How to Clear Dropbox and Free Up Storage Space

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If you're running low on storage space in Dropbox, it's time to clean up. You can free up space by deleting unnecessary files and folders.

First, identify the files and folders taking up the most space in your Dropbox account. According to the "Identifying Large Files and Folders" section, you can do this by sorting your files by size.

To delete large files, navigate to the "Large Files" folder in your Dropbox account, which is located in the "Files" tab. From there, you can select the files you no longer need and delete them.

Deleting unnecessary files and folders is a good start, but you can also free up space by optimizing your Dropbox account.

What Is Dropbox

Dropbox is a widely-used cloud service all over the world.

It brings you convenient cloud storage features that allow you to save a lot of data on Dropbox.

Every time you upload, download, or delete data from Dropbox, it saves a copy of each deleted file on your hard drive for quick recovery.

This copy is called a Dropbox cache file.

Dropbox cache files can take up a significant amount of your local disk space.

They are automatically emptied every 3 days.

Requesting More Storage

Credit: youtube.com, How to Free Up Space In Dropbox (What to Do When Your Dropbox is Full)

If you're running low on space in your Dropbox, deleting the cache is a good place to start.

You can clear Dropbox cache by selecting a method that suits your computer's operating system.

Deleting the cache can free up a significant amount of space on your device.

Consider turning off Dropbox files offline to conserve space if clearing the cache doesn't provide enough relief.

Using selective sync can also help manage your storage space by allowing you to choose which files to sync.

Enabling smart sync can help you save space by automatically syncing only the files you need.

Clearing Dropbox

To clear Dropbox on Windows, you can press the Windows and R keys at the same time to open the Run window. Input %HOMEPATH%\Dropbox\.dropbox.cache in the blank and click on OK.

You'll then see the .dropbox.cache folder, where you can choose all the cached data and right-click on them to select the Delete option.

The process is similar on macOS, where you press the Command, Shift, and G keys at the same time to open the Go to Folder window.

Part 1: Windows

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To clear Dropbox cache in Windows, you can follow a simple step-by-step guide.

First, press the Windows and R keys at the same time to open the Run window.

Input %HOMEPATH%\Dropbox\.dropbox.cache in the blank and click on OK.

You'll then see the .dropbox.cache folder containing all the cached data.

Choose all the cached data and right-click on them to select the Delete option in the pop-up window.

Part 2: macOS

To clear Dropbox cache in macOS, you'll need to access the Dropbox cached data folder. Press the Command, Shift, and G keys at the same time to open the Go to Folder window.

The command to input in the blank is ~/Dropbox/.dropbox.cache. Click on the Go button to proceed.

You'll find the Dropbox cached data in this folder. Choose it and put it into the Trash on your computer.

All the Dropbox cached data is stored in this folder. You can right-click on them to select the Delete option in the menu.

Part 3: Linux

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If you're using Linux, you can clear Dropbox cache easily by following a simple guideline.

You'll need to refer to the specific instructions, but essentially, you'll be deleting the Dropbox cache in Linux.

In Linux, you can clear Dropbox cache by deleting the cache files, which can be found in a specific directory.

The directory where the cache files are stored is not explicitly mentioned, but you can find it by following the guideline.

To delete the cache files, you'll need to use a command or navigate to the directory using the file manager.

Clearing the Dropbox cache in Linux can help resolve issues and improve performance.

Offline Delete, Online Keep

You can delete files from your hard drive while keeping them online by using Dropbox's Selective Sync options. This feature allows you to free up space on your hard drive by removing files from the Dropbox folder without deleting them from your account online.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Use Dropbox Selective Sync - Save Computer Hard Drive Space

By deleting files from your hard drive, you can conserve storage space and still access them online. The files will remain available on your account, but they won't be synced to your local folder.

Dropbox's Selective Sync options make it easy to manage your files and keep your hard drive organized. You can choose which files to keep on your hard drive and which to delete, all while keeping your online account intact.

This feature is especially useful for users who need to free up space on their hard drive but don't want to lose access to their files.

Removing Files

You can remove files from Dropbox without deleting them, and it's actually quite straightforward.

There are a few ways to do this, but here's a quick rundown of the options:

  1. Delete from dropbox.com but keep on local Dropbox folder
  2. Delete files from the hard drive but keep them on the account online
  3. Using the Smart Sync option

These methods are all about striking a balance between decluttering your local storage and keeping your files safe in the cloud.

When to Remove from Mac

Credit: youtube.com, Mac Basics: Using the Trash To Delete Files

If you're using a Mac and find that Dropbox is no longer serving a purpose in your workflow, it may be time to remove it.

Taking up valuable storage space or causing your computer to run slower are two good reasons to consider removing Dropbox.

You may also be concerned about privacy and security, especially if you're no longer using the app.

Removing Dropbox won't delete your files, so you don't have to worry about losing important data.

Remove from Mac Without Deleting

Removing Dropbox from your Mac without deleting files is a bit of a challenge, but it's definitely doable.

You can use a third-party uninstaller like CleanMyMac X to remove Dropbox while keeping your files intact. This software allows you to select and remove applications without deleting important files.

To use CleanMyMac X, simply install it, click on Applications, and select the Uninstaller tool. From there, you can view all applications and select Dropbox to remove it from your Mac.

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Alternatively, you can manually uninstall Dropbox by moving it to the Trash bin or using Terminal. However, if you're concerned about data loss, it's a good idea to create a copy of the Dropbox folder before deleting the app.

If you're looking to remove files from Dropbox without deleting them, you have a few options. You can delete them from the Dropbox website but keep them on your local Dropbox folder, delete them from the hard drive but keep them online, or use the Smart Sync option to remove them from your Mac but keep them accessible online.

It's worth noting that Dropbox may run in the background, making it difficult to terminate the app completely. To fix this issue, simply quit Dropbox before trying to delete it.

Here are the steps to remove Dropbox from your Mac using CleanMyMac X:

  1. Install and fire up CleanMyMac X on your Mac.
  2. Click Applications and select Uninstaller, view All applications.
  3. Hit the Uninstall button to remove Dropbox from your Mac without deleting files.

Remember, if you're using a Mac and find that Dropbox is no longer serving a purpose in your workflow, it may be time to remove it. This could be due to taking up valuable storage space or causing your computer to run slower.

File Sync Issues

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Removing a file that won't sync can be frustrating, but Simon found a workaround. He suggests removing the stuck file and then copying it back to the Dropbox folder to fix the problem.

It's worth noting that iCloud seems to suffer more often from syncing issues than Dropbox. This can be a problem for users who rely on cloud storage for their files.

To resolve the issue, Simon recommends copying the stuck file from the Dropbox folder to the Desktop, as John Cooper pointed out. This ensures that a copy of the file remains in the Dropbox folder.

A refresh button or swipe gesture would be helpful in resolving syncing issues, but unfortunately, it's not available for all apps.

Jennie Bechtelar

Senior Writer

Jennie Bechtelar is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for distilling complex concepts into accessible language, Jennie has established herself as a go-to expert in the fields of important and industry-specific topics. Her writing portfolio showcases a depth of knowledge and expertise in standards and best practices, with a focus on helping readers navigate the intricacies of their chosen fields.

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