Smart Sync and removing local files

[Grant W.1]

Hello,

I'm attempting to convert my dropbox folder on my desktop to smart sync, so that I'm not storing any local files on my harddrive in order to save space.  Currently, my folder has some local folders. 

I would like to

1.  Convert local folders to smart sync.  I've initiated this process and the files are currently displaying the blue sync logo and the other files are showing (i think) that they are already exclusively in cloud storage and not local.  The ones that I've smart sync'd have had the sync logo for a while, and I can't tell if there is any progress with the sync'ing.  How do I confirm that they are fully sync'd?

2.  Once the smart sync is complete, I would like to get rid of the local storage of these files on my harddrive.  My hesitation is that deleting the files directly would instruct dropbox to remove them from the smart sync'd ones in cloud storage.  How do I proceed with removing local files while keeping them in cloud storage?

[simone111]

I'm using a laptop that previously had a coworker's Dropbox synced to it. Her folder is 5 TB, and it's currently taking up a phantom 5TB on the device, even though she has unsynced and any changes I have made to her folders thus far have not reflected her current Dropbox. Am I able to move her entire Dropbox folder -- which seems to only be phantom folders/files as I can't access anything when I try to open -- to the trash? 

[Megan]

Hi @simone111, thanks for posting to the Community! 

Has the user unlinked their account from the Dropbox desktop application on the device?

If they have done that, you should be able to delete the content without affecting the content on the user's side. 

Let me know how it goes.

[guillefk]

So, how did you fix it? I'm having the same trouble. The archives are still occupying same space on the pc after I put it on the on-line only mode. I'm running out of space on the pc. The files are "on-line only" (to access them I have to download them), but the pc take that space as occupy. 

[Walter]

Hey @guillefk, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

If you made sure that the app is 'up to date' in your menu bar/system tray and not still syncing, you could try clearing your cache as outlined here.

Let me know of any updates!

[DrewH23]

I set Smart Sync to "online only".

Dropbox says it's finished syncing and all files are up to date.

I cleared the Dropbox cache folder.

If I use Omni Disk Sweeper, it doesn't show any files stored by Dropbox on my hard drive.

My Dropbox folder is somehow still taking up 650GB of space on my internal hard drive.

If I navigate to About This Mac > Storage, I can see that 650GB being taken up by "other" filetypes, but I can't get rid of it.

I can't say I'm surprised, I've only ever had bad experiences with Dropbox, and I groan any time a client uses it to send me files, but this outing really takes the cake. Dropbox is without a doubt the worst platform I've ever used, nothing ever works the way it's supposed to, and it's single-handedly ruined what started off as a good morning. Ugh.

Edit: Solved the issue. When I cleared the Dropbox cache, it moved all the files to the Trash Can, but they were hidden files so Trash Can thought it was empty and wouldn't let me clear it. I had to send another file to the Trash Can in order to trick it into letting me empty all the invisible Dropbox cache files. God, this app is the worst, not one single function on it ever works smoothly. What a waste of time.

[GRWeiner]

I am experiencing the same issue.  I had 35GB left of storage (out of 500) on my computer, so tried to use SmartSync, and used the online option and it turned on the greyed out, but now I just have 1.9GB left of storage on my computer and can't do anything until I free up more space!

thanks

[Walter]

Hey @GRWeiner, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Could you please let me know the app's exact status as shown in your menu bar/system tray?

In the meantime, have you considered using selective sync to remove some folders from your computer to make up space?