Can't sync (not enough space)

[wendy_mugridge]

I am experiencing messages that my hard drive is full. I use a Mac Mini. My harddrive is not full at all. I cannot open Word files that are stored in Dropbox:

Word experienced an error trying to open the file.

Try these suggestions.

* Check the file permissions for the document or drive.

* Make sure there is sufficient free memory and disk space.

* Open the file with the Text

I am receiving messages that my outlook has to close because there is not enough space.

I am unable to install the latest MAC update as it says it does not have enough space to install.

when I right-click on folders that are stored on Dropbox and look at Smartsync, where I've chosen On-line only no longer has a checkmark beside it. It seems to be confused about Local, which I don't want and don't have selected. The syncing isn't working because it says there is not enough space to do it. So I just keep going around in circles.

Thank you.

[Jay]

Hi @wendy_mugridge, thanks for joining the Community!

If you have folders and files that are already marked as online-only, then they shouldn't take up any space on your machine.

Could you check that the 'Smart Sync update for Mac' setting is enabled on this page, and then reboot the device to see if this helps?

Keep me updated with any progress!

[wendy_mugridge]

I went to the preferences page, turned that feature on, and rebooted.  Thank for you that.

I had uninstalled Dropbox from my mac so I will reinstall. As of right now, I can only view file listings in Dropbox through finder, but no file will open.

[Jay]

Most likely it's because those files were online-only, so they aren't actually located on the machine. 

When the app is installed, opening the files would allow them to download from the site so you can preview and edit them.

[wendy_mugridge]

I've tried installing the app and it says I don't have enough space! I feel like I'm going around in circles.

Thanks.

[Jay]

Have you tried freeing up some space on your computer before installing the Dropbox desktop application?

How much hard disk space you have on the machine?

[wendy_mugridge]

there is next to nothing on my hard drive. When I install the Dropbox app; it puts the Dropbox files on my hard drive. i can't get it to stop doing that. These are the settings I have

[Jay]

Could you forward a screenshot showing the total capacity of your hard drive, and how much space is taken up there so we can assist further?

[wendy_mugridge]

the problem is that it is showing all the Dropbox files that it does not need to be on there. Thank you

[Daphne]

Could you check the "Get info" option for the Dropbox folder itself on your computer, so that we can see the difference in actual size and size on disk, @wendy_mugridge?

Also, when you check the system storage for your computer, does it show the majority of the space being in Documents, or Other?