Online only files still taking up space on hard drive!

[Peter Marigold]

I'm trying desperately to clear out my hard drive (so Photoshop can open!) and have made tons of folders and files 'online only' sometime ago.

However, when I inspect the the folders and files (I'm using the app Folder Size) these STILL take up space on my laptop. 

An example of one folder here is my 'Camera Uploads' which are entirely online only (the grey cloud icon), but still taking up 18gb of space. This is the case for all the folders that are 'online only'

Any idea what is going on here?

removed links 

TIA. 

[Megan]

Hey there, @Peter Marigold, let's jump right into this! 

As a first step, would you mind clarifying your device's OS, the version of the Dropbox app that you're using and your app's syncing status at the moment? 

Do you see the grey, cloud icon inside the folders too, when you look at the files?

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!

[Peter Marigold]

Hi Megan, thanks very much for the reply. 

I'm using Windows 10. 

I actually can't see how to know what Dropbox version I'm using!... I looked in properties - but it doesn't state this. 

The files all have the grey cloud  - and my devices are all syncing correctly. So files appear on each device via the cloud. 

[Megan]

Hey @Peter Marigold!

You can locate the app's syncing status, and version by hovering your mouse over the little Dropbox icon on your task bar, next to your WiFi. Can you try that? 

[Peter Marigold]

Aha!

205.4.5765

[Megan]

Thanks @Peter Marigold!

Would you be able to also send me a screenshot of the app's current syncing status, along with one more screenshot showing that the files take-up space on the device, please? 

[Peter Marigold]

Okay -  this is the status. It has issues with 9 files - but they're irrelevant programme files. All else is syncing fine across devices. 

Next:   if you look at 'London Met' for example, it shows it's taking up 12gb on the folder size app I'm using: 

when I drill down into the folders - they are all there on my harddrive taking up the 12gb of space - even though they are all set to 'online only':

this shot shows inside explorer that all the folders (and files inside) are set to the grey cloud online only:

Help! 🙂

[Nancy]

Thanks for all the screenshots, @Peter Marigold! If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask for one more screenshot of the syncing icon you see next to the “LONDON MET” folder, as showing in your last screenshot. 

Besides that, I’d also like you to right click on the folder, go to Properties, and send me a screenshot of the next window you’ll see.

[Peter Marigold]

So this is the icon - whited out tick (indicates online only):   

and right click on folder > properties > says 12gb 😞  

but double checking inside that folder - all icons are greyed out (online only):

[Jay]

HI @Peter Marigold, could you check that the entire folder to be sure that all files are online-only, since it seems that there is 236 KB of data in that folder.

Additionally, have you enabled the visibility of hidden files in Explorer, to see if there is a file or folder that isn't visible and is taking up space?