How to Set Dropbox Files to Online-Only on macOS (Free Up Disk Space)

How to Set Dropbox Files to Online-Only on macOS (Free Up Disk Space)

Summary: This guide walks through how to change your Dropbox files to Online-Only on a Mac. Doing this removes local copies from your hard drive while keeping everything safely stored in the Dropbox cloud.

Purpose

Setting files to Online-Only helps:

  • Free up local hard drive space

  • Keep files accessible when needed

  • Reduce storage pressure on smaller SSDs

Prerequisites

  • Dropbox installed and running

  • Signed into your Dropbox account

  • macOS Finder available (macOS)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open Finder

You can open Finder in one of two ways:

  • Click the Finder icon in the Dock

  • Press Command (⌘) + Space, type Finder, and press Enter

2. Open the Dropbox Folder

  • In the left pane of the Finder window, click Dropbox

  • The Dropbox folder contents will open in Finder

3. Open Dropbox Storage Management

  • In the top-right corner of the Finder window, click the Dropbox icon

  • Select Manage hard drive space

4. Select All Files and Folders

  • A new window will appear showing all Dropbox files and folders

  • Click the checkbox on the left to select all folders
    (as shown in the screenshot)

5. Set Files to Online-Only

  • Click the Online-Only button

    • This button may not appear directly in the screenshot but will be outlined in the interface

  • Dropbox will begin removing local copies and keeping the files in the cloud

What to Expect

  • The process may take 30–45 minutes, depending on file size and quantity

  • Once complete:

    • Local disk space previously used by Dropbox will be freed

    • Files will remain visible in Finder

    • Files will download automatically when opened

Confirmation

After completion, you should see:

  • Increased available disk space

  • Cloud icons next to Dropbox files indicating Online-Only status

Notes

  • Files marked Online-Only require an internet connection to open

  • You can make individual files available offline later if needed by right-clicking them and selecting Make available offline




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