Child Item

Best way to stop my Dropbox desktop app from removing local files?

Device
multiple Mac and PC devices
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
multiples
Dropbox App Version/Browser Version
232.4.5988 on Mac and PC

What is the best way to turn off removing files from my hard drive on all my devices? I want all my files that I have checked in selective sync on all my Mac and PC devices. I don't ever want them removed and made online only. The only place I want to access them online is on my iPhone and iPad. There I have checked to download whole folders that I need when offline. I regularly am offline on my PC laptop and need all my files accessible without an internet connection. I've been using Dropbox for a decade or more, and I don't remember ever checking anything that said I wanted files to be removed from my hard drive.

Find more posts tagged with

Desktop

Download

Insightful

Accepted answers

Nancy

Since you’re using macOS Tahoe, then the system extension isn’t applicable to you indeed, as mentioned in the Help Center article Megan linked above.

If your sync preferences are set to make files available offline by default, as demonstrated here, then you should be all set.

All comments

Megan

Hi there, @TomMunch let's jump right into this!

The best thing you can do is check each folder individually and make sure it syncs as available offline.

For any folders or files that are online-only inside your Dropbox folder you can always use these steps in order to change their syncing status.

While you're at it, please check the relevant Help Center article and ensure that the files that you add to the Dropbox folder on your computer aren't set to sync as online-only by default.

Keep in mind that the settings on each device might differ, so you'd need to apply the settings on the individual computers.

Want to give it a go, and let me know if you have any questions?

I'll be one post away!

TomMunch

In addition, I have plenty of space only hard drive for all the files I have selected, and many of the files are just shortcut links and are very small. I have also turned off Dropbox system extension recently to try to get my files downloaded. It seems that the only way I can get files downloaded is to right click a file or folder and choose to make it available offline. This is not working for subfolders reliably though. I have literally tens of thousands of files that Dropbox has removed from my hard drive.

TomMunch

I don't see a "new files default" dropdown.

TomMunch

I had written that first reply when I made the original post, but I guess it didn't post. Should I have Dropbox system extension turned off?

Nancy

Hey @TomMunch. Hope it’s alright to jump in here.

You can try making all of your Dropbox files available offline at once by right-clicking on your local Dropbox folder directly and selecting the relevant option. Did you mean that you’ve already done so, and your files keep going back to online-only?

As for changing the default sync setting for your files, can you send me a screenshot of what you see exactly when trying to access it?

Finally, I'd like you to clarify the exact OS version of your computer(s). I’m asking because the Dropbox system extension may not be available for certain OS versions (for more info, you can also check this Help Center article).

TomMunch

Ya, I had to go into subfolders and right-click and choose to make them available offline. Just clicking on the local Dropbox folder ata top level didn't do it. I still have folders showing the cloud icon even though all the files are on my computer and I have chosen for those folders to be available offline. There's definitely a glitch there somewhere.

The default sync setting comment was in reference to the "relevant Help Center "article that Megan linked to above. I don't see that at all in my preferences.

My laptop is on the current OS - Windows 11 21H2 (OS build 22000)

I'm trying to copy and paste screenshots here, but it's not taking my reply.

TomMunch

Hannah

Thanks for the update and the screenshots, @TomMunch.

If you manually switch a file or folder from online-only to available offline, how long does it take for the app to automatically switch them to online-only again?

Also, when did you start noticing this behavior? Was it after some kind of update on the app? Or has it always been like this?

TomMunch

I’ve not seen this happen where it switched back to online only. I first saw this several months ago when I tried to open a file when I wasn’t on the internet, and the file wouldn’t open. I think it was before the icon showing that a file is online or on the device was introduced. It feels like maybe last spring.

Hannah

Thanks for the clarification here, Tom.

So, just to confirm, if you manually switch your files to "available offline", do they remain in that state?

And how about the new files added to your Dropbox folder from other devices?

I see in your screenshot that the default sync preference is set to "available offline", so do the new files sync as available offline as normal?

TomMunch

I think they stay there. That was never a problem before. I’ll watch to see what happens.

They do sync from other devices.

I’m still curious whether I should have Dropbox system extension turned off? There seems to be some redundancy that I don’t quite understand.

Nancy

For now, I'd suggest leaving the extension enabled, as is.

In case your files return back to online-only though, without you taking any actions on your end, please let us know and we’ll be happy to look into this further.

TomMunch

I have the extension turned off now.

TomMunch

I'll leave the extension turned off unless you give me further direction. I don't really understand what that does at this point.

TomMunch

I really have no reason to have files online only. My Mac has enough memory to keep them all there as the master.

TomMunch

Is there a good reason to leave the desktop extension enabled? I can’t see the use case.

Megan

Hi @TomMunch!

Essentially, the Dropbox system extension is required in order to make your files and folders online-only.

Being opted-out of the system extension may also mean that if you have existing placeholder files (files with the grey cloud icon) and try to open them by double-clicking the file, you may see an error. You can ultimately open these files by right-clicking on them and choosing 'Make Available Offline'.

To use online-only files, you will need to enable installation of the system extension. You can see more about that here.

For macOS 11 (Big Sur) or above, you no longer need to install the system extension.

If you need something else, please let me know and I will be more than happy to help every step of the way.

TomMunch

Okay, I'm macOS Tahoe, so I don't need it turned on anyway? How does that change the behavior of Dropbox then?

Nancy

Since you’re using macOS Tahoe, then the system extension isn’t applicable to you indeed, as mentioned in the Help Center article Megan linked above.

If your sync preferences are set to make files available offline by default, as demonstrated here, then you should be all set.

TomMunch

Great! Thanks for the clarification!

Megan

Hey @TomMunch, it's our pleasure!

If you need something else, please let me know and I will be more than happy to help every step of the way. 👩‍💻