If Delete Dropbox App Mac Will Synch

Posted on by admin

Select Dropbox & click uninstall; How To Uninstall Dropbox From Mac If you want to delete Dropbox from mac without deleting files & folders then you must follow these steps. But before that, you must have to unlink your Dropbox account from your Mac so that you will be signed out of your account. Hey @TeeAnn, I'd be happy to help. You are right, if you remove a file or photo by deleting it from your Dropbox folder or the desktop app, it'll be removed from your computer and your account. To save hard drive space, you can selectively sync whole folders from your desktop app's settings. Downloading Dropbox. Your Dropbox download should automatically start within seconds. Once the download finishes, click Run to start installing Dropbox.

If Delete Dropbox App Mac Will Synch

Before we begin explaining the steps to uninstall Dropbox from macOS, remember deleting Dropbox apps and uninstalling Dropbox are different. Also, removing Dropbox will not delete the account. However, once Dropbox is removed from Mac, you can no longer sync the files present in the Dropbox folder.In case you want to close your account and remove files from Dropbox, you will have to do that separately, in a web browser.

Now, let’s learn how to get rid of Dropbox on Mac.

No one likes carrying extra baggage, be it clothes, electronic devices, or data saved on an external hard disk. Due to these, cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud have become rampant.

But between the omnipresence of iCloud and Google Drive, Mac users no longer like Dropbox. In simple words, Dropbox is obsolete. Hence, they look for ways to uninstall Dropbox from Mac. Furthermore, removing Dropbox will make room for other cloud storage services.

If Delete Dropbox App Mac Will Synchronized

So, in this guide, we will walk you through the steps to uninstall Dropbox on Mac.

How to Uninstall Dropbox from macOS

Additional Tip

If you have already removed Dropbox but are worried about leftovers, we suggest you jump down to the bottom section labeled, how to clean Junk Files, System Cache, and other Unwanted Data from Mac with Disk Clean Pro.

Uninstalling Dropbox

Note: When you uninstall Dropbox, the Dropbox folder is not removed from Mac. To remove it, drag it to the Trash. But before that, take a backup of all the files at a secure location.

How to Unlink Dropbox on your Mac

  1. Open the Dropbox app.
  2. Click the Dropbox menu.
  3. Select your Avatar > Preferences.
  4. Click Account tab > Unlink This Dropbox.
  5. Again, click the Dropbox menu bar.
  6. Choose your Avatar > Quit Dropbox.
  7. Head to the Applications folder.
  8. Look for Dropbox app > right-click Move to Trash.
  9. Empty the Trash.

We are moving the Dropbox app icon to Trash to delete all its contents from the Mac.

How to Delete Local Dropbox Folder and Files

If you want entirely to delete everything your Dropbox folder holds, drag it to the Trash.

This will delete all local files and local Dropbox folders.

Note: If the files aren’t synced, you won’t see them at dropbox.com. Therefore, before moving the Dropbox folder to Trash, make sure you either have the backup of the files that aren’t important.

How to delete Dropbox via contextual menu

  1. Launch Finder > Go menu > Go to Folder.
  2. Here, type /Library and press Return.
  3. Look for the DropboxHelperTools folder right click and Move to Trash.

That’s it. You have now successfully deleted and unlinked Dropbox from Mac.

In addition to this, to remove Dropbox application settings, follow the steps below:

Clearing Dropbox application settings

  1. Launch Finder > Go menu > Go to Folder.
  2. Type /.dropbox and hit Return.
  3. Select all files present in the folder and drag them to Trash.
  4. Empty the Trash.

This way, you get rid of Dropbox from Mac along with its settings.

Even after following all the steps explained above, if you are still unable to uninstall Dropbox, don’t worry. Move to the next step.

What to do if you face a problem while uninstalling Dropbox?

  1. Head to Applications>Utilities > launch Activity Monitor.
  2. Look for any processes named Dropbox or related to it.
  3. Choose them, one by one, and hit the Quit Process (x) button.
  4. Once all Dropbox processes are closed, exit Activity Monitor.
  5. Now, try to uninstall Dropbox; you should be able to remove it.

Using any of the steps explained above, you can quickly get rid of Dropbox on Mac. However, if you already know this and are just looking for a way to delete all corresponding files, here you go.

How to delete Junk Files related to Dropbox from Mac?

If you are still looking for ways to optimize Mac and free up more storage space, there’s an easy way. Disk Clean Pro – a robust Mac cleanup tool that helps clean junk files, system cache, logs, unwanted languages, and much more. In short, it is the best Mac Optimizer you can find on the App Store. Moreover, it is the cheapest of all the Mac cleaning tools available.

To use it, follow the steps below:

  1. Download and launch Disk Clean Pro
  2. Click the Start System Scan button present at the home screen.
  3. Wait for the scanning to finish.
  4. Once your Mac is analyzed, Disk Clean Pro will enlist all junk files, system cache, partial downloads, and other unwanted data.
  5. Click Clean Now to get rid of them.

Note: If you want to see what each area brings as a scan result, click them individually. Once you are sure that all the data is unwanted, click Clean Now.

The product doesn’t clean anything without user consent. This means you have the control in your hands. Once you clear all this unwanted data Dropbox and all other uninstalled applications’ data will be gone.

So, this is all from our side on how to uninstall Dropbox from Mac. You can pick any of the steps and can get rid of Dropbox. However, before taking any action, make sure you have backed up the data. Also, using Disk Clean Pro will help keep Mac optimized. It is one of the most trusted applications on the Mac App Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I delete Dropbox from my Mac?

  1. way, you will close all running processes.
  2. Now try to uninstall Dropbox; you will not face any problem.

How do I remove Since Dropbox is a cloud service that syncs data, if you cannot delete a file or folder, it’s because it still exists on one of the connected devices. And when Dropbox sees that a file is missing, it replaces it. To obliterate it and reduce the chances of it reoccurring, follow the steps below:

  1. Open Activity Monitor
  2. Look for Dropbox and all related files.
  3. Select all the files one by one and click Force Quit

This Dropbox from my Mac without deleting files?

If you want to get rid of Dropbox without deleting files, follow the steps below:

  1. Launch Dropbox
  2. Click the Dropbox menu.
  3. Select your Avatar > Preferences.
  4. Click Account tab > Unlink This Dropbox.
  5. Go back to the Dropbox Click Preferences > Quit Dropbox.
  6. Head to Finder > Application > Dropbox > Move to Trash

What does Unlink Dropbox on Mac Mean?

Unlinking Dropbox taking up space on my Mac?

Yes. Since macOS has changed the way it calculates the size, Dropbox takes up space. To change it, adjust Dropbox settings so that online-only files have both logical and physical size set to zero.

Does deleting Dropbox means once you sign out for Dropbox and delete it. All its corresponding files and folder should also be removed.

Is files on Dropbox free up space?

Yes, deleting files from Dropbox will help free up space. To verify your space usage, head to the Account page. Here, you can see a breakdown of what’s using the storage.

Why is Dropbox using so much memory?

If the number of files stored in your Dropbox folder is too big, you might see high memory RAM usage. The more files in the Dropbox folder, the more memory Dropbox will use to keep track of them. In addition to this, if any third-party app conflicts with Dropbox, then too, you’ll face the High CPU usage problem. Furthermore, suppose the Dropbox folder is installed on NAS drive, or there are incorrect file permissions, or the file system doesn’t support extended attributes. In these cases, you will also face high memory usage.

We all know that Dropbox magically syncs across all our devices.

But what if you only want to sync some of your files?

Say you have huge media files on your desktop and don’t want them to automatically download to your laptop. Can you exclude them from syncing?

Yes you can!

Let’s dive in.

What is Dropbox Selective Sync?

Dropbox’s Selective Sync feature gives you the option to delete folders from your desktop hard drive and still have them saved on your cloud storage.

Everyone has this feature available, even the users on the free plan.

If you haven’t used Dropbox’s desktop app before, you’ve got to know that after you install it, you get a Dropbox folder on your computer that is synced with your cloud storage.

That means anything you move into that folder also goes into your online account.

Selective Sync comes in clutch for people having issues with space on their hard drive.

Unchecking folders using the feature will delete them from your computer, making up space for your new files.

Keep in mind that you can only select folders and not individual files.

When you select a folder with Selective Sync, you get rid of the folder and everything inside of it.

One more thing you need to know before you start deleting folders left and right is that your Selective Sync settings are different for each computer you use.

That means you always have to check if everything’s okay before proceeding to use it from a new computer.

Now let’s get into how to set up your Selective Sync and the different sync statuses you might encounter while using it.

How to Set up Dropbox Selective Sync

The option is already there for you. Now it’s time to learn how to use it and how to check and uncheck folders with your Selective Sync.

We know it might be a little nerve-wracking to delete folders from your computer using a feature you haven’t used before.

That’s why we’ll break this down into steps so you can finish the process fast and easy.

#1 You need to install the Dropbox desktop app to use the Selective Sync feature

Assuming you already have that done, let’s proceed to the next step.

#2 Click your Dropbox icon / folder

For Windows that will be on your system tray.

And for Mac that will be in your menu bar.

Done? Great!

#3 Click your avatar picture

You can find that on the top right corner of the menu that just popped up.

After you click on your profile image, you’ll see a dropdown menu.

#4 Go to Preferences

After you do this, you’ll get another window with all the preferences changes you can make.

#5 Click the Sync button

Then you’ll find yourself in the Dropbox Sync preferences window where things will be a little different for Windows and Mac users.

#6 Click the Selective Sync button

Windows users will see it as Selective Sync and Mac users will see it as Choose Folders.

Both buttons do the same, so let’s jump to the next step where you’ll see all the folders you currently have in your Dropbox account.

#7 Select the which folders to stay and which must go

Mentioning again that Selective Sync can only be used for folders and not individual files.

That’s the reason you’ll be seeing folders only in the menu that just popped up.

You should be seeing a checkmark on the left side of each folder.

If a folder is checked, that means it is saved both on your computer and on your Dropbox account.

If you wish to remove a folder from your hard drive but keep it in your cloud storage, then you should uncheck it.

It should look something like this.

In the image above, you can see that the “Budget Reports (2015-2016)” folder is unchecked.

That means it is only stored in the Dropbox account and is currently not on the hard drive of the desktop computer.

All of the other folders are both on the computer and in the cloud storage space of the account.

And now for the final step…

#8 Click Update and you’re done

You can use this step-by-step process anytime you need to update your syncing preferences.

The process is easy to remember and easy to complete.

But before we move on to the common problems you might face when using the Selective Sync feature, there’s one last thing you need to know.

After you’ve unchecked specific folders, using the process we just shared with you, the best practice is to go in your online Dropbox account and check the status of these folders.

You can’t see the status of your folders on your desktop app as they are already gone.

After you go into your account, find the folders you just unchecked and make sure their status is fine.

These are the tags you might see next to your folders.

#1 Local — This folder is both saved in your hard drive and your dropbox.com account

This will be illustrated with a color-filled green check mark.

#2 Syncing or Updating — This folder is currently updating

This will be illustrated with a blue reloading circle.

#3 Online Only — This folder is selected to online-only or local

This option is more into the Smart Sync feature and it can only be used by clients using paid plans like Dropbox Plus, Professional, or Business Plans.

This tag will be illustrated with a grey cloud.

#4 Mixed — This folder contains both folders selected to local only and online only.

This will be illustrated with a green outline, filled with white check mark.

Now that you know what to look for when using the Selective Sync feature, let’s move on to the common problems that might occur when using it and how to fix them quickly.

Common Problems with Dropbox Selective Sync

People often encounter one of 3 common problems when using the Selective Sync option that Dropbox offers.

These problems are easy to fix so if you are currently facing one, don’t worry, just follow the steps below and you’ll be good in minutes.

A quick overview of the common problems. Scroll to the one that fits your situation best.

  1. Your folders have “Selective Sync conflict” in their names
  2. ’Performing initial sync with server… Please wait’
  3. Selective Sync preferences wouldn’t update

#1 Your folders have “Selective Sync conflict” in their names

This problem is both easy to fix and harmless even if you don’t fix it.

What do I mean by that?

Selective Sync conflict occurs when you create 2 folders with the same name located in the same place and try to sync them.

Here’s an example of how that can happen:

You create a folder named “Accounting”. You then use the selective sync preferences and uncheck this folder so it only remains in your cloud storage space.

Keep in mind you’ll not be seeing this folder on your desktop app until you check it again.

Later on, you create a new folder called “Accounting” and save it in the same place as the other one.

On your desktop app, you’ll be seeing only one of them (the new one) but on your online account, you’ll see the old folder with the “selective sync conflict” in its name.

This is nothing to worry about as you can erase that issue in a couple of ways.

One is to rename the older folder to something like “Accounting November” so it doesn’t match with the new one.

If you don’t mind it, you can even let it be as it is. This will not ruin any of your files. The only difference it makes is the name of the older folder.

And of course, you can also combine all the files into a single new folder and call it “Accounting”.

Dropbox

To prevent this from ever happening again, you can check your online account every time you create a new folder so you know whether you have a copy of it already.

#2 ’Performing initial sync with server… Please wait’

This is another easy to fix issue that shocks most users that are new to Dropbox’s desktop app.

The first time you download the Dropbox desktop app on your computer, you’ll have to wait until your folders and files sync with your online account.

There are two reasons your Dropbox indexing might not have finished yet.

It is normally a quick process that you can just wait out. If it’s currently syncing your files then you must be seeing a blue rotating mark on your Dropbox icon.

If you don’t see the rotating icon then you probably paused the process by accident when first opening your Dropbox app.

If that’s the case then first, you must click Cancel on the ’Performing initial sync with server… Please wait’ error you got to dismiss it.

Then go to your desktop icon on your desktop tray for Windows or menu bar for Mac.

You’ll see a Syncing paused on the bottom of the white bar that will appear.

Simply click resume syncing so you can finish the process and use Selective Sync on demand.

You’ll need to wait it out again and if you have a lot of files that might take a while.

If you’re new to Dropbox this should take a couple of seconds and then you’ll be able to use the Selective Sync feature freely.

#3 Selective Sync preferences wouldn’t update

As with any app, Dropbox might not update your preferences if you’re doing something wrong.

That is only to protect you from damaging your precious files and folders.

For this problem the reason might be one of three:

  • Symlinks or Referenced files are in use
  • You are running low on hard drive space
  • You’re currently using the files or folders you’re trying to sync

Symlinks or Referenced files are in use.

The best way to ensure you don’t face these issues is to never use referenced files methods.

Don’t add symlinks, junction points, or networked folders to your Dropbox folder because it will lead to high CPU usage, slow or impossible syncing performance, and many other problems.

Just don’t use them and you’ll be fine in the long run.

You are running low on hard drive space.

As the name of the issue suggests, you might be running low on hard drive space.

How To Sync Dropbox

To make sure everything’s okay, just go to your computer storage and see if your hard drive is full.

Delete Dropbox From Pc

For Windows, you go to any folder and then click Computer on the left menu of the folder.

You’ll see all of your main disks and how much space each one has left before it is full.

If you see one of your disks in red, that means you will need to delete some files to make space for the syncing process of your Dropbox files.

Dropbox Sync App

For Mac just find your drive and click on get info to see all the additional info including how much space you’ve used and currently have free.

And again, if there’s a warning for being to close to your maximum or you just see that you’ve got only a couple of hundred MBs left, you should probably free up some space.

You’re currently using the files or folders you’re trying to sync.

I’m sure you’ve seen this issue on your desktop when trying to delete a folder or file that’s currently running in the background.

You must fully close the files and folders you wish to selective sync before completing the process.

You might also need to close them from each device that currently has access to your Dropbox account.

Remember that even if you have opened a single file that is stored in the folder you wish to sync, the problem will occur again and again.

Close everything to update your Selective Sync preferences without any issues.

This guide showed you how to safely use (and fix) Dropbox Selective Sync.

We went over the benefits and the problems that Selective Sync has.

Even if you’re a completely new Dropbox user, you can count on the process in this post as it is made to be as simple as possible.

Save this post so you can always share it with your relatives, friends, and colleagues that might want to use Selective Sync on their Dropbox account or maybe fix an issue they are currently facing.