How to manage team selective sync settings

When a team member is added to a team folder or team space, all folders shared with them automatically sync to their computer’s hard drive. However, admins can set specific folders not to automatically sync using team selective sync.

Learn more about how the team selective sync feature works.

In addition to using selective sync, admins can also manage online-only settings for their team to determine which files or folders will sync to team members’ computers and which will only be available for team members connected to the internet.

Notes: 

• Admins can only use this feature for top-level folders and their first subfolder.
• This admin setting keeps folders from automatically syncing to new team members’ computers, but it doesn’t unsync folders that were already synced.
• Individual team members’ selective sync settings override the admin setting. 
  • The admin setting doesn’t block team members from syncing and unsyncing folders from their computers on their own.
• A folder that’s set not to sync (and any folder inside of it) can’t be synced to team members’ computers.

How to set specific folders not to sync

To set specific folders not to sync:

1. Sign in to dropbox.com with your admin credentials.
2. Click Admin console in the left sidebar.
3. Click Content.
4. Click "…" (ellipsis) next to any folder.
5. Click Change sync default.
   • Note: If you’ve disabled team selective sync, enable it to see this option.
6. Click the circle next to Don’t sync automatically to set the folder not to sync automatically to new team members’ computers. 

To set the folder to automatically sync, follow the instructions above, but click the circle next to Automatically sync to members’ computers instead.

To set a new team folder not to automatically sync to team member’s computers:

1. Click New folder like you would normally create a new team folder.
2. Uncheck the box next to Automatically sync this folder to members’ computers.

How to disable team selective sync

Team selective sync is enabled by default. It lets admins set specific folders not to sync automatically to team members’ computers. If team selective sync is disabled, all folders automatically sync to team members' computers, and the admin doesn’t have the option to set specific folders not to sync. 

To disable team selective sync:

1. Sign in to dropbox.com with your admin credentials.
2. Click Admin console.
3. Click Settings.
4. In the Content section, click Sync.
5. Next to Team Selective Sync, toggle to Off.
6. Click Save.