10 Quick Fixed - Dropbox Online Only Option Missing

• User Case: Smart Sync Online Only Option Doesn't Show Up
• Why is Dropbox Online Only Option Missing?
• How to Fix Dropbox Online Only Option Missing
• Workaround: Transfer OneDrive to Dropbox via MultCloud
• Conclusion

User Case: Smart Sync Online Only Option Doesn't Show Up

Why is Dropbox Online Only Option Missing?

By selecting Online-only in Dropbox, users can designate files or folders as cloud-only. With this feature, files are stored only on Dropbox's servers and not on your local device. If this option is missing, there may be several reasons why:

1. Dropbox Basic (Free) Plan Restrictions

► Free Plan: Dropbox's "Smart Sync" feature, which is exclusive to Dropbox Plus, Professional, and Business users, includes the Online-only feature. This option won't be accessible if you're using the free Basic plan.

► Subscription Status: Smart Sync (and the Online-only option) might not be available if your subscription has expired or been downgraded.

2. Compatibility between Windows and macOS as operating systems

► Windows and macOS: Windows 7 and later, as well as macOS 10.12 (Sierra) and later, support Smart Sync. You might not be able to use the feature if you're running an older operating system.

► Linux: On Linux-based systems, Dropbox does not support Smart Sync.

3. Version of the Dropbox App

The online-only option might not show up if you're using an old version of the Dropbox desktop app. This problem can be fixed by updating to the most recent version of the app.

4. Configuring an account or application

► No Smart Sync Activated: Verify that Smart Sync is turned on in your Dropbox preferences. 

► Administrator Restrictions: If you have a Dropbox Business account, it's possible that your administrator has turned off Smart Sync.

5. Type of File or Folder

Certain files or folders, like system files or those designated as "always keep on this device," might not be able to use the Online-only functionality.

6. Installation Corrupted

The Dropbox online only option missing may be because the Dropbox app isn't working properly. Usually, reinstalling the app resolves this problem.

7. Sync or Network Problems

Dropbox's Online-only option may be momentarily unavailable if it is experiencing issues with syncing or connecting to the Internet.

How to Fix Dropbox Online Only Option Missing

After figuring out what causes your Dropbox Smart Sync online only not working, you can try to get the Online-only button back with the following 10 quick solutions.

1. Upgrade your plan on Dropbox

The "Online-only" feature (part of Smart Sync) is not available on the free Basic plan, so make sure you're on a Dropbox Plus, Professional, or Business plan.

2. Turn on Smart Sync

Step 1. Open the Dropbox settings.

Step 2. Select the "Sync" tab.

Step 3. Confirm that Smart Sync is enabled and choose: Start as Online-only.

3. Make changes to the Dropbox app

Get the most recent Dropbox desktop app version from the official website and install it.

4. Verify the compatibility of the operating system

Make sure the operating system on your device is compatible:

• Windows 7 or later.
• Sierra (macOS 10.12) or later.
• Smart Sync is not supported by Linux.

5. Reinstall Dropbox

Step 1. Remove the Dropbox application.

Step 2. Restart your computer.

Step 3. Reinstall the most recent Dropbox version.

6. Check the Permissions of the Account

To make sure Smart Sync is activated for your Dropbox Business account, get in touch with your administrator.

7. Verify the Eligibility of Files or Folders

It is not possible to set certain files or folders to be online-only (such as system files or those designated as "always keep on this device"). Attempt to mark a different folder or file.

8. Restart Dropbox

Close the Dropbox application and launch it again.

9. Verify the Network Connection

To enable the Online-only option, Dropbox must sync with the cloud, so make sure your Internet connection is steady.

10. Contact with Dropbox Support

For additional help, contact Dropbox Support if none of the aforementioned fixes resolve the issue.

Workaround: Transfer OneDrive to Dropbox via MultCloud

If none of the solutions can resolve your Dropbox online only option missing issue and you want to use Dropbox to save your local files, you can use OneDrive as a medium to let it sync local files and then transfer OneDrive to Dropbox. For Windows users, it is easy to let OneDrive sync your device. But how to automatically transfer OneDrive to Dropbox? MultCloud comes to help.

MultCloud is a web-based cloud file transfer service and it offers Cloud Transfer to automate the transfer task between clouds. When you use Cloud Transfer to directly transfer files from OneDrive to Dropbox, you can schedule the task to make it auto-start once a day. Besides, you can let this task auto-delete the transferred files in OneDrive so that you can save money in expanding OneDrive storage.

Step 1. Open the MultCloud website and click “Get started for free” to get a new account.

Step 2. Click “Add Cloud” and the cloud logo to add OneDrive and Dropbox to MultCloud.

Step 3. Select the “Cloud Transfer” function and choose OneDrive in the FROM box and Dropbox in the TO box.

Step 4. Open “Options” and check “Delete all source files after transfer is complete” if you need it. Then, you can open “Schedule” to choose a preferred auto-start frequency. After all the settings, tap “Transfer Now” to start this task.

Conclusion

This post tells you 7 probable reasons and 10 easy fixes to the “Dropbox Online only option missing” issue. You can take advantage of them to find out your cause and solution. Besides, if the fixes do not work, you can try the workaround to let OneDrive automatically transfer files with Dropbox. By doing so, you can also get local files in Dropbox.

To transfer OneDrive files to Dropbox, MultCloud Cloud Transfer can help you schedule the task with a daily/weekly/monthly frequency. Besides, it can auto-delete files in OneDrive after the transfer task is done.