Dropbox was open, causing the sync to fail. To fix this, close the Dropbox app, reconnect your external drive, and reopen Dropbox. This should sync your files and update them to what's in the cloud. If that doesn't work, try manually syncing from Dropbox settings.