How to Prevent Dropbox from Storing Locally
- George Apostolov
How to Prevent Dropbox from Storing Locally: step-by-step guide
Click the Dropbox icon in the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).
Click your profile icon then select Preferences.
Go to the Sync tab. Beside Selective Sync, click Select folders.
Uncheck the folders you don’t want stored locally.
Click Update and Confirm.
Quick answer: To stop local storage in Dropbox, click the system tray or menu bar icon, open Preferences, and navigate to the Sync tab. Next, click Select folders beside Selective Sync, uncheck the folders you wish to exclude, and then click Update and Confirm.
About this Dropbox tutorial
Stop storing files locally by choosing which folders to sync with Selective Sync settings in your Dropbox preferences. This guide shows how to prevent Dropbox from Storing Locally in 5 steps, starting with "Click the Dropbox icon in the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac)" and finishing with "Click Update and Confirm ". The interactive demo above is a click-through copy of the real Dropbox interface, so you can rehearse each step before doing it in your own account.
Frequently asked questions
How many steps does it take to prevent Dropbox from Storing Locally?
5 steps. Each one is listed in order above, and the demo highlights exactly where to click.
Can I try it without changing my own account?
Yes. Clicking through the demo doesn't touch your Dropbox data or settings. Once you know the flow, repeat it in your own workspace.
This tutorial is filed under Dropbox. Related guides: How to Print from Dropbox, How to Push Dropbox Files to OneDrive Using Zapier and How to Remove a Shared Folder from Dropbox. Last reviewed 05 Oct 2026.
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