How to avoid files downloading from dropbox

Managing Dropbox with Selective Sync

Dropbox makes it easy to share files on all the computers & devices you use, as well as share files with other people. Normally, all files are downloaded and saved in the Dropbox folder. This includes files others have shared with you. You can purchase additional storage on Dropbox – up to 1 TB.

Sometimes your Dropbox can get so big it can’t download all the files to one of your Macs. Selective Sync helps you choose which folders are copied to your Dropbox on a particular Mac. The other folders are still available on the Dropbox web site and other computers.

Configuring Selective Sync

1. Click the Dropbox icon in your menu bar. No icon? Download and sign into Dropbox first.
2. Click the control gear icon.
3. Choose Preferences.
4. Click Advanced.
5. Next to Selective Sync, choose Change Settings.
6. Check items to copy to this computer. Uncheck folders you don’t need. You can switch to Advanced View to see folders within folders. A – icon means some files within the folder are selected. Click the folder to see which ones.
7. Click Update. Items are downloaded or removed from your computer. All files remain on your Dropbox account and other devices.

Disabling Dropbox sync

If you want to stop syncing all files with a computer you need to disable sync. DO NOT remove files from the Dropbox folder until you’ve unlinked it or you’ll remove them everywhere – from this computer, the web, and all other synced computers.

1. Click the Dropbox icon in your menu bar.
2. Click the control gear icon.
3. Choose Preferences, then General and uncheck Start Dropbox on system startup.
4. Click Account and Unlink This Computer. Confirm you’re sure that you want to unlink.
5. Click the Dropbox icon, then the control gear and Quit Dropbox.
6. Files remain on the computer but will no longer sync with the web or other computers.
7. If you want to remove the files from this computer, click the Finder (Desktop). Click the Go menu at the top of the screen and choose Home. Drag the Dropbox folder to the trash and empty the trash. They remain on the Dropbox web site and other computers.

Learn more about Dropbox.