Turn OFF selective sync, do FULL sync instead?

[Cara_M]

I see that, under selective sync in settings, I can check all folders - but, if I add a folder, will it start syncing?  If not, is there a way to turn OFF selective sync and instead opt for FULL synching?

(I just noticed that I thought I had no files in a folder but I actually DID, because I was not synching all the subfolders, so I think I need to synch everything while I'm cleaning up files.)

[Rich · Accepted solution]

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@Cara_M wrote:

I see that, under selective sync in settings, I can check all folders - but, if I add a folder, will it start syncing?  If not, is there a way to turn OFF selective sync and instead opt for FULL synching?

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Yes, if you add a folder to your local Dropbox folder it will start syncing and be available offline. If you're on a PC and you add a folder to your account online (or another device), whether or not it syncs down as Available Offline or Online-only is dependent on the Storage of new files setting in Preferences on the Dropbox application.

[Jim B.45]

"the Storage of new files setting in Preferences on the Dropbox application"

There's no such setting.

[Walter]

Hey @Jim B.45 - could you clarify your computer's OS version and the version and status of the Dropbox desktop app?

Also, can you find the selective sync option in the sync tab in the app's preferences? 

[Jim B.45]

Windows 11, Dropbox 206.3.6386

Selective Sync is of course the first item on the Sync tab. There isn't actually a "selective sync option", there's a Select Folders button.

[Walter]

It seems that you're on the beta version of the app @Jim B.45

Could you try the latest, stable one from this page directly and let us know how it goes? 

Just make sure to toggle off the 'early releases' from your account's settings first. 

[Jim B.45]

I gather that you mean the "Default state for new sync files" setting, not the "Storage of new files" setting. Given my experience with Dropbox it's not surprising that their staff doesn't use the correct terminology for their software. I won't bore you with my Dropbox war stories, including trying to configure it on my new Windows 11 box.

[Jim B.45]

No, I have no reason or interest in doing that at this point. My Dropbox will be syncing for an estimated 17 hours more ... I'll comment further if I encounter a problem.

[Jim B.45]

I will say that there are many things wrong with how Dropbox communicates ... one of them, I now see, is that it does not inform the user that they are using a beta version when it starts up and does not ask if they want to switch to the release version. I have no recollection of when I set that early release option or why. But thanks for pointing it out.

[Jim B.45]

And again with inaccurate terminology ... the option is "Early access", not "early releases". Being precise matters.