Full Guide: Clear Dropbox Cache in Windows, macOS, and Linux

To clear Dropbox cache, there are different methods in different operating systems. If you are using one of Windows, Mac, and Linux, you can get an answer in this post.

Zoey

by Zoey Lasted Updated September 30, 2024

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What is Dropbox cache file?

Dropbox is a widely-used cloud service all over the world. It brings you convenient cloud storage features. Thus, you might save a lot of data on Dropbox. Once you upload, download, delete data from Dropbox, Dropbox will save a copy of each deleted file on your hard drive for you so that you can recover it quickly, which is Dropbox cache file. Every 3 days the cache will be automatically emptied.

Dropbox cache files will take up your local disk space. You may find that Dropbox cache is so big and want to clear Dropbox cache to free up some space.

Is it safe to clear Dropbox cache?

Then you might want to know if it is safe to clear Dropbox cache. Actually, your Dropbox cache will be cleaned up every 3 days. But if you are worry about your data security, it is advisable for you to back up Dropbox data in advance so that you can recover your lost data easily. After that, it will be safe to clear Dropbox cache.

How can I clean up my Dropbox for more space?

When you encounter the Dropbox not enough space on device situation, you will try to delete Dropbox cache first because it is a useful method for it. Besides, you can consider some other methods for more space on your device for your Dropbox like turning off Dropbox files offline, using selective sync, enabling smart sync, and more.

Clear Dropbox Cache

Let’s return to the Dropbox clear cache issue. To get more space by clearing Dropbox cache, you need to choose a suitable way according to the operating system on your computer.

How to clear Dropbox cache in different systems

No matter what operating system your computer is based on, you can find a suitable way to clear Dropbox cache on your computer successfully.

Tip: You need to enable your computer to show hidden files before clearing Dropbox cache.

Part 1. Clear Dropbox cache in Windows

If your computer is based on a Windows operating system, you can follow the easy guideline to  clear Dropbox cache in Windows 10, 11, 8, 7, XP effectively.

1. First, press the Windows and R keys at the same time to open the Run window. Please input %HOMEPATH%\Dropbox\.dropbox.cache in the blank and click on OK.

Input the Command

2. Then you will see the .dropbox.cache folder. Just choose all the cached data and right-click on them to choose the Delete option in the pop-up window.

Clear Dropbox Cache Windows

Part 2. Clear Dropbox cache in macOS

How to clear Dropbox cache in macOS? Likewise, you need to go to the Dropbox cached data folder to delete them. Here are the detailed steps to do it in macOS:

1. Press the Command, Shift, and G keys at the same time to open the Go to Folder window.

2. Input the command: ~/Dropbox/.dropbox.cache in the blank. Next, click on the Go button.

Go to Dropbox Cache Mac

3. Choose Dropbox cached data in this folder and put them into the Trash on your computer.

Delete Dropbox Cache Mac

Part 3. Clear Dropbox cache in Linux

If you want to clear Dropbox cache in Linux, you can refer to the guideline. We will tell you how to delete Dropbox cache in Linux easily:

1. Double-click on the Home icon on your desktop.

Choose Home Linux

Tip: You need to ensure you have enabled the Show Hidden Files option in the View tab.

Show Hidden Files Linux

2. Locate the Dropbox folder and double-click on it to open it.

Click on Dropbox Folder

3. Find the .dropbox.cache folder here. Double-click on it likewise.

Choose Dropbox Cache Linux

4. All the Dropbox cached data is here. You can right-click on them to select the Delete option in the menu.

Delete Dropbox Cache Linux

Another way to free up storage space on your device

If you clear Dropbox cache to free up storage space on your device, we advise you to uninstall the Dropbox desktop app and switch to use another cloud backup service called CBackup to upload your files. Then you can delete your local files after upload, and your files on the cloud will still exists.

Here are some outstanding points in CBackup:

CBackup is a comprehensive cloud service. It allows you to back up all types of data to cloud drives including Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and its own CBackup Cloud.
You can select files, folders, videos, pictures, programs, hard drives, and the whole computer to back up in CBackup.
What’s more, the Scheduler feature in CBackup can help you a lot to save time and effort.

You can follow the easy guideline to backup computer files to Dropbox. Then clear them on your device to get more free storage space.

1. Download and install the CBackup desktop app on your PC. Sign up for a new CBackup account, then launch the client to log into it.

Download CBackupWin 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

2. Click on the Storage tab. You can choose Dropbox to Authorize Now. Please follow the step-by-step instructions to grant CBackup access to your Dropbox.

Select Dropbox

3. Click on the Backup button and select Backup PC to Public Cloud.

Create Task

4. Choose local files on your computer as backup source, and select the Dropbox account as the backup destination. Click Start Backup to back up your data from your computer to Dropbox quickly.

Backup Entire Computer to Dropbox

Note: Optionally, you can go to the Backup Settings to set up Scheduler before backing up, which will help your backup tasks perform regularly and automatically.

Schedule Backup

★ Notes: CBackup also provides many effective features and you can try them for free.
Free cloud storage: CBackup will give each account 5GB of free cloud storage to store data.
Sync PC to public cloud: CBackup allows you to sync data or sync computer to Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.
Cloud to cloud sync: To move files between different cloud drive accounts, you can try the cloud to cloud sync feature in CBackup for free.

Tip: Increase Dropbox storage for free

If the cloud storage in your Dropbox account is insufficient, what should you do to free up space on Dropbox? In addition to paying for plans with larger cloud storage, you can get more Dropbox cloud storage space for free via the combine cloud storage in CBackup.

1. Likewise, you can go to the Storage page to add all your cloud drive accounts to CBackup.

2. After adding, choose + Add Combined Cloud.

Add Combined Cloud1

3. Tick the cloud storage accounts that you want to merge, and then click on Next. After managing the order of your cloud drives, click on Combine.

Combine Google Drive

After the above, you will have a Combined Cloud. You can choose Backup PC to Combined Cloud when you want to create a backup task on the Backup page to enjoy the combined cloud.

Written in the end

That’s all about how to clear Dropbox cache in Windows, macOS, or Linux operating system. Besides, we have prepared an easy cloud storage service to help you get more local storage space and more Dropbox cloud storage for free.

Zoey
Zoey · Editor
Zoey works as an English editor of CBackup. She provides tech information about cloud backup, cloud sync and some other cloud services as well. She hopes that her articles will be greatly helpful for users. She is fond of music, film, and photography.

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