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Forum Discussion
vinceskahan
2 days agoNew member | Level 1
How to sync my files locally on my Mac, after they've been syncing as online-only?
I have a m1 mac and longstanding free dropbox account and noticed almost all my local files were gone. It looks to me like some update to the desktop app seemingly turned on selective sync (ugh) and...
- 2 days ago
ok - lets call it resolved. For others who search for the right buzzwords, the way to sync 'from' dropbox back 'to' the local disk is to open your dropbox folder in Finder on the mac, then right click (or trackpad equivalent) and select "make available offline" and dropbox will pull the data back into your local disk dropbox folder.
Megan
Dropbox Staff
Hey vinceskahan, let's jump right into this!
Just to make sure we're on the same page: are you able to see your files inside your Dropbox folder, or not?
I'm just trying to realize if you're using the online-only feature, or selective sync.
Have you tried out these steps by any chance? If you right click on a file/folder do you have the option to make the content available offline?
Let me know more!
vinceskahan
2 days agoNew member | Level 1
See them how ? In the Mac Finder ? Under Selective Sync via Preferences ? In the Dropbox 'Open on web' pick ?
Mac Finder - see the folders and files therein. Files are marked with a cloud icon indicating (to me at least) that they're online
Selective Sync via Preferences - I see folders but no files therein. All folders are checked. Update button is greyed out unless I 'uncheck' (which is backwards from what I want)
Open on Web - I see folders and files therein.
I see the 'unselect and update' can REMOVE them from my local disk. I'm trying to do the opposite.
Right click in which of the three methods above ? Finder ? Selective Sync ? Web ? I see no way to do that in any of them.
- Walter2 days agoDropbox Staff
Hi from me too vinceskahan - and thank you for the additional information.
Can you try right clicking on the files and/or folders you see with the cloud icon within your Dropbox Folder in Mac's Finder?
What options are you getting there?
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