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Forum Discussion
Turn OFF selective sync, do FULL sync instead?
I see that, under selective sync in settings, I can check all folders - but, if I add a folder, will it start syncing? If not, is there a way to turn OFF selective sync and instead opt for FULL synching?
(I just noticed that I thought I had no files in a folder but I actually DID, because I was not synching all the subfolders, so I think I need to synch everything while I'm cleaning up files.)
Cara_M wrote:
I see that, under selective sync in settings, I can check all folders - but, if I add a folder, will it start syncing? If not, is there a way to turn OFF selective sync and instead opt for FULL synching?
Yes, if you add a folder to your local Dropbox folder it will start syncing and be available offline. If you're on a PC and you add a folder to your account online (or another device), whether or not it syncs down as Available Offline or Online-only is dependent on the Storage of new files setting in Preferences on the Dropbox application.
- Rich
Super User II
Cara_M wrote:
I see that, under selective sync in settings, I can check all folders - but, if I add a folder, will it start syncing? If not, is there a way to turn OFF selective sync and instead opt for FULL synching?
Yes, if you add a folder to your local Dropbox folder it will start syncing and be available offline. If you're on a PC and you add a folder to your account online (or another device), whether or not it syncs down as Available Offline or Online-only is dependent on the Storage of new files setting in Preferences on the Dropbox application.
"the Storage of new files setting in Preferences on the Dropbox application"
There's no such setting.
What I would really like is what was originally asked - to revert to full sync instead of selective sync. I just switched from a Windows 10 to a new Windows 11 computer, and I do not see any way to start syncing files that are already shared with other users. None of the controls that are mentioned seem to be visible in my Dropbox folder.
- Walter
Dropbox Staff
Hey @Jim B.45 - could you clarify your computer's OS version and the version and status of the Dropbox desktop app?
Also, can you find the selective sync option in the sync tab in the app's preferences?
Windows 11, Dropbox 206.3.6386
Selective Sync is of course the first item on the Sync tab. There isn't actually a "selective sync option", there's a Select Folders button.
- Walter
It seems that you're on the beta version of the app @Jim B.45
Could you try the latest, stable one from this page directly and let us know how it goes?
Just make sure to toggle off the 'early releases' from your account's settings first.
I gather that you mean the "Default state for new sync files" setting, not the "Storage of new files" setting. Given my experience with Dropbox it's not surprising that their staff doesn't use the correct terminology for their software. I won't bore you with my Dropbox war stories, including trying to configure it on my new Windows 11 box.
