Bulk Prioritizing Folder Syncing in Dropbox on OSX: A Guide

Do you use Dropbox to store and sync files across multiple devices? If so, you know how convenient it is to have access to your files no matter where you are. But what if you have a lot of files and want to prioritize which ones get synced first? In this guide, we will show you how to bulk prioritize folder syncing in Dropbox on OSX. This will help ensure that your most important files are available when you need them.

Before we begin, it's important to note that Dropbox uses a "selective sync" feature to determine which folders get synced to your device. This means that you can choose which folders to sync, and Dropbox will only sync those folders. However, by default, Dropbox syncs all folders, and it doesn't provide a way to prioritize which folders get synced first. That's where this guide comes in.

Step 1: Stop Dropbox Syncing

The first step is to stop Dropbox from syncing. You can do this by right-clicking on the Dropbox icon in your menu bar and selecting "Preferences". Then, click on the "Account" tab and uncheck the box next to "Start Dropbox on system startup". This will prevent Dropbox from starting up automatically when you turn on your computer.

Next, click on the "Sync" tab and uncheck the box next to "Enable LAN Sync". This will prevent Dropbox from syncing files over your local network. This is important because we want to force Dropbox to sync files over the internet, which will allow us to prioritize which folders get synced first.

Step 2: Disconnect from the Internet

The next step is to disconnect from the internet. You can do this by clicking on the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and selecting "System Preferences". Then, click on the "Network" icon and select your network connection. Click on the "Advanced" button and uncheck the box next to "Automatically reconnect". This will prevent your computer from automatically reconnecting to the internet.

Next, click on the "Disconnect" button to disconnect from the internet. This will prevent Dropbox from syncing any files until you reconnect to the internet.

Step 3: Prioritize Folders

Now that Dropbox is not syncing, it's time to prioritize your folders. To do this, you will need to use the command line. Open the Terminal app by going to Applications > Utilities > Terminal. Then, navigate to the Dropbox folder by typing the following command:

Next, you will need to create a file called ".dropbox.ignore" in the Dropbox folder. This file will tell Dropbox which folders to ignore. To create the file, type the following command:

Now, you can edit the .dropbox.ignore file to specify which folders to ignore. For example, if you want to ignore the "Public" folder, you would add the following line to the .dropbox.ignore file:

If you want to ignore multiple folders, you can add each folder on a separate line. Once you have added the folders you want to ignore, save and close the .dropbox.ignore file.

Step 4: Reconnect to the Internet

Now that you have prioritized your folders, it's time to reconnect to the internet. Go back to the Network preferences and click on the "Connect" button to connect to your network. Dropbox will start syncing again, but this time, it will only sync the folders that you haven't ignored. The folders that you have ignored will be skipped, and Dropbox will sync the other folders first.

Step 5: Restart Dropbox

The final step is to restart Dropbox. You can do this by right-clicking on the Dropbox icon in your menu bar and selecting "Quit Dropbox". Then, reopen Dropbox by clicking on the icon in your Applications folder. Dropbox will start syncing again, but this time, it will prioritize the folders that you haven't ignored.

In this guide, we have shown you how to bulk prioritize folder syncing in Dropbox on OSX. By following these steps, you can ensure that your most important files are available when you need them. Remember to stop Dropbox from syncing, disconnect from the internet, prioritize your folders, reconnect to the internet, and restart Dropbox. With these simple steps, you can take control of your Dropbox syncing and make sure that your most important files are always available.

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