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Forum Discussion
Dropbox Files Take Up Hard Drive Space
My laptop keeps showing me that my Dropbox files are taking up space on my hard drive. I am certain they are syncing and on the cloud. How do I resolve this? Thanks.
Thanks for taking the time to post here, Roni5050.
Just wanted to let you know that the Dropbox desktop app's job is to sync local versions of your files to your computer.
This allows you to access your Dropbox files and work on them, even if you're not connected to the internet and it's our preferred method of uploading/downloading larger files.
You can of course still use the website and if you'd like, you can also use our selective sync feature, which will help you remove entire folders from your Dropbox folder, but keep them on dropbox.com, to free up some of your space.
I hope this helps!
Why do large files I uploaded to Dropbox from my MacBook to free up storage space still count against my storage capacity?
- Megan
Dropbox Staff
Hi Undrbgt, I'd be happy to respond to that!
Do you use the desktop app, when you upload content to your Dropbox account? If so, then keep in mind that since the app uses a local copy of your content, it'd make sense for the files and folders to take up space on the device.
Also, can you clarify if you're referring to the device's storage space or your account's?
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Are you using the free version of Dropbox, or a paid version? It looks like the free version uses hard drive space now, and only paid dropbox uses cloud storage
- Lusil
This is what I don't understand about smart sync though - I'm a photographer and have a ton of RAW files and large jpg files from editing in Lightroom and Photoshop. I save all my filed to my Professional Dropbox account because I've had multiple failed external hard drives and computers. I use the smart sync function and it simply doesn't matter. I'm running critically low on computer space every single day. What is the deal with this? It's driving me nuts that I can't figure it out.
- I use a paid version.
- Rich
Super User II
Free or Paid doesn't matter. By default, the Dropbox folder on your computer is ON your computer and takes up local drive space. The primary purpose of Dropbox is to sync files between your computer and your account online, along with other devices linked to your account. Dropbox is, by default, not a cloud-based folder or drive where your files only exist in the cloud.
Using Selective Sync (available to all accounts) or Smart Sync (available on Professional and Business accounts) you can remove the local copies of folders and files. See Lusil's reply above for links to the appropriate help articles for more information.
Hi,
I have smart synced all of the Dropbox files to Online Only, but still my Dropbox is taking up 250 GB on my hard drive. This is actual disc space, not estimated one. I'm a Mac user, using Dropbox pro. Any recommendations?
Edit: Never mind, the cache file is the problem in my case. Thanks!
It appears the storage on my computer has been almost completly used up by dropbox files. I though the purpose of dropbox was for everything to be saved to a 'cloud' so that it does not use up space on my computer?? What am I doing wrong here?
Matt
- Rich
mgsallee wrote:
I though the purpose of dropbox was for everything to be saved to a 'cloud' so that it does not use up space on my computer??
No, that's not the primary use of Dropbox. First and foremost, Dropbox is a file synchronization service, meant to keep the files stored in your local Dropbox folder synchronized with the copy stored in your account online. The Dropbox folder is not a cloud folder or drive where your files only exist online. The Dropbox folder is a regular folder just like any other, and anything stored in it takes up space on your drive.
Now, there are some features that help you save space. Selective Sync, available on all plans, can be used to remove the local copy of a folder from your Dropbox folder so that it only exists online. Any folders set this way are no longer accessible through Explorer (PC) or Finder (Mac), but can still be accessed through the Dropbox website.
Smart Sync, which is available on all paid plans allows you to mark files and folders as Online-only. A file or folder marked as such a way is removed from your computer and stored only online, but a placeholder is left behind so it appears as though the file or folder is still on your computer. Accessing such any files that are marked as Online-only will cause Dropbox to download them back to your computer so you can use them normally.
Sorry, but I'm not very bright here. I use dropbox and I think the files I store in dropbox are in the cloud, but looking at my Mas they also seem to be copied onto the Mac as well as in the cloud. Have I set up dropbox incorrectly...any help would be gratefully received.
Thank you...Terry
Same Problem here
- Mark
Hi both 🙂
Thats how Dropbox works. Dropbox is designed, and intended, that files are both online and in the cloud. This means that things work when internet is offline etc.
If you want to have stuff in cloud only use Online Only settings.
Hello
I am workung with Dropbox
One of my reasons for using dropbook is that my hard disk is small
I thought that the files I save in the cloud will not take space on the hard drive
And it turns out I was wrong
Why is there double saving
What are the disadvantages of working in the Dropbox web interface versus working in Dropbox installed on a computer?
What should I do in order to transfer files that are now saved in Dropbox installed on the computer to files that will be saved in the web interface? As mentioned, I don't have enough space on my hard disk
Can it work on the 2 interfaces together? So some of the files will remain installed on the computer and some on the web interface?- Hannah
Thanks for taking the time to post here, Roni5050.
Just wanted to let you know that the Dropbox desktop app's job is to sync local versions of your files to your computer.
This allows you to access your Dropbox files and work on them, even if you're not connected to the internet and it's our preferred method of uploading/downloading larger files.
You can of course still use the website and if you'd like, you can also use our selective sync feature, which will help you remove entire folders from your Dropbox folder, but keep them on dropbox.com, to free up some of your space.
I hope this helps!
