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A Complete Guide to Dropbox Selective Sync & Smart Sync: Setup, Options & Cautions

  • Writer: Benji
    Benji
  • May 30
  • 2 min read

When businesses and professionals rely on Dropbox, one of the most overlooked but incredibly useful features is Selective Sync. This feature lets you control which folders live on your computer’s hard drive while keeping the rest in the cloud. Combined with Smart Sync, Dropbox offers even more flexibility to manage storage and accessibility.


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What is Dropbox Selective Sync?


Selective Sync is a setting in the Dropbox desktop app that allows you to choose which folders are stored locally on your computer. All files remain in the Dropbox cloud, but only the folders you’ve selected will take up space on your hard drive.



The Different Sync Settings Explained


Dropbox now gives users multiple ways to control file storage:


  1. Selective Sync

    1. Choose which folders are synced to your computer.

    2. Unsynced folders are hidden locally but remain in the cloud.

    3. Best for completely excluding large folders from your device.

  2. Smart Sync

    1. Lets you decide on a file-by-file or folder-by-folder basis whether content should live locally or online only.

    2. Works with everything inside your Dropbox, even within folders that are synced.

  3. Online-Only

    1. The file appears on your computer (so you can see it in File Explorer/Finder), but the content is not downloaded until you open it.

    2. Saves disk space but requires an internet connection to access.

  4. Available Offline (Local)

    1. The file is downloaded and stored on your hard drive.

    2. You can open it anytime without internet access.



How to Turn On Dropbox Selective Sync


  1. Open the Dropbox Desktop App

    1. Click the Dropbox icon in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).

  2. Go to Preferences/Settings

    1. Click your profile picture or initials → Preferences (Mac) or Settings (Windows).

  3. Access the Sync Tab

    1. Navigate to the Sync section.

  4. Choose Selective Sync

    1. Select Selective Sync or “Choose folders to sync.”

  5. Select/Deselect Folders

    1. Check the boxes for folders you want local.

    2. Uncheck the ones you want in the cloud only.

  6. Confirm Changes

    1. Click Update or Apply to save your choices.



How to Use Smart Sync (Online-Only vs Available Offline)


  • Right-click any file or folder in your Dropbox folder.

  • Under Smart Sync, choose:

    • Online-only → File stays in the cloud, visible locally, saves disk space.

    • Available offline → File is downloaded and always accessible locally.



What to Be Cautious About


  • Unsynced ≠ Deleted: Using Selective Sync or Online-only removes files from your device but not from Dropbox cloud storage.

  • Accidental Deletions: If you delete a file from your Dropbox folder (not just unsync), it will delete from the cloud too.

  • Re-Sync Time: Adding a large folder back later will re-download everything, which may take time.

  • Internet Dependence: Online-only files need internet access to open. Plan ahead if you’ll be offline.

  • Shared Devices: If multiple people use one computer, they may not see unsynced or online-only files.



Final Thoughts


Dropbox’s Selective Sync and Smart Sync features are essential tools for managing limited hard drive space while keeping your files organized and accessible. By choosing between , you can strike the perfect balance between storage savings and convenience.


If your business needs help configuring Dropbox, managing cloud storage, or setting up collaboration tools, SFV Cloud can help set everything up and support your team.

 
 
 
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