How to Make Dropbox Files Online Only

Welcome to this article where we will teach you how to make Dropbox files online only. If you have been using Dropbox for some time, you might have noticed that all your files take up space on your computer. This can be frustrating if you have limited storage on your device. However, Dropbox provides a solution to this problem.

By making your Dropbox files online only, you can still access them through the cloud without having to store them on your computer. This not only frees up space but also ensures that your files are safe in case your device gets lost, stolen or damaged. So, let’s get started on how to make your Dropbox files online only.

Section 1: Understanding Dropbox Files

1. What are Dropbox Files?

Dropbox is a cloud storage service that allows users to store and share files. Files that are uploaded to Dropbox can be accessed from any device that has internet access. They can also be shared with other Dropbox users or people who don’t have a Dropbox account. Dropbox files can be accessed using the Dropbox website, desktop app, or mobile app.

2. Types of Dropbox Files

There are several types of files that can be stored in Dropbox, including documents, photos, videos, and audio files. Dropbox supports a wide range of file formats for these file types, which makes it a versatile tool for storing and sharing all types of content.

3. Benefits of Dropbox Files

Dropbox files offer several benefits over traditional file storage methods. One of the biggest advantages of Dropbox is its accessibility. Dropbox files can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, so you can work on them from anywhere. Additionally, Dropbox provides a secure way to store your files, ensuring that they are safe from data breaches and other security threats.

4. Drawbacks of Dropbox Files

While Dropbox files offer many benefits to users, there are also some drawbacks to keep in mind. One of the biggest concerns with Dropbox is the storage limit. The free version of Dropbox offers only 2 GB of storage, which may not be sufficient for users who need to store large files or lots of data. Additionally, Dropbox files are vulnerable to hacking and data breaches, although Dropbox takes steps to prevent these incidents from occurring.

Section 2: Making Dropbox Files Online Only

5. What does Online Only Mean?

Online only is a feature available in Dropbox that allows users to access files only when they are connected to the internet. When a file is marked as online only, it will not be downloaded to the user’s device. This feature can save space on your device’s hard drive and make it easier to access files on the go.

6. Benefits of Making Dropbox Files Online Only

Making your Dropbox files online only can provide several benefits. First, it can help conserve space on your device’s hard drive. This is particularly useful if you have a device with limited storage capacity. Additionally, online only files can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, which makes it easy to work on them from anywhere.

7. How to Make a Dropbox File Online Only

To make a Dropbox file online only, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Dropbox website and sign in to your account.
2. Find the file you want to make online only.
3. Click the three dots that appear on the file’s thumbnail.
4. Select “Make Online Only” from the dropdown menu.
5. Confirm your selection by clicking “OK” in the confirmation box that pops up.

8. How to Make Multiple Dropbox Files Online Only

If you have several files you want to make online only, you can save time by selecting multiple files at once. Here’s how:

1. Go to the Dropbox website and sign in to your account.
2. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click on the first file you want to make online only.
3. Scroll down to the last file you want to select and click on it while still holding down the Shift key.
4. All the files between the first and last selected file will be highlighted.
5. Click the three dots that appear on one of the selected file’s thumbnail.
6. Select “Make Online Only” from the dropdown menu.
7. Confirm your selection by clicking “OK” in the confirmation box that pops up.

9. How to Make Dropbox Folders Online Only

If you want to make an entire Dropbox folder online only, you can do so by following these steps:

1. Go to the Dropbox website and sign in to your account.
2. Find the folder you want to make online only.
3. Click the three dots that appear on the folder’s thumbnail.
4. Select “Make Online Only” from the dropdown menu.
5. Confirm your selection by clicking “OK” in the confirmation box that pops up.

10. How to Undo Making a Dropbox File Online Only

If you want to remove the online only status from a Dropbox file, you can undo the action by following these steps:

1. Go to the Dropbox website and sign in to your account.
2. Find the file you want to remove the online only status from.
3. Click the three dots that appear on the file’s thumbnail.
4. Select “Make Local” from the dropdown menu.
5. Confirm your selection by clicking “OK” in the confirmation box that pops up.

Conclusion:

Making Dropbox files online only can be a helpful feature for users who want to save space on their devices and access files from anywhere. By following these simple steps, you can mark files and folders online only and easily undo the action if needed.

Section 2: How to Make Dropbox Files Online Only

Many people have limited storage space on their computers, and they don’t want to use it all up with their Dropbox files. Fortunately, you can make Dropbox files online only, which means they will be stored in the cloud and only accessible when you’re connected to the internet. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Install Dropbox on Your Computer

To use Dropbox, you’ll need to install it on your computer. You can download the app from the Dropbox website, and once it’s installed, you’ll need to sign up for a free account. If you already have a Dropbox account, you can log in and start using it right away.

2. Select the Files You Want to Make Online Only

To make a file online only, you’ll need to select it in your Dropbox folder and right-click on it. From the drop-down menu, select “Smart Sync” and then “Online Only”. This will remove the file from your local computer and store it in the cloud.

3. Choose Your Sync Settings

When you make a file online only, you have several sync settings to choose from. You can choose to make the file “local” again, which means it will be stored on your computer, or you can choose to keep it online only. You can also choose to make the file “offline” for a certain amount of time, which means it will be accessible even when you’re not connected to the internet.

4. Enable Smart Sync

To use Smart Sync, you’ll need to enable it in your Dropbox settings. To do this, click on your profile picture in the top right corner of the Dropbox window and select “Settings”. Then, select the “Sync” tab and check the box next to “Smart Sync”.

5. Use Smart Sync with Folders

You can also use Smart Sync with entire folders in your Dropbox. To do this, right-click on a folder and select “Smart Sync”. You can then choose to make the folder “online only” or “local”.

6. Use Smart Sync with Team Folders

If you’re part of a Dropbox Business team, you can use Smart Sync with team folders. This allows you to make files online only and save space on your computer, while still being able to collaborate with your team.

7. Use Smart Sync with Paper Documents

Dropbox Paper is a collaborative document editing tool, and you can use Smart Sync with it to make your documents online only. To do this, click on the three dots in the top right corner of the document and select “Smart Sync”. You can then choose to make the document “online only”, “offline”, or “local”.

8. Move Files to Your Archive

If you have files that you don’t need to access frequently, you can move them to your archive. This will save space on your computer and make them online only. To do this, right-click on the file and select “Move to archive”.

9. Save Space on Your Desktop

If you have a lot of files in your Dropbox, you can save space on your desktop by using selective sync. This allows you to choose which folders and files you want to sync to your computer, and which ones you want to keep online only.

10. Enjoy the Benefits of Online Only

By making your Dropbox files online only, you can enjoy the benefits of cloud storage without taking up space on your computer. You can access your files from anywhere with an internet connection, and you don’t need to worry about losing them if your computer crashes. Plus, you can collaborate with others on files in real-time, making it easier to work together on projects.

How to make selected files online-only

Many of us use Dropbox to store and share files with friends, colleagues, and clients. However, some files might not be required to be downloaded and saved on your local machine as you only need to view or share them and not edit them. This is the perfect scenario for using online-only files. Here’s how you can do it.

1. Benefits of online-only files

Online-only files can be a useful tool for a lot of reasons. One of the primary benefits is that you can save space on your hard drive by keeping your files in the cloud. This means that you can access your files whenever you want, without having to download them.

Moreover, online-only files can protect your files from malware or unauthorized access. As online only files are not saved locally, you won’t accidentally launch any viruses or malicious software.

2. When to use online-only files

Online-only files bring significant advantages for big files that you don’t need to access all the time or when you don’t have enough space on your device. However, it’s essential to know when to use them. Duplication of files that are already online-only isn’t a good idea since it takes up unnecessary space on your hard drive.

It’s also a good idea to use online-only files when you need to free up space on your computer temporarily. If you have limited storage on your device, you might want to use this feature to give yourself some breathing room.

3. Syncing online-only files

Even though they are “online-only,” you can still sync them to your computer if necessary. To do so, right-click on the file, and select “Local” from the Smart Sync context menu. This will download the file or folder to your device so you can work on it.

After you finish working with the file, you can re-save it to Dropbox as online-only to remove it from your hard drive and free up space.

4. Limitations of online-only files

Online-only files have their limitations as well. As you can’t edit them locally, this feature doesn’t work for all files. You can’t use online-only files when you want to edit the file or need to use an application that can’t access the internet.

Finally, You won’t be able to access online-only files if you don’t have an internet connection. In case the internet connection is lost, you can’t access your online-only files or change their Smart Sync status.

5. Conclusion

Online-only files are an excellent way to access and share data without worrying about storage space. Dropbox makes it easy to use this feature and store large projects files on the cloud. Make sure you understand their limitations and when to use them, and you’ll get the most out of this useful Dropbox feature.

That’s a Wrap!

And that’s all you need to know about making your Dropbox files online only. It’s an easy and effective way to save space on your devices without sacrificing the files you need access to, anytime and anywhere. We hope that this article was helpful for you. Don’t forget to share it with your friends or anyone who might find it useful. Thank you for reading! We’ll be back with more helpful tips and tricks soon, so make sure to visit again later. Happy file syncing and sharing!