How Dropbox Smart Sync helps turn data hoarders into idea miners

We’re all hoarders and collectors of data. But why don’t we delete anything? What compels us to keep files we haven’t opened in years, even when they take up valuable hard drive space?

For photographers, designers, recording engineers, and everyone else who creates content for a living, those files are more than archives. They’re the seeds of ideas that could bloom into a new project. But if those seeds of inspiration can’t be found, they can’t grow into anything new.

Here’s where Dropbox Smart Sync can make a big difference. It turns your archived data into a library you can search through to retrieve exactly what you need, right when you need it. Here’s how you can use it to tap into your creative energy and keep it flowing.

See all your files and actively manage your content

Content is the lifeblood of your work. Every idea is valuable and moves your work forward. But if you’re worried about whether you have enough hard drive space to keep making content, it can disrupt your flow of ideas. You need to be able to create without hesitation and access without interruption.

That’s why we created Smart Sync. It lets you view all your files right from your desktop—no matter whether they’re stored in the cloud or synced locally to your device. And that makes it easy to actively manage all your content.

Make organizing and archiving less of a chore

Let’s face it: Archiving is a boring, difficult task. Plus, it’s not the best use of your time. You could take the time to set up an organized system of folders, but even when you do, it’s hard to keep it all organized when you’re adding new content every day. Smart Sync declutters your hard drive and keeps you automatically organized by letting you remove the local copy without hindering access.

All you have to do is select the files and folders you want to store in the cloud, then right-click and select Smart Sync, and choose “Online Only.” You’ll still see the files on your desktop, but they’ll only take up a fraction of the space on your hard drive. And when you need them, they’re just a double-click away.