How to disable selective sync to keep all files locally ?

[AntoineHlmn]

Hi,

I'm looking for the option to disable the selective sync. I want to keep all the files locally, at all times.

I don't find the option to disable selective sync. In the sync settings, I only see two options:

1) Selective sync: Hide folders you don't want to see on this Mac. Hidden folders will be available on dropbox.com

2) Dropbox folder location: This version of macOS requires Dropbox folders to be stored here: /Users/.../Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox

Edit: I'm on macOS 13.1 and Dropbox v165.4.4300

[Mark]

Hi @AntoineHlmn 

You need to use the first option and then RE-TICK the boxes next to the folders you want to sync locally: https://help.dropbox.com/sync/selective-sync-overview

[AntoineHlmn]

Thanks @Mark,

You mean I have to un-tick and re-tick all the folders? All my folders are already ticked, but they remain "in the cloud" and not locally. Of course, the folders have always been visible in the finder (I'm on macOS, by the way, should have mentioned it), but not downloaded locally.

[Mark]

Hi @AntoineHlmn 

So that means you are not actually using Selective Sync you are actually using Smart Sync 🙂

You need to go in to Preferences, go in to Sync and then 'New files default 'Available Offline'.

However, you will need to right click on all the ones with the little cloud and set that to 'Make appear offline'. 

[AntoineHlmn]

Well I think that's the issue...

In the preferences (on the app, not web), I only have the two options in my original post:

[Jay]

Hi @AntoineHlmn, as it looks like you're running the new version of the Dropbox desktop application for Mac OS, all files added via the site or other devices would be downloaded as online-only by default. 

[AntoineHlmn]

That's exactly my issue: I'm looking for the expected behavior where everything is downloaded locally, and not kept on the cloud ...

[Jay]

Currently, it wouldn't be possible to change it to make all files local on the new version Mac OS version of the Dropbox app.

You should still be able to mark folders as available offline by right clicking them in Finder and choosing that option.

[AntoineHlmn]

Wow! That's a HUGE bug! Has it already been reported? If yes, will it be solved soon?

In the meantime, I see a couple of big issues with this:

1. By right clicking all the folders and checking "Mark available online", this option does not disappear, so that's a shady behavior. The folders get a green checkmark, though
2. This does now work when creating a new folder --> not the behavior by default!
3. This checkmark does not appear on the Dropbox folder itself (parent folder)
   1. Either it's a bug
   2. Either it doesn't work as expected

[Benoahb]

Have you found any work around this? I also struggle with offline files all the time.