"Smart" sync keeps downloading Online Only Files

[adamschoales]

I am growing increasingly frustrated with this so called "smart sync" feature Dropbox has recently introduced (or rather forced upon me).

I have a number of files I've brought over to Dropbox using the finder on my Mac, that I have then marked as online only, in hopes that it would upload the files and then remove them from my local storage, which is limited. However Dropbox keeps randomly re-downloading the files to my system even after telling it that I want the files to be online only. 

This feature is supposed to "save hard disk space", which it does seem to do temporarily before it just starts downoading things again. It seems as though the only safe way to keep files from my drive is the old fashioned selective sync from preferences, but this is a backward way of working, especially when I want to have the folder show up on my local drive so I can bring files into it, but I may want those files to only live online.

Has anyone found a solution to this abnormal behaviour (that, once again I might add, was forced on us as justification to increase the price of the paid service)?

[Walter]

Hey @Toffees1878 - sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

If you made sure that the desktop app is 'up to date' and not still syncing your changes, can you clear your cache folder and let me know how it goes?

Thanks!

[Toffees1878]

Hi, how do i check the version as I can't seem to locate it? How will I upgrade or check its latest version? Should I uninstall and then re download the software? Thoughts please

[Walter]

You should be able to check the app's version by hovering your mouse over the app's icon in your system tray/menu bar.

Also, here's a link to the latest stable version of the desktop app if you'd like to reinstall: 

https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-desktop-client-builds/Stable-Build-192-4-4605/td-p/750060 

Let us know of any updates @Toffees1878 

[Toffees1878]

Hi Walter, thanks I've downloaded Dropbox using the link above. Now my version is 192.4.4605 and I've set it so files are only online. Hopefully these 2 things resolve the issue. thanks for the assistance. 😄 Craig 

[Toffees1878]

Hi Walter, this did not resolve the issue and the files are continuing to copy back to my computer and use all the storage! 

[Toffees1878]

Hi Walter, this hasn't resolved the issue and files are still being copied onto my hard drive and filling it up which is super annoying. What do I do to resolve this? 

[AMVH]

Obviously Dropbox have NO remedy for this, or this thread wouldn't still be the huge issue it is. I have a Dell XPS, so it's not a Mac problem.  It happens when I just go on File Explorer to LOOK at file names to see which ones I might want to use or download. Every few seconds I get a Dropbox pop-up and ping, "Dropbox is downloading xxxx.mp4 file' (I have hundreds)...  Including a 4GB file that I an storing on Dropbox and really don't want it or the others online.

I've been using Dropbox forever and it works - but if it's going to make my laptop unusable, I will have to change my online storage.  Please FIX it!

[Toffees1878]

same - have to go and every few days tick "online only" or my hard disk is full again. Don't understand how DB can't solve this issue!