Can I delete photos from my phone after uploading them without deleting them from Dropbox too?

Elizabeth R.22 wrote:

Hi I am new to Dropbox & I have downloaded all my photos into my Dropbox on my PC & now I am wanting to delete the photos off my iPhone & iPad what I want to know is will I lose them from my Dropbox on my PC if I delete them off my mobile devices please help 

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As I understand this issue and the conflicting reports I see, one must distinguish between copied files and synced folders. If you delete a file from a synced folder, you delete it from Dropbox, and consequently from all of your synced devices; but if you delete a file you copied to Dropbox that is not in a synced Dropbox folder, there is no link between your local copy and the Dropbox copy, so the file remains in Dropbox.  

To use dropbox to clear files from your phone:
1) Select the files,
2) Select "Cut,"
3) Select a Dropbox folder, and
4) Select "Paste." (Copy and paste works also, but you will duplicate the files, using twice as much space. )
5) Make sure the files have been synced to Dropbox.
6) Make sure the files are no longer in the original location.
7) DO NOT DELETE FILES FROM THE SYNCED FOLDER, but 
8) Clear the Dropbox cache to free up space on your phone.