Skip to Content

How do I save files to Dropbox but not my computer?

Saving files to Dropbox but not your computer is quite simple. The first step is to create a Dropbox account if you do not already have one. Once you have an account, you can sign into the Dropbox website, and then open the file you want to save by clicking “Upload File” or dragging it into the Dropbox folder.

Once the file is uploaded, it will be stored in the Dropbox folder, and you will not have the file stored on your computer. To access the file in the future, sign into your Dropbox account and navigate to the file.

How can I delete my Dropbox files from my Mac but keep them in Dropbox?

If you want to keep files in your Dropbox account but remove them from your Mac, the best way to do this is to make sure that the files are synced to the cloud before you delete them from your Mac. This will ensure that the files are still stored in your Dropbox account and can be accessed from any other device or computer.

On the web, go to your Dropbox account, select your files and click ‘Syncing’. Make sure the switch is on so the files will sync automatically across all devices.

Next, you can delete the files from your Mac. On a Mac, you can either right click on a file and select ‘Move to Trash’ or select the files and press the delete key. This will remove the files from your Mac but they will still remain in your Dropbox account.

You can also manage the files in your Dropbox account by going to the ‘Files’ tab and managing the folders and files. From here, you can delete files that are no longer needed or move them to a different folder for safekeeping.

By syncing your files to the cloud before deleting them from your Mac and managing files from the ‘Files’ tab on your Dropbox account, you can easily keep your files in Dropbox without taking up space on your Mac.

Does Dropbox keep files on my computer?

Yes, Dropbox can keep files on your computer. When you install the Dropbox app, it will create a new folder on your computer, usually located in your home directory, though you can move this folder if you wish.

When you add files to your Dropbox folder, those files get synchronized across all of your linked devices. While the files will stay on your computer, they will also be uploaded to the cloud, which allows you to access them from any connected device.

Additionally, any edits you make to those files are synced across your devices, so you always have the most recent version on hand no matter where you are.

Does deleting from Dropbox delete from computer?

No, deleting a file from Dropbox will not delete the file from your computer. When you connect your computer to Dropbox, it simply creates a new environment for you to access your files from any device.

By deleting a file from Dropbox, you are only deleting the file from your Dropbox account, not from your computer or any other connected device. Additionally, files deleted from Dropbox go into the Dropbox Trash folder and can be restored to your account at any time.

That being said, it is important to remember that files stored in Dropbox are only stored locally on your computer if you select the “Local” option when syncing your Dropbox account. Otherwise, your files will only exist in your Dropbox account.

Can I delete files after uploading to Dropbox?

Yes, you can delete files after uploading them to Dropbox. Deleting files on Dropbox is easy and can be done by selecting the file in your folder and then clicking the ‘Delete’ button at the top of the page.

You can also delete multiple files at once by checking the boxes next to the files and then selecting ‘Delete’ from the ‘More’ dropdown menu. When you delete a file, it’s moved to the Trash, where you can restore it if needed.

However, please note that if you delete a file from the Dropbox website, it will also be deleted from any synced devices and from the Dropbox app.

How do I manage my Dropbox storage?

Managing your Dropbox storage is relatively easy. In order to ensure your storage usage stays at a minimum, start by regularly reviewing and deleting any unnecessary files. Additionally, avoid saving very large or multiple versions of files, as this can quickly fill up your storage.

You can also compress large files or use file sharing and collaboration tools like Dropbox Paper or Dropbox Spaces to reduce the amount of storage needed for those files. Dropbox also offers the ability to set storage goals and archive files to free up storage space.

If you need even more storage, you can purchase additional space by upgrading your account, or take advantage of special offers, if available. Dropbox also provides the ability to retain all your data while clearing up some of your space.

To do this, you can select ‘archive’ or delete entire folders, as well as ‘move’ them outside of your Dropbox folder. To access these folders again, you simply need to move them back into Dropbox.

Lastly, you can always access the Dropbox Pro page to view your storage breakdown and recent activity, to keep an eye on your remaining space and identify which folders are taking up the most of it. With these easy tips, you can keep your account organized and maximize the amount of storage in your Dropbox account.

Will Dropbox save my photos?

Yes, Dropbox can save your photos. It provides easy, secure storage for all your files, so you don’t have to worry about losing or forgetting your best memories. Uploading photos to Dropbox is simple and you can do it from a variety of different sources, like your iPhone or desktop computer.

Once they’re in Dropbox, they’re safe and secure. You can also access your photos from any device with an internet connection, so you can view them no matter where you are. Plus, you can share photos with friends and family with a few clicks, and even make albums of your favorite shots.

Does Dropbox delete files after inactivity?

No, Dropbox does not delete files after inactivity. Dropbox keeps all files stored in the cloud indefinitely, and there is no expiration date on the files stored in your account. The only way a file would be deleted is if the file owner actively deleted it from the account, or if the account was deleted by an admin.

However, if an account is inactive for two years, Dropbox may delete the account, and all associated content may be permanently deleted.

How do I uninstall Dropbox without deleting files?

To uninstall Dropbox without deleting your files, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu and select Settings.

2. Click Apps, then find and select the Dropbox app.

3. Select Uninstall and then, after a few moments, Uninstall again to confirm.

4. Select Keep Files if you’re prompted. This will ensure that all your Dropbox files remain in the same location on your computer.

5. Close out of all windows, then restart your computer.

6. When restarted, click the Dropbox icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner near the clock).

7. Select Quit Dropbox from the downward-facing menu.

8. Return to the system tray and right-click the Dropbox icon.

9. Select Open Dropbox from the menu.

10. Select Settings from the downward-facing menu and then Account.

11. Click Unlink This Dropbox to disconnect your existing installation from your Dropbox account without deleting any files.

Your Dropbox files will now remain intact on your computer, but the app will no longer access or sync them with your Dropbox account.

How do I clean out Dropbox?

Cleaning out your Dropbox can be done in a few easy steps.

First, you want to go into the Dropbox settings and delete all the files you don’t need. You can also sort the files by size, date, and type so that you can make an easier selection of which files to delete.

Next, you can delete all the empty folders from the Dropbox. This will help you clean out the clutter in your Dropbox and make it easier to see which files and folders are important.

You can also delete all the version history of your files. This will help free up a lot of storage space in your Dropbox and help you start fresh with your files.

Finally, you want to clear the cache and log files from your Dropbox. This will help improve your Dropbox performance and speed up any activities you may be doing in Dropbox such as sharing files and folders.

Following these steps will help you clean out your Dropbox quickly and make it easier to use.

How do I Unsync my desktop from Dropbox?

To unsync your desktop from Dropbox, you’ll need to remove the Dropbox folder from your computer:

1. Open Finder on your Mac and select Dropbox from the left sidebar if it’s available.

2. Right-click on the Dropbox folder in the list and select “Move to Trash” from the dropdown menu.

3. Now, open System Preferences and click on the Dropbox icon in the list.

4. In the Dropbox preferences window, select the Unlink This Computer option.

5. Click Unlink to confirm your decision.

Once your desktop has been unlinked from Dropbox, all the content stored in the Dropbox folder on your computer will be deleted. To keep a local copy, be sure to back up your data before unsyncing your desktop from Dropbox.

How do I unlink Dropbox from Mac?

To unlink your Dropbox account from your Mac, you first need to sign out of your Dropbox account on your Mac. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Dropbox app on your Mac.

2. Click your profile photo in the upper-right corner and select “Preferences.”

3. Select the “Account” tab.

4. Click the “Sign out” button.

5. Confirm that you want to sign out by clicking “Sign Out” in the dialog box.

After you have signed out of your Dropbox account, you can uninstall the desktop app from your Mac. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock.

2. Click “Applications” in the left sidebar.

3. Locate the Dropbox app in the Applications folder.

4. Right-click on the app icon and select “Move to Trash.”

5. Empty your Trash.

Once you’ve uninstalled the app, your Dropbox account will be completely unlinked from your Mac.

What happens if I cancel Dropbox?

If you cancel your Dropbox account, you will have 30 days to move or copy any files that you want to keep before they are permanently deleted from your account. After the 30-day grace period ends, all of your files and any associated metadata will be permanently deleted from our servers.

You can still choose to restore your deleted Dropbox account within 30 days of the deletion date. However, any previously synced Dropbox files, including the entire folder hierarchy, will still be deleted after the 30-day grace period ends.

Additionally, when you cancel your Dropbox account, any Dropbox Business or other user-related data (including view rates, file shares, and comments) associated with your account will be permanently deleted.

In addition, any shared folders or files will be unshared and any standalone shared folders will be deleted.

Lastly, if you had connected a third-party app with your Dropbox account, it may no longer be able to access the files it was linked to. Even if you decide to restore your account, the connection between your Dropbox account and the third-party app may not be automatically restored.

How long do files stay in Dropbox?

Files in Dropbox generally stay in the account forever, unless they are manually deleted. This means that whatever files are uploaded to the account will remain accessible as long as the account stays active.

Some files, like shared links, can expire after certain lengths of time, such as 30 days. To extend the life of shared links, you can opt to keep them active indefinitely. Otherwise, if a user manually deletes a file from their account, it will be removed from the server and no longer accessible.

Are Dropbox files permanently deleted?

When a file is deleted from your Dropbox account, it’s moved to the Dropbox trash. Files in the trash can be restored or permanently deleted at any time. Dropbox will keep the files in your trash indefinitely, unless you choose to permanently delete them or your account is closed.

If you permanently delete a file from your Dropbox account, it is gone for good and can no longer be recovered. That is why it’s important to always make a copy of important files to an external backup service, like a physical hard drive, before deleting from Dropbox.

Where do files go when deleted from Dropbox?

When you delete files from your Dropbox account, they are sent to the Trash folder first. These deleted files remain in the Trash folder for up to 30 days, during which you can restore them to their original locations in your Dropbox account.

During this time, the files still take up space in your account and count towards your storage limit. After 30 days, the files will be permanently removed from your Dropbox account and will no longer be recoverable.

Any files that have been shared with you by other Dropbox users will remain in their Dropbox accounts, but will no longer be accessible from your account.

Why is my Dropbox still full after deleting files?

There are a few potential reasons why your Dropbox may still appear to be full even after deleting files.

1. First, the deleted files may still be present on the computer but invisible in the Dropbox folder. To verify this, run a search for these files on your computer. If you find them, you need to manually delete them from the Dropbox folder before the storage space is released.

2. Second, the deleted files may not be completely deleted, but instead are stored in the Dropbox trash bin. So, when you delete a file from Dropbox, the file will be moved to the Trash folder. To completely delete the file and free up the used space, you need to empty the Trash folder.

3. Third, if you connected your Dropbox account to other devices, like a smartphone, the deleted files may still be taking up space in their individual Dropbox folders. To free up the space, you will need to delete them individually from each device connected to the Dropbox.

4. Lastly, if Dropbox is still showing full after completing the steps above, it could be related to an issue with temporary files and cached data taking up space on your computer. To resolve this, you can try cleaning up your computer’s temporary files, resetting Dropbox and running a disk cleanup.

If you’ve completed all of the steps above and you’re still unable to free up space on your Dropbox, you can reach out to Dropbox Support and they can investigate further.