How to Use Dropbox Selective Sync - Save Computer Hard Drive Space

Here's how I save space on my hard drive, speed up my computer, AND make it easy to restore my files when I have to get a new computer.

I use the Selective Sync settings in Dropbox and only sync those files from the cloud to the computer that I use regularly. The rest I leave in a 'Cold Storage' folder in Dropbox Online.

And whenever I create something new, I save it to a Dropbox folder so that I can always access it from any computer of mine. The added bonus is that when I bought a new computer (or once when my computer crashed), I was able to quickly move everything to the new one (or restore).

Here's how I did it:

1 - Using Windows Explorer (I don't have a Mac), move all files you want to have remain in the cloud into a 'Cold Storage' folder in your Dropbox folder on your computer.

2 - Sync everything to Dropbox online (this could take a long time if you have a lot of files that will go from hard drive to the cloud)

3 - Click on the Dropbox icon in your toolbar on your computer (see video)

4 - Click on your profile pic and select 'Preferences'

5 - Click on Sync and on Selective Sync (I don't trust the Smart Sync setting!)

6 - Select all folder to sync and then unselect the Cold Storage one, or any others you don't want to have sync

Now, the Cold Storage folder will only appear in your Dropbox account online and not on your computer. Again, it may take a while for everything to reorganize and update. But it will also be faster from here on.

Don't forget to save your new files to a Dropbox folder too, and not in a folder on your hard drive. Then you can access it anywhere - especially if you're sharing files with another person or team member!

[AaronRondale]

This was super helpful! I disabled dropbox on my MacBook because I didn't feel like messing with it. Thanks to you now I can reactivate it and save a ton of time! Thank you!!!

[emprendedorreal]

Thank you so much! You explained what dropbox is simply unable to explain (or make easy) and saved my sanity...!

[tomcarroll]

A lifesaver--thanks for this helpful video

[live.love.ascension.byanas]

Thank you for this info! I needed it!🙏

[ozimerman]

Thank you for posting this video. Very useful.

[muralist_]

Good tutorial on Dropbox! Just one note: that your little Dropbox Icon is 'down here' at the bottom of your computer screen... doesn't mean it's down there in everybody else's computer 🙂

So I had to do a little research where mine was hiding... 'cause it wasn't at that specific point.

[SouthpawAutoworks]

This video was extremely helpful. It was super easy to follow, short, and to-the-point. Thank you so much for making this video.
My computer's RAM is in the red zone, because of DropBox. I love the offline uploader...but it has really bogged down my computer with stuff that really belongs in a "Cold Storage" folder. Love that name.
I liked, subbed...and of course, commented. I hope more people find your great video.

[jasminmin]

thank you, the video is very helpful!

[JyriJii]

Thank you. Now it serves the reason I use this service. To have certain files online and not use the space on my computer.

[dr.wezisunkutumd]

Wow! Finally! My I have suffered! U are an angel! Thank you. Let me do that right away!

[Starktoons]

thanks! couldnt figure out how to do this

[CharlieEdward]

Can i back my whole pc in case of a failed hard drive or ssd on drop box is it compatible ?

[hotelphotography]

Hi, thanks for the video. A while back when I used the DropBox app form my desktop, it opened up directly to my folders. Now, a window comes up (with a blue strip on the top) first and then I have to click on the folder icon and then on the "little face" icon and then finally I see what I was used to see, my list of Dropbox folders. Is there a shortcut around this?

[davidzenteno]

Every time I save something on my pc, it creates a folder called "Dropbox" and saves there instead of the downloads folder. Any way to stop it from doing this and go back to the original downloads folder? I already deleted dropbox from my pc and unsynced it from my profile.

[hottamaletallahassee]

i am confused. you say after unsyncing the files you don't want to keep in your computer's hard drive that the "folder will only appear in your dropbox account online and not on your computer." but just because it doesn't not "appear" on my computer, doesn't mean it's not still in there somewhere taking up memory space. how could you know for sure?

[jqvilkg]

hi I’m from Korea thanks for sharing this video I don’t speak English well … but I’ll. Try it!! I have a question about some trouble shooting … I use dropbox and somehow it did not work I use Dropbox capture program for capturing image … I don;t want re start window system because I have this issue last time it kee p bothering me and so… how can i fix this thing please help me…

[EnJayLovesMogu]

Dropbox reshuffle all my file

I cant find some of them

[melgibbs]

Dropbox completely hijacked my entire disk drive space and I can't even get the app to display the option to online only save everything because theres zero space and it just freezes and the app just crashes over and over and over evne after restarting

[charlespagano]

This is just whether it's visible or not right? Nothing to do with reducing space. I'm looking for tutorials about how to reduce Space by deleting files but for some reason my phone app won't even let me look at my files. Any steerage (not storage) in the right direction would be appreciated

[jimmneedle]

They need to add a sync option to the right click menu- This is a pain when you have 100's of folders being shared.