I want to set my folders as online-only/available offline, but I don't see them on the desktop app.

[MasterOfDragon]

Hey there,

using selective sync, I was used to see offline files marked with a green check mark icon and all online only files and folders with a grey cloud icon.

However, now  I do not see my online only files and folders anymore in my W11 file explorer. In consequence, I cannot search for these files offline or save a file in folder that is online only. I would need to open the internet browser, log in to Dropbox, navigate to certain folder and upload the file there to have it stored in the right location.

How to get my full folder and file structure visible offline again, while having the data online only?

(setup: Dropbox v208.4.5824, W11 Home)

[Nancy]

Welcome back to our Community, @MasterOfDragon! Hope you’re doing well. 

In general, keep in mind that selective sync and setting your files as online-only/available offline are two separate features whose goal is to save up hard drive space on your computer (while using selective sync totally removes a folder from the Dropbox app, making it online-only keeps its placeholder instead with a grey cloud icon).

If you go to your Dropbox app’s selective sync settings now, are you able to see the folders that are missing from your local Dropbox folder? If yes, and they are unchecked, please select them once again and wait until they’ve synced on your Dropbox app. 

After that, you can select which folders/files to make online-only and which ones to leave available offline with these steps. 

Let me know if that helps resolve the issue.

[MasterOfDragon]

Ok, but I do not have the hard drive space to sync all these files to my computer before moving them back only only.

[MasterOfDragon]

I guess it is also not the most efficient solution to sync 600GB to your HDD only to tell the app store them online only.

[Nancy]

If you have multiple folders that have been removed from the app via selective sync, you can select them again one at a time, wait for them to sync and then make them online-only. 

After they’re made online-only, it should be their placeholder showing on the Dropbox app and it won’t take much space from your hard drive.