Dropbox smart sync not freeing up space. Choose Make online-only and click Update .
Dropbox smart sync not freeing up space It won’t appear locally then (still available on your online account) and you will free up space on your hard drive. Oct 10, 2024 · Wanna Dropbox stop syncing folder so that you can free up some space and not longer upload files with Dropbox? Here're 6 ways to make Dropbox unsync folders. Apart from Smart Sync, another great way of freeing up space locally on a computer using our desktop app is our selective sync option (or even uninstalling the app, removing the Dropbox folder from your computer to free up space and access your files only through the website). dropbox. Resolve 'Dropbox Make Online Only Not Available' issue: Fix Smart Sync and file syncing problems with our step-by-step guide. Do it quickly and efficiently using MacKeeper’s Safe Cleanup. Jul 30, 2022 · Video advice: How Use Dropbox Smart Sync Feature to Save Hard Drive Space Using Dropbox’s desktop app is a convenient and user-friendly way to store all your files. Learn how to set online-only files. You can learn how to make Dropbox smart sync free up properly here. Oct 21, 2024 · Reinstall Dropbox to enable smart sync with our easy-to-follow guide. Deleting Dropbox files from your computer won’t delete them from the cloud. This allows you to keep all of your files in Dropbox, but only store them in the cloud, freeing up space on your computer's hard drive. Thus, many of you enable it to save some local space on your computer. Sometimes, users may experience issues with Dropbox Smart Sync not working, and the Selective Sync feature also not syncing files as expected. This sync freeware allows you to sync data to Dropbox without synchronizing locally. Step-by-Step Guide to Freeing Up Cloud Storage Step 1: Identify What’s Taking Up Space Begin by reviewing your cloud storage consumption figures. This is a way to stop it doing Dec 5, 2023 · After running out of disk space, we set some folders to online-only (selective sync) but the space is not being released from the local HD. Jun 25, 2025 · Fixed: Dropbox Smart Sync Not Working Apart from Smart Sync, another great way of freeing up space locally on a computer using our desktop app is our selective sync option (or even uninstalling the app, removing the Dropbox Hello! After I deleted some files to free my dopbox space, even though the files we set some folders a deleted the space is still occupied. Let me know if you have any questions. Learn how to use selective sync. I keep getting message pop-ups from Dropbox saying "Your hard drive is almost full. Here we will explain you about the solutions. Feb 1, 2023 · How to let Dropbox files online only? Here provides 3 easy ways to keep the files from Dropbox online only with the Dropbox app and a free cloud backup service. Apr 8, 2019 · APFS. I have the automatic smart sync enabled through preferences, but I still see a bunch of "green check" mark icons in my directory folder indicating the files are local only. Moreover, note that Smart Sync and Selective Sync enable users to choose which of their files and folders sync and take up space on their local device. Apr 5, 2018 · Previously available to Dropbox Professional users and Business teams through our early access program, we’re now bringing Smart Sync to all Business users. With APFS, the operating system takes snapshots of the file system and available hard drive space. Jul 30, 2025 · Selective sync can free up storage space on your hard drive without deleting anything from your Dropbox account. My hard drive is full and I have deleted almost everything but seeing that my dropbox folders are being copied to my hard drive in addition to being on the web. Has it ever happened to you that you install Dropbox thinking that everything will be “in the cloud”, and suddenly your computer starts to warn you that the disk is full? That surprise is not so strange. Learn how to free up disk space on Macs and Windows devices. Right-click the folder or file for which you want to enable Smart Sync. Sep 22, 2021 · Solved: Dropbox Smart Sync Not Freeing Up Space Featured This article introduces the ways to solve the problem that Dropbox Smart Sync is not freeing up. cache' folder. Aug 21, 2025 · Download, install, and use Dropbox on Windows 11/10 with this complete step-by-step guide. No more switching back and forth between the sync app and the online version of Dropbox! Smart Sync gives you the option to easily save files and folders on your hard drive (local) or in the cloud (online only) or in some local Mar 28, 2025 · However, as storage limits approach, deleting files becomes a crucial skill to free up space and maintain efficiency. Dec 21, 2021 · Online only files taking up space on Windows I have an 8Tb drive where I store my dropbox files on my Windows computer and despite setting all files to be 'online only' as well as going to Dropbox preferences and setting select sync to not sync any folders I am still getting the message "Can't sync not enough free space". Hi thank you so much for this advice. What version of drivers (is it studio drivers?) u installed? thank u! Free or Paid doesn't matter. “My Dropbox Smart Sync is not freeing up space! I use Dropbox and have a large number of files that I am uploading. Feb 1, 2023 · Do you meet Dropbox Smart Sync online only not working? Here offers you 5 solutions and provides a way to release local space. Sep 11, 2025 · If you're having trouble with your storage space limit or find your Dropbox account is full, there are several ways you can increase or free up space. So, the main difference between Selective Sync and Smart Sync is the place where you Aug 22, 2020 · Solutions: The two ways: Selective Sync and Delete files, could help you to free up space. Discover step-by-step methods to optimize storage usage and improve system performance. Manage storage space better with Dropbox Smart Sync As more people work together in teams, the need for storage space grows exponentially. Jan 27, 2025 · Dropbox Taking Up Space on Mac Before plunging into Dropbox’s usage issues and discussing how to free up space on Mac Dropbox, it’s highly recommended you clean up your device from cluttered files which could hamper its running. Oct 22, 2024 · Direct sync: Dropbox eliminates the need for manual file version management by storing your files online and enabling seamless device syncing. Choose Make online-only and click Update Jul 9, 2023 · The Selective Sync options assist you in freeing up space on your hard drive by removing files from the Dropbox folder without deleting them from the account online. To avoid hitting the limit, regularly clean up old or duplicate files and compress large items. Nov 8, 2024 · Learn how to clear Dropbox and free up storage space with our step-by-step guide to declutter your account and boost productivity. Learn setup, syncing, sharing, & troubleshooting. Jun 17, 2021 · Sometimes, you may encounter the Dropbox Smart Sync not working issues like the user, what should we do to fix it? Don’t worry, we will explain for you. Clear Dropbox cache by navigating to the Dropbox folder and deleting the hidden '. for a few days. You can check your current storage use directly in your Dropbox account settings. Dropbox, for its design, stores local copies of your files so that you can use them even without an Internet connection. I could only restore available space by moving some content back to an external disk. Storing files efficiently helps to clear space on your hard drive. By unselecting the folders you don't need, you can keep your files safe and accessible, but not taking up space on your computer. To free up disk space on your Surface Pro, check Dropbox’s selective sync settings to avoid downloading all files locally. Smart Sync is a new option in the Dropbox Sync App that allows you to see files and folders stored on your local hard drive and online only (in the cloud) in one view. Using Selective Sync Oct 26, 2022 · How to use Dropbox Smart Sync – Use Dropbox Smart Sync to save space on your hard drive. On one computer my dropbox folders are mostly set to "Online only", but they still take up as much space as if they were actually there. You can always check the app's status within your computer's system tray/menu bar for more information. they are still on the Mac for a few days in case you need to recover them. Can we force a clean up? Oct 31, 2024 · Learn how to make some files online only with Dropbox, saving space and freeing up storage, with easy steps and expert tips. Sep 30, 2024 · Why is Dropbox taking up space on C drive? How to stop Dropbox keeping files locally? Here are 4 solutions to free up space on C drive in Windows and Mac. Mar 15, 2023 · Have you ever met the situation that Dropbox Smart Sync is not freeing up space in Windows 10/11? Don’t worry. Apr 3, 2025 · Dropbox can’t sync due to not enough free disk space? Whether your disk space is truly full or not, you can try the following 8 solutions in this post. This feature is part of Dropbox Smart Sync and lets you free up local space while still being able to view and access your files when needed. Apr 27, 2020 · Right-click any file or folder in your Dropbox folder, choose the Smart Sync item, and choose Online Only. Upgrading to a higher plan is one option, but there are several strategies you can employ to maximize your existing Dropbox storage space without spending a dime. Jul 14, 2025 · Key Takeaways The Dropbox free storage limit is 2 GB for basic accounts; going over this can stop file syncing and might even lead to data removal. In this case, you don't need to delete the file from your Dropbox folder as doing so would remove it from your account. The primary purpose of Dropbox is to sync files between your computer and your account online, along with other devices linked to your account. Find solutions here. And yes, that means takes up physical space on your hard disk. Oct 21, 2024 · If Dropbox taking up space on Mac is causing you trouble, this guide will help. May 6, 2025 · Learn how to easily delete files from Dropbox, reclaim storage space, and maintain an organized cloud storage experience. But why don’t we delete anything? What compels us to keep files we haven’t opened in years, even when they take up valuable hard drive space? For photographers, designers, recording engineers, and everyone else who creates content for a living, those files are more than archives. Dec 18, 2024 · If Dropbox is using too much disk space, you can use selective sync or make files online-only to help save space on your computer. Sep 29, 2024 · Does OneDrive taking up space on C drive? Yes if you disable files on-demand and make all files available, and hare are 3 ways and 2 tips to fix easily. Feb 1, 2023 · Are you suffering from the Dropbox not enough space on device issue? On this page, we'll list 5 fixes for this issue and a way to get more free Dropbox space. Jul 15, 2025 · Sync folders to larger Dropbox space to free up space The free space that Dropbox provides for each account is very limited, only 2GB. Oct 13, 2025 · In the Dropbox mobile app on your Android device, iPhone, or tablet. Like, share, and subscribe for more tips and tricks. Syncing files between different devices will not only take up local space, but Dropbox's storage will also be quickly exhausted. To be completely honest, syncing can take some time with this amount of data; worry not though for you should be able to adjust your bandwidth settings to boost this process up a bit (or more - always depending on your needs). Learn how to make Dropbox files online-only or available offline to free up space. Selective sync will let you free up space on a computer using our desktop app by un-syncing some of your folders; as you can see shared folders also take up space on your account. Mar 12, 2025 · 2. Mar 20, 2023 · Are you worried about how to free up space on Dropbox? Read this article to learn 5 solutions to the Dropbox storage ran out issue. Online-only: An online-only file is stored in the cloud and won’t take up storage space on your computer or mobile device. About Dropbox Smart Sync I have 2 TB of space on Dropbox so not a problem there, however, my hard drive is filling up with these files even though I have set the files to be online only through Smart Sync. I have deleted almost everything from my DropBox and continue to get the message that my account is full and will no longer be synched. Smart Sync is a more intuitive way for you to access the content you need, without needing to open Dropbox. Oct 31, 2017 · We’re all hoarders and collectors of data. How to Free Up Space on Dropbox Hope your problem gets fixed. dropbox smart sync not freeing up space,Dropbox is fantastic service for cloud-based storage. How can I free up disk space using Smart Sync in Dropbox? How do I stop Dropbox files from downloading to my computer? How to turn on online-only storage for Dropbox folders? Nov 18, 2024 · Conclusion Managing your Dropbox files is not as difficult as you might think. Hey janfill, welcome to the Dropbox Community! If you're after freeing up hard drive space, you don't really need to stop syncing. It allows users to review new files without taking up any hard drive space. Nov 5, 2025 · Help with selective sync and freeing up space on my Mac I am on the free dropbox plan, using a Mac with the dropbox app. Why is Dropbox taking up so much memory? Dropbox is taking up so much memory because it stores all of your files on its cloud-based platform. With growing alarm, I watched as each new directory added to Dropbox ratcheted up the amount of space used on the MacBook to dangerous levels (93%) even as large directories marked as "online only" continued to sync to the Dropbox cloud. It enables you to store your files in the cloud without saving them on Smart Sync vs Selective Sync: What’s the Difference? There’s another interesting Dropbox option worth mentioning called Smart Sync. Feb 3, 2020 · With APFS, the operating system takes snapshots of the file system and available hard drive space. At the Sync tab, press Selective Sync and then Uncheck the folders and files that you would like to remove from your computer but still on your dropbox. . To use selective sync, you’ll need to turn on the feature from the Dropbox app on your Windows or Mac computer. All sorted now :-) When I right click the files and hover over the "Smart Sync" option, there's a check mark next to "Online Only" but in the Storage Manager, it shows all my "Online Only" files. By reducing the number of folders and files you sync on Dropbox and freeing up space in the cloud and local device, you should be able to reduce the amount of memory Dropbox uses. The Video Content has been made available for informational Oct 31, 2017 · We’re all hoarders and collectors of data. Jan 17, 2025 · Why Dropbox Can’t Access Shared Folder and Show Not Enough Space? In fact, a few reasons should be responsible for the problem, you can use some basic solutions to fix it and then use Dropbox to share folders successfully. Feb 2, 2023 · To fix Dropbox online only files taking up space completely, why not just sync files to Dropbox without a local copy? CBackup, a free cloud backup and sync service, can help you. Besides, you can learn the best free way to sync OneDrive to Dropbox. If they cannot help, it is recommended to contact Dropbox Help and get more specific solutions from Dropbox professionals. May 7, 2021 · When hard drive space becomes an issue, consider using Dropbox’s Smart Sync feature for files and folders that you access infrequently. com. Learn how to clear up storage in your Dropbox by deleting unused files or using Smart Sync. Dec 19, 2023 · I have made lots of files online only to free up space on my hard drive, but dropbox has stopped syncing claiming that there is not enough disk space. Unlike iCloud Drive, Dropbox immediately removes synced files, freeing up space. Dropbox is a fantastic tool for managing and sharing files, but as your data needs grow, you might find yourself running out of storage space. Robust Workflow: To fully utilize Dropbox's capability, use online files to enhance performance and streamline work procedures. Learn how to use selective sync to choose which folders sync to your hard drive. I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions - cheers! Aug 21, 2025 · Dropbox Full Even After Deleting Files? Here's the Real Fix Discover the main reasons your Dropbox is full even after deleting files. May 23, 2019 · Learn how to set up a free Dropbox login account, log in to your Dropbox account, install and set up Dropbox app on Windows 10 and more. These snapshots may not update after you've used Smart Sync to set Dropbox files as online only. Understanding the nuances of deleting files on Dropbox can unlock a myriad of benefits, ensuring seamless organization and optimal utilization of storage space. Dropbox is, by default, not a cloud-based folder or drive where your files only exist in the cloud. 13 and up, you may notice that online-only files appear to take up space when you try to manage storage space in your Mac settings. Follow to repair your issue. What is Smart Sync? Smart Sync was designed to make it easier for you to view all of your stuff in Dropbox from your desktop, without taking up much space on your computer. Thanks for watching. Follow our comprehensive guide for seamless syncing. However, you may meet some errors during the Dropbox Selective Sync process May 6, 2025 · There are two folders on their Dropbox accounts that I’ve already set to "Online Only" and also unchecked them from Smart Sync. Feb 2, 2025 · Wondering whether it's better to back up or sync your files? Discover the difference between backup and sync and why you should do both. Mar 19, 2025 · The Smart Sync feature in Dropbox is a powerful tool that allows you to free up space on your computer by storing files and folders in the cloud without deleting them locally. There is a limitation with the client, it’s not recommended to sync over 300k files at once. By default, the Dropbox folder on your computer is ON your computer and takes up local drive space. Feb 1, 2023 · Dropbox is taking up space on Mac so that I can’t download any additional files! Don’t worry, click this article to find 5 effective solutions here. For example if you unsync a folder before its all uploaded it just deletes everything even things not sync'd. Apr 3, 2025 · Now you have 8 fixes to address the “Dropbox can’t sync not enough disk space” error. Nov 17, 2025 · 256GB is just not enough these days, even without OneDrive, Dropbox and other online sync tools. This option lets you make files online-only. It seems like Dropbox might be the reason that fills up my space, but after I change all my dropbox files to Online-only (Smart Sync), my hard drive space still stays the same. Sep 20, 2019 · Smart Sync is a Dropbox feature on the desktop application that lets users check files shared with them. Jan 24, 2024 · Why are smart sync files still taking up space? If you’re using Smart Sync with macOS High Sierra 10. Can someone help me with this Mar 20, 2025 · Noticing your Dropbox space reduced? Learn why it happens and discover practical tips to free up space or increase your storage capacity. Learn how to use Smart Sync, its requirements, and how fast it can free up your hard drive space. Use Smart Sync Smart Sync allows you to view all your files in Dropbox without taking up space on Mac because it lets you store your files online-only. Sep 30, 2024 · Smart Sync on Dropbox is designed to help users solve the Dropbox using too much disk space problem by making online-only files, thus freeing up space on the computer hard drive. Any ideas?? Dropbox Smart Sync is a Dropbox advanced feature that helps you view, access the all files and folders in the Dropbox desktop folder from your computer and using virtually no hard drive space. Ensure a smooth setup with these expert steps and troubleshooting tips. Jun 17, 2021 · About Drobox Smart Sync Dropbox Smart Sync is a Dropbox advanced feature that helps you view, access the all files and folders in the Dropbox desktop folder from your computer and using virtually no hard drive space. If you're referring to Smart Sync, the files will show a grey cloud icon to show they are not taking space on your hard drive. Most cloud services, including Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and iCloud, feature a storage analysis tool that classifies files by kind and size. Nov 4, 2018 · Small storage, so I purchased dropbox Smart Sync, allowing theoretically to free space. Nov 19, 2024 · Dropbox selective sync is a great way to free up disk space on your computer and prevent the wrong files from being uploaded to the cloud. Jan 30, 2017 · As we head into the next chapter of file sync and share, we’re excited to announce new features that make collaboration simple and efficient. Sync is up to date and I don't care if the space is actually physical or imaginary, because neither does windows and other apps which bug me about my limited space on disk. This means that hard drive space you freed up with Smart Sync may not be immediately reflected or available if this snapshot hasn't updated. This video shows you how. I have restarted dropbox, restarted the computer, and waited for ages, but the problem persists Please help. The top level folder says that it has 5TB of content, but in the four folders it contains there is less than 100 gb. Use Smart Sync to free up space. Does any one have idea on this problem? Apr 6, 2025 · If you need help troubleshooting Dropbox not syncing and don’t know where to start, read our guide for helpful tips. They’re the seeds of ideas that could bloom into a new project May 25, 2020 · Yes, you can free up space in Dropbox without deleting any files by using the "Smart Sync" feature. Only the selected folders can be accessed on your computer. Dropbox lets you set files as online-only when securely storing them in the cloud—freeing up space on your computer or hard drive. However my Mac (even if the files appear as very litlle storage used) does not aknowledge this and is permanently warning about low storage, with all the issues that you can imagine. Jun 20, 2025 · Admins can manage the sync settings for their team on Dropbox and save space on team members' hard drives. No more switching back and forth between the sync app and the online version of Dropbox! Smart Sync gives you the option to easily save files and folders on your hard drive (local) or in the cloud (online only) or in some local 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. So, this guide will walk you through effective methods to free up space, organize your Smart Sync is a new option in the Dropbox Sync App that allows you to see files and folders stored on your local hard drive and online only (in the cloud) in one view. This presents big challenges. Whether you use Smart Sync, disconnect Dropbox from your device, or manually organize your files, these techniques will save you storage space on your device while ensuring that your files remain safe in the cloud. Oct 23, 2024 · Learn practical strategies to tackle the issue of Dropbox taking up space on PC and reduce Dropbox storage on PC. Hi Paul, A common issue that happens in cases like these are either shared folders that are taking up space on your account or some old folders that are no longer active, but still living on your Dropbox account. Mar 24, 2025 · 10 Quick Fixed - Dropbox Online Only Option Missing Dropbox Smart Sync online only not working? Try to find out the culprit and the corresponding solution in this comprehensive post! It will offer you 7 reasons and 10 fixes to choose from. The reason for this is that file size is calculated based on something called “logical size” rather than “physical size” . Check for folders that may contain heavy files and try moving them out of Dropbox. We cover the critical steps to force a sync and permanently empty your online trash, resolving "why does deleting files on Dropbox not free up space" to finally regain your storage. This means you can free up more storage space on your computer by storing the contents of your files exclusively in the cloud. It is available in Dropbox Plus, Professional, Standard, and Advanced for individuals and business teams. Apr 4, 2023 · Dropbox Selective Sync not freeing up space! Why? Dropbox Selective Sync is a core feature in Dropbox, which allows you to sync selected files and folders between Dropbox and your computer. Why doesn't DropBox recognize that I have deleted files? My best option at this point is to use OneDrive or some other file sharing solution. Jun 17, 2024 · Free up space! Learn how to prevent Dropbox from storing locally and access them online only. Dropbox has a hidden cache that stores all files which are used, or, turned to selective sync etc. Once you install the app, any files you had saved in your Dropbox account will sync to your desktop. Feb 22, 2024 · Deleted a bunch of photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod but your storage is still full? Learn how to free up space now! Sep 29, 2024 · Does OneDrive taking up space on C drive? Yes if you disable files on-demand and make all files available, and hare are 3 ways and 2 tips to fix easily. May 28, 2025 · Files not syncing in Dropbox? Fix syncing problems and get your files up-to-date across all devices. With Smart Sync, users can see and seamlessly access all the content they have in their Dropbox, right from their desktops, without worrying about local hard drive space. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Jan 20, 2025 · Without proper memory management, it's easy to run out of storage space on your computer. " This is completely untrue. With the Plus service and above, you can store up to 1TB of data within Dropbox—even If you're referring to Smart Sync, the files will show a grey cloud icon to show they are not taking space on your hard drive. Although we’ve monitored the devices for a few hours after making these changes, the disk space does not appear to be freeing up. Learn how. Mar 26, 2021 · Solutions: The two ways: Selective Sync and Delete files, could help you to free up space. If changing to online-only AFTER a drive is full, will dropbox move files from local drive to online so that free space increases? Method 1: Use Dropbox’s Smart Sync Feature Dropbox’s Smart Sync is one of the best tools to save space on your computer. Instead of trying to use smart sync and get your files online, I would recommend to use selective sync and uncheck that 350GB folder. Apr 6, 2025 · Do you use Dropbox and need to free up hard drive space on your device? Learn how to do this with Dropbox Smart Sync. Jan 12, 2025 · Understanding Dropbox Device Limit Dropbox device limit is a cap on the number of devices that can be connected to a single account, currently set at three for free users. They’re the seeds of ideas that could bloom into a new project Feb 1, 2023 · Dropbox is taking up space on Mac so that I can’t download any additional files! Don’t worry, click this article to find 5 effective solutions here. This means you can only sync Dropbox files between three devices, such as your laptop, desktop, and smartphone. Regardless of the reasons, understanding what’s going wrong is the first step toward finding a solution. Currently, my folder has some local folders. I am then presented with options to increase storage space. We cover tips and tricks for Dropbox taking up space on Mac reduce storage issues, ensuring you have more room for important files and applications. If you're facing this problem, don't worry, as we'll explain how to fix it. Selective sync allows you to free up space on your hard drive without deleting anything from your Dropbox account. I But, it seems like about 3-4 GB is filling up everyday, while I do not download files with big size. Jul 17, 2024 · Learn how to effectively use Dropbox Smart Sync on Mac to optimize your storage and streamline file management. Here’s how to use it: Open your Dropbox folder from the Finder’s sidebar. Windows and Office updates get cached, if you have delivery optimization on, then update cache is shared on the LAN with other devices, it may only be small parts, but space is premium with small drives. That should resolve the problem. That means that while they appear deleted and not visible etc. You may meet the following Dropbox Smart Sync not working problems while using Dropbox, find solutions respectively, or you can turn to a free alternative with powerful functionality and wider application range:Ĭase 1. You can continue using our desktop app and take advantage of our hard drive space-saving features! You can read more about how to save hard drive using Dropbox here. I've been struggling to free up my dropbox storage space as I did not want to pay for a subscription. These folders are quite large and are occupying significant hard drive space. Besides, there is an easy and automatic way to move files from Dropbox to another cloud in case you want to free up space on Dropbox or alter to another cloud. Find out more. It does, my files appear to use very little space on my storage. pivym lkvme anvmju hddsezs nzqnc iwmf qybiy zygx dxwciu nnigh xudnhn zvf jyjx elefz bkn