Moving Files using the desktop app, but not deleting them from online.

[RicquelS]

Hello! I just installed Dropbox and I want to move folders from my computer into Dropbox. I don't want them to be on my computer, just on Dropbox. How do I do that?

I know this seems pretty basic, but I've watched a ton of tutorials and read articles, and they all show how to upload to Dropbox, but none of them say what happens to the files on the computer when you move them. I'm scared that if I transfer them to Dropbox, once I delete them from my computer they'll disappear from Dropbox, too. I just want to make sure I'm doing this the correct way and I don't loose years and years worth of designs. 

Thanks for helping!

[Rich]

---

@RicquelS wrote:

I want to move folders from my computer into Dropbox. I don't want them to be on my computer, just on Dropbox.

---

The first thing to remember about Dropbox is that the local Dropbox folder is just a regular folder like any other, and any files you put in it are on your local drive taking up space. The Dropbox application syncs anything in that folder with the copy in your account online. If you move a file or folder into the Dropbox folder, it still exists on your computer. If you copy a file or folder into Dropbox, it exists in both the Dropbox folder and its original location, but only the copy in Dropbox will sync.

If you want to move folders into Dropbox and then remove them from your computer, move the folder into the Dropbox folder and when syncing has finished, use Selective Sync to remove the local copy from your computer. Doing so will delete the folder on your local drive and leave a copy of it in your account online.

Another option would be to mark a file or folder as Online-only which removes it from your local drive while leaving a placeholder behind so you can still see it locally without taking up disk space.