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slypapp's avatar
slypapp
Explorer | Level 4
7 years ago

Re: Smart Sync set to Online Only but still taking up storage on macOS 10.13.4.

Hello!   I am also having the same problem with smart sync, although I am using macOS 10.13.4. I have a folder set to online-only, but it is still taking up the free space from my SSD.
Sync
  • Jane's avatar
    Jane
    7 years ago
    Thanks a lot for getting back in touch with me here with these additional details slypapp! 
     
    As it’s my understanding that there’s a discrepancy when it come to the usage reported on your hard disc, I’d like to send you a couple more details below & we’ll take it from there. 
     
    • Initially, do you see all your files in this folder being saved locally (despite your choice being otherwise) or some of your files in this folder? 
    • Can you also let me know some example file types, where you’ve noticed this behavior? 
     
    Incidentally, are there any applications that constantly or persistently look at your files (or monitor your Dropbox folder)? If so, please note that your files may be accessed in the background if you didn't recall them manually & for that reason these are saved locally anew. If this is the case, I'd suggest testing by temporarily quitting or disabling applications systematically until you see that the issue is resolved (i.e. once you set the folder to “Online-only” & this doesn’t change without your input). 
     
    Thanks again & I’ll be awaiting your next reply with your findings here!
  • PhilipvS's avatar
    PhilipvS
    7 years ago

    And here's more GOOD news!  I just realized that on a Mac, at least, I can simpy use <command> i to get info on any folder on my (500GB) mac. The Dropbox folder is 942GB - that's what shows in Finder. BUT!!!  <command> i shows BOTH:  942,787,185,844 bytes (352 GB on disk) for 392,264 items This works at all folder levels.  - Voila!  Solution to MY problem. Hope that helps others.... 

Jane's avatar
Jane
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
Thanks a lot for getting back in touch with me here with these additional details slypapp! 
 
As it’s my understanding that there’s a discrepancy when it come to the usage reported on your hard disc, I’d like to send you a couple more details below & we’ll take it from there. 
 
  • Initially, do you see all your files in this folder being saved locally (despite your choice being otherwise) or some of your files in this folder? 
  • Can you also let me know some example file types, where you’ve noticed this behavior? 
 
Incidentally, are there any applications that constantly or persistently look at your files (or monitor your Dropbox folder)? If so, please note that your files may be accessed in the background if you didn't recall them manually & for that reason these are saved locally anew. If this is the case, I'd suggest testing by temporarily quitting or disabling applications systematically until you see that the issue is resolved (i.e. once you set the folder to “Online-only” & this doesn’t change without your input). 
 
Thanks again & I’ll be awaiting your next reply with your findings here!
jquintanilla4's avatar
jquintanilla4
Explorer | Level 4
7 years ago

I'm having similar problems, even though I've gone through technical support with your support. My computer is still telling me that I am using the full disc space, unless I drill down to the file itself, and then it tells me it is Zero KB. But that doesn't really matter, because the OS itself doesn't seem to understand that, and keeps telling me that my storage space is being used up. 

 

I am running Mac OS 10.13.4. I am running Dropbox 48.4.58. It is the stable build, not beta. I have set roughly 37GB to online only, and well only about 5GB are actually online only.

 

There is no other application looking at those files, so there should be no reason for them to get activated and downloaded. I've seen the explained above with all kind of file types .jpeg, .pdf, .mb, .mp4, .mp3, .mkv, .cad, .psd, .ai, .docx, .pptx, etc.

 

I've done troubleshooting left and right with your support resources information, with your technical team, and I'm still at the same place with the same probem.

 

Will there ever be a fix? maybe MacOS 10.14?

 

At this point, I might just downgrade my plan and use seletive sync. Seems like a better fix for MacOS.

 

 

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