Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive keep a full local copy by default
Every sync service downloads everything unless told otherwise, and each keeps its own cache on top. How to make files online only in each one.
A sync service's default is to keep everything on your disk, because that is what makes it fast. On a Mac with three services installed, which is normal for anyone who has worked with more than one organisation, you can be storing three full copies of three teams' files.
Find every sync folder first
du -sh ~/Dropbox* ~/Google\ Drive* ~/OneDrive* \
~/Library/CloudStorage/* 2>/dev/null | sort -h~/Library/CloudStorage is the one people miss. Recent versions of Google Drive and OneDrive mount their folders there rather than in your home directory, so a folder you no longer see in the sidebar can still be fully downloaded.
The setting in each one
| Service | Feature | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Dropbox | Selective sync, and online only files | Preferences, Sync |
| Google Drive | Stream files rather than mirror them | Preferences, Google Drive |
| OneDrive | Files On Demand, free up space | Right click a folder in Finder |
| iCloud Drive | Remove Download | Right click in Finder |
The names differ, the idea is identical: keep a placeholder locally and fetch the file when it is opened. In Finder, all of them expose it as a right click item on a folder, which is faster than going through preferences.
The caches on top
Each client also keeps a cache of recent versions and partly transferred files. Dropbox keeps a hidden .dropbox.cache inside the folder itself, which is cleared automatically after a few days and can be removed sooner:
du -sh ~/Dropbox/.dropbox.cache 2>/dev/null
du -sh ~/Library/Application\ Support/FileProvider 2>/dev/nullThe second path is the shared area macOS gives to file providers, which is how the newer versions of these clients work. It can hold material from a service you have since signed out of, which is worth a look if the number is large.
The order to do this in
- List every sync folder, including
~/Library/CloudStorage. - For each, decide whether you need it locally at all. An old employer's shared drive usually does not.
- Turn on the online only or streaming option rather than deleting files, so nothing is removed from the service.
- Sign out of and remove clients you no longer use, then check whether their folders went with them.
The last step matters because signing out often leaves the downloaded files behind, which is the same pattern as apps that leave files when uninstalled. If you are weighing cloud storage against a drive, the cost comparison prices both.
Common questions
Does Dropbox store files locally on a Mac?
By default yes, a full copy of everything in your account. Selective sync and online only files change that per folder, keeping a placeholder locally and downloading on demand. Both are in Preferences under Sync.
Where does Google Drive store files on a Mac?
Recent versions mount under ~/Library/CloudStorage rather than in your home folder. Whether files are downloaded depends on whether you chose to stream or mirror them, which is set in the app's preferences.
How do I make files online only on a Mac?
Right click the folder in Finder. Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive and iCloud Drive each expose the option there under a different name, such as Free Up Space or Remove Download. The files stay visible and download when opened.
Is it safe to delete files in a synced folder to free space?
No. Deleting inside a sync folder deletes the file from the service and from everyone it is shared with. Use the online only option instead, which removes the local copy while leaving the file intact in the cloud.