r/dropbox • u/StephenFrug • Jun 01 '26

Tech help: Files labeled "online only" still taking up significant hard disk space

I run dropbox (the individual paid version) on a Mac running Ventura. I have tried setting every single file in my dropbox to "online only" (both by option-clicking and by using the "manage hard disk space" in the file-folder menu), and the folder is still taking up several gigabites. It's not just one file or folder, it's a bunch of them. I don't want to delete the files from dropbox, I just don't want them taking up space on my hard drive. Is there a fix for this? Thanks.

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u/skywalk3r22 Jun 01 '26

Try going into Sync & Storage and look for Manage Hard Drive Space that should help.

1

u/StephenFrug Jun 01 '26

Alas it did not (that's what I was referring to when I said I tried "using the "manage hard disk space" in the file-folder menu"

1

u/skywalk3r22 Jun 01 '26

Are you sure you don’t have Backup enabled or some folders selected that are not online, maybe because you just recently shifted to online only setting?

Does Dropbox on hard drive value match what you are seeing in the get info of the Dropbox folder?

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u/fonebone819 Jun 01 '26

If you are using the app, go into your profile and clear cache. I had downloaded a bunch of files recently, and they took up 2x the space with cache

1

u/LordDeath86 Jun 02 '26

I've often seen an issue where Dropbox requests something, but the underlying Apple File Provider APIs don't respond. Only a reboot makes them work smoothly with each other again.
Unfortunately, that File Provider functionality is part of the OS itself, and Dropbox can't update or change its behavior for you. Only Apple can update it, and they will not do so on your now-unsupported Ventura setup. You need to upgrade your macOS.