A symlink, or symbolic link, is a type of file that contains a link to another file or folder. Symlinks are often used so that one file can be referenced in two places. How does Dropbox sync symlinks?

As of mid-2019, Dropbox no longer follows items outside of your Dropbox account that are linked to by a symlink.

You can have symlinks that link to items both in and outside of your Dropbox account; however, these two types of symlinks sync differently. If you create a symlink that links to an item in your Dropbox account, we’ll sync the the symlink file at its location and the item that it links to at its location respectively

If you create a symlink that links to an item outside of your Dropbox account, when you sign in to dropbox.com you’ll only see the symlink file but not the content it links to For example, if you have a symlink named “Batter recipe” in your Dropbox account

/Dropbox/Cake recipes/Batter recipe

And it links to a file named “Batter recipe.pdf” that’s also in your Dropbox account

/Dropbox/Cupcake recipes/Documents/Batter recipe.pdf

You would see both a symlink named “Batter recipe.symlink” and a file named “Batter recipe.pdf” when you log in to dropbox.com. However, if you have a symlink named “Batter recipe” in your Dropbox account

/Dropbox/Cake recipes/Batter recipe

But it links to a file named “Batter recipe.pdf” that’s not in your Dropbox account

/Desktop/Cupcake recipes/Batter recipe.pdf

You would only see the symlink named “Batter recipe.symlink” when you log in to dropbox.com, not the file named “Batter recipe.pdf”. If you create symlinks that link to items outside of your Dropbox account you will not be able to open them on other devices as the file the symlink is linked to is not available on the other device. If you wish to have a directory available both in Dropbox and another location on your computer, you can put the target directory in Dropbox and the symlink outside of the Dropbox folder. By doing this, you will be able to have the file in both places and the contents will be backed up by Dropbox. How do symlinks work in shared folders? If you create a symlink in a shared folder that links to an item outside that shared folder, everyone who has access to the shared folder will see the symlink but not the file it links to. For example, if you have a symlink named “Batter recipe” in a shared folder

/Dropbox/Shared cake recipes/Batter recipe

And it links to a file named “Batter recipe.pdf” in a folder that’s not shared

/Dropbox/My personal cupcake recipes/Batter recipe.pdf