How to set a file or folder to be ignored

You can set a file or folder to be “ignored” by Dropbox. This allows you to organize files and folders in the Dropbox folder on your computer without storing them on dropbox.com or on the Dropbox server. If you ignore a file or folder, it won’t count toward your storage space.

Once ignored, the file or folder remains where it is in your Dropbox folder on your computer’s hard drive, but it’s deleted from the Dropbox server and your other devices, can’t be accessed on dropbox.com, and won’t sync to your Dropbox account. You can choose to sync that file or folder back to dropbox.com at any time.

Notes: 

• Once a folder is ignored, all files and folders inside it are also ignored.
• If you move a file or folder to an ignored folder, it will cause that file or folder to be ignored as well. If you move that file or folder out of the ignored folder, it will no longer be ignored.
• If you ignore a shared file or folder, edits made to that file or folder on your computer (or to the shared version of the file or folder online) won’t sync with each other. If you set it not to be ignored anymore, Dropbox will merge the previously ignored file or folder with the shared file or folder online, if possible. If not, Dropbox will keep both versions and label one as a conflicted copy so no edits are lost.
• If you’re using Windows, Linux, or macOS earlier than 12.5 and have moved the Dropbox folder to a location other than the default one, the commands below won't work. You’ll need to update it manually.

Set a file or folder to be ignored

To ignore a file or folder, follow the instructions for your operating system below.

Windows

1. Open the PowerShell application on your computer.
2. Type the code below, replacing the file/folder path placeholder with the file/folder path you’d like to ignore.

3. Press enter on your keyboard. 

The icon beside your file or folder will change to a gray minus sign indicating that it has been ignored.

Mac

The latest Dropbox for macOS update utilizes Apple’s updated File Provider API to more deeply integrate with macOS. This update will change which code to use when setting files or folders to be ignored.

Find out which version of Dropbox for macOS you’re running.

If you’re running macOS 12.3 or earlier:

1. Open the Terminal application on your computer.
2. Type the code below, replacing the file/folder path placeholder with the file/folder path you’d like to ignore.

3. Press enter on your keyboard.

The icon beside your file or folder will change to a gray minus sign indicating that it has been ignored.

If you’re running macOS 12.5 or later and have the updated version of Dropbox for macOS:

1. Open the Terminal application on your computer.
2. Type the code below, replacing the file/folder path placeholder with the file/folder path you’d like to ignore.
   

3. Press enter on your keyboard. 

The icon beside your file or folder will change to a cloud with a diagonal line through it, indicating that it has been ignored.

Learn more about sync icons and what they mean.

Linux

1. Open the Terminal application on your computer.
2. Type the code below, replacing the file/folder path placeholder with the file/folder path you’d like to ignore.

3. Press enter on your keyboard. 

The icon beside your file or folder will change to a gray minus sign indicating that it has been ignored.

Set a file or folder to no longer be ignored

If you no longer want a file or folder to be ignored, follow the instructions for your operating system below.

Windows

1. Open the PowerShell application on your computer.
2. Type the code below, replacing the file/folder path placeholder with the file/folder path you no longer want to ignore.

3. Press enter on your keyboard.

The icon beside your file or folder will change to a gray minus sign indicating that it has been ignored.

Note: If you’ve set your files to online-only, the icon may also change to an online-only icon or a mixed state icon depending on your settings. 

Learn more about sync icons and what they mean.

Mac

If you’re running macOS 12.3 or earlier:

1. Open the Terminal application on your computer.
2. Type the code below, replacing the file/folder path placeholder with the file/folder path you no longer want to ignore.

3. Press enter on your keyboard. 

The icon beside your file or folder will change to a green check mark indicating that it is no longer ignored. 

If you’re running macOS 12.5 or later and have the updated version of Dropbox for macOS:

1. Open the Terminal application on your computer.
2. Type the code below, replacing the file/folder path placeholder with the file/folder path you no longer want to ignore.

3. Press enter on your keyboard. 
   
4. Additionally, type this code below, replacing the file/folder path placeholder with the file/folder path you no longer want to ignore.

5. Press enter on your keyboard.

The crossed-out cloud icon will no longer be next to this file/folder, indicating that it is no longer ignore.

Note: If you’ve set your files to online-only, the icon may also change to an online-only icon or a mixed state icon depending on your settings. 

Learn more about sync icons and what they mean.

Linux

1. Open the Terminal application on your computer.
2. Type the code below, replacing the file/folder path placeholder with the file/folder path you no longer want to ignore.

3. Press enter on your keyboard. 

The icon beside your file or folder will change to a green check mark indicating that it is no longer ignored.