This tutorial shows you how to automatically upload files to Dropbox on Windows without syncing. By following the steps below, you can upload specific files and folders that won’t take up space on your computer, but will only be stored in your Dropbox account.
How to Automatically Upload to Dropbox on Windows Without Syncing
If you’ve set a file or folder as online-only, you can still see it in your Dropbox folder, but it’s just a placeholder that can only be opened when you have an internet connection. Dropbox removes it from your hard drive, so it only takes up storage in your Dropbox account online. You can change it back to online-only at any time.
Set up Dropbox
The first step is to create a Dropbox folder that won’t sync with your computer. Follow these steps to configure Dropbox not to sync it.
- Open the Dropbox folder on your computer and create a new folder where you want to upload files but don’t want them to sync with your computer. Give it a descriptive name like “no_sync”.
- Click on the Dropbox icon in the system tray, select Settings, and then Preferences.
- Click the Synchronize tab, select the Selective Synchronization button, and remove the checkmark next to the folder you just created.
Uploading to Dropbox
Now is the time for the fun part. Follow these steps to upload files to Dropbox without syncing them.
- Download and install the free app Cyberduck.
- Launch Cyberduck from your Applications menu.
- Select Bookmark from the top menu, and then New Bookmark to create a new Dropbox bookmark.
- Change the default connection type to Dropbox and enter the email address associated with your Dropbox account.
- Cyberduck’s ‘main’ window will now have a new entry: Dropbox. Double-click on it.
- Authenticate Cyberduck to access your Dropbox account and generate a code for it.
- Copy the code to your clipboard and paste it into the Authentication code field in the authentication window.
- Drag and drop files to upload them to Dropbox. Since the folder was set to not sync with your computer, they won’t take up space on your hard drive.
Final Remarks: How to Automatically Upload to Dropbox on Windows without Syncing
That’s it! You can now upload files to Dropbox without syncing them to your computer. If you have any questions about this tutorial, please use the contact forum section. If you found it helpful, share it with your friends and family to show your support.
FAQs
1. Can I access uploaded files without an internet connection?
You can only access files that have been set to online-only when you have an internet connection. Otherwise, they won’t be stored on your hard drive.
2. How do I create a new folder in Dropbox?
Open the Dropbox folder on your computer and click on the “New Folder” button to create a new folder.
3. What happens if I accidentally delete an uploaded file from my computer?
If you delete an uploaded file from your computer, a copy of it will remain in your Dropbox account. You can access it through Cyberduck or the Dropbox web interface.
4. Can I sync files with certain computers and not others?
Yes, by selecting which folders to sync with each computer in the Selective Synchronization settings.
