Dropbox Sync Mac Desktop



How to download and install the Dropbox desktop app

Open the Mac Finder window and locate your system desktop folder from the finder. Either enter the system desktop folder location into the terminal window or drag and drop the desktop folder to the Terminal window to auto-enter the desktop location into Terminal Window. Step 3: Enter the location of your Dropbox Sync Folder as part of the command. Syncing with Dropbox. Sync is the process by which your content is synchronized (synced) between. The sync engine is the magic behind the Dropbox folder on your desktop computer, and it’s one of the oldest and most important pieces of code at Dropbox. We’re proud to announce today that we’ve. Dropbox is adding new syncing capabilities to its Mac app, to extend the feature beyond folders to documents, downloads, and desktop. As reported by 9to5Mac. Dropbox on the Mac has slowly been expanding its feature set and how it works, and today, the latest beta adds the option to sync your documents, downloads, and desktop.

Once installed, you’ll be prompted to either sign in or create a new account.

Sync mac desktop with dropbox

How to install the desktop app with admin privileges

The Dropbox desktop app requires admin privileges to run with full functionality on your computer. This enables multiple different core features of Dropbox, including:

  • Sync icons that show the sync status of files and folders
  • Right-click context menus for taking quick actions in Dropbox
  • Access to Smart Sync

For the vast majority of users, the desktop app is automatically installed with admin privileges. However, if you didn't install with admin privileges you can follow the instructions below to do so.

Note: If you don't have admin rights on your computer (for example if you're using a work computer), you may need to ask your IT department for help.

Install the Dropbox desktop app with admin privileges

  1. If you already have Dropbox installed, uninstall the application.
  2. Open the installer.
    • Do not right-click, and do not command-click Run as an Administrator
  3. Follow the instructions in the install wizard.
    • If you’re asked for an administrative username and password, enter them or contact your administrator to sign in.
    • If you’re not asked for an administrative username and password, you’re already an admin on your computer.
  4. Complete the installation and sign in to Dropbox.

Smart Sync and admin privileges

Some Dropbox users will have access to Smart Sync. If you have access to this feature, check that Dropbox is installed with admin privileges on each computer where the feature will be used.

Depending on the policies at your organization, your team members may be able to install Dropbox with admin privileges on their own. If not, they may need the assistance of your IT team.

Why does the Dropbox desktop app for Mac require Keychain access?

Keychain is a password management system for Mac. Dropbox requires access to your Keychain to help verify your account and to provide another layer of security over the Dropbox app preferences.

  • To grant Keychain access to Dropbox, click Allow or Always Allow (recommended for seamless access) when prompted to do so from Mac.
  • Clicking Deny will result in a 'Couldn't start Dropbox' error message. For security reasons, Dropbox will not start without access to your Keychain.

What is the Dropbox Web Helper for macOS?

Dropbox Web Helper supports the Dropbox user interface on Mac computers. It only runs when the desktop app is running. Dropbox Web Helper is an independent process, so it may start and stop at different times than the desktop app. If you adjust your firewall or antivirus software for Dropbox, we recommend similar adjustments for Dropbox Web Helper.

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.

Dropbox Desktop Sync App

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.

Dropbox Desktop App

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

How Do I Sync Dropbox With My Mac

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.

Dropbox Sync Mac Desktop Free

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.

Desktop

Download box sync for mac os x. 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.

How To Sync Dropbox With Mac

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.

Dropbox Sync Mac Desktop

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”.

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.

Dropbox Sync Mac Desktop Download

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.

Dropbox Sync Mac Desktop App

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.

Dropbox Sync Mac Desktop

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.

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

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.

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.