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How do I upload folders to my dropbox?

I am having an issue. I want to put all my files from my laptop into the dropbox as backup. I would then be able to delete some of those files on my laptop because it is full. The problem I keep having is I can only upload files and I need to upload whole folders. When I try to copy and paste them into the dropbox on my desktop, the files are put on my hard drive as well as my dropbox. How can I put folders into dropbox without also putting them on my hard drive?

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Rich

bustab wrote:
But Microsoft have it working just fine.

As does Dropbox...

4c210b69ad0bce4df6aee5cc1dfc5a06 Uploading a folder in the web interface through Chrome

And look, in Firefox as well now...

ff5017534c8ab87910836080031bc221 Uploading a folder in the web interface through Firefox

All comments

Hi Josh

You can save the folders on your Dropbox and then use the Selective Sync feature to choose which folders need to be on your computer + Dropbox OR only on Dropbox.

More instructions here: https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/selective-sync-overview

Gavin C.8

I have the same problem, however I cannot use the sync option, as the company I work for blocks this. I can access the web interface, and so would need to be able to upload files from my work laptop so I can access them from other devices. Doing this file by file is unpractical, and would take forever.

Kind regards

Gavin

Mark S.126

May as well use an external if it's going to be this much trouble to just upload. Whoever makes a program that makes it easy to just drop and drag stuff to a cloud, is gonna put you out of business...

Matter of fact, just checked out Google Drive, and you just go to New, Upload Folder, and it's DONE. Inexcusable to make it so byzantine. Get a clue, Dropbox... bye for now.

Jackie L.1

yep.

Ron M.6

Mark S. is right, I too will be leaving your antiquated service asap

Rod H.2

I'm starting to think the same way as Mark, between the SLOW upload and download speeds and the inability to upload folders, I can't use your service ...... but of course you're still charging me for it

Bill K.6

I just upgraded to a yearly 1 TB subscription and I tried to copy a 4.5 GB folder from my google drive to dropbox; I get an error that the file is "too big". (Mind you, I'm only using 1.2 GB out of the 1 TB that is available to me on Dropbox.)

As it turns out, the problem was due to my startup disk being filled up so that there was not enough space to transfer these files. I think file transfers from google drive (or any other cloud drive) to dropbox work as follows.

In Finder, copy the folder from the other cloud drive. Then, paste it into Dropbox. The way Finder on the Mac does this is it first copies the folder into your Mac hard drive and then it moves it into Dropbox. If your Mac hard drive (a.k.a "Startup Drive") does not have enough space to make a temporary copy of this folder, you'll get an error indicating that there is not enough space to copy the folder.

You may fix this problem by cleaning your Startup Drive. For example, I opened up a lot of space by deleting several large and obsolete files from my Downloads folder. Once I cleared enough room in my Mac hard drive, the copy operation from Google Drive to Dropbox went smoothly.

So, as it turns out, this problem was not directly attributable to Dropbox. Rather, the issue was that there was not enough space in my Mac hard drive to complete the copy and space operation between google drive and Dropbox.

Katie K.3

Thank you Bill K. -- this makes a lot more sense!

Claus W.

My (pretty simple) workaround for this is:

1. Create a folder which will be the final destination for the folders you want to upload.I'll call it "Folder X." Disable automatic syncing for this one.

2. Create a folder which will be what I'll call "Transfer Folder". Enable automatic syncing for this one.

3. Grab the folder you want to upload, and put it into the "Transfer Folder." Once the folder upload finished, go to the web interface, and move it to "Folder X." How frequent you have to do this step 3 depends on how much space you have left on your computer's hard drive.

jim w.6

This is [censored] stupid... Unimaginable that you can drag-n-drop a "folder" into the Dropbox arena. Here is a "free" idea:

1. Create a "Right-Click" option that allows you to select "Dropbox" for an auto sync from a folder on your computer.

[censored] guys. How hard can it be for the millions of users you have enable a Folder upload!!

Jim

jim w.6

Come on guys - does anyone that works at "Dropbox" use their service?

Rich

Jim, I've edited your posts. Please watch your language here or your posts could be removed or your account suspended. Thank you.

Christopher S.34

prehistoric service...thinking of leaving too...

Rich

The ability to upload a folder is a limitation of your browser, not Dropbox. Even Firefox has acknowledged this. It works in Chrome, but no other browsers. Even on Google Drive, it only works in Chrome.

If you're using the web interface and you want to upload complete folders, use Chrome as your browser.

bustab

Hi Dropbox - I just wanted to let you know that as a result of this issue I am migrating my entire account to Onedrive and cancelling my sub.

"The ability to upload a folder is a limitation of your browser, not Dropbox. Even Firefox has acknowledged this. It works in Chrome, but no other browsers."

Not for me. But Microsoft have it working just fine.

Good day sirs.

Rich

bustab wrote:
But Microsoft have it working just fine.

As does Dropbox...

4c210b69ad0bce4df6aee5cc1dfc5a06 Uploading a folder in the web interface through Chrome

And look, in Firefox as well now...

ff5017534c8ab87910836080031bc221 Uploading a folder in the web interface through Firefox

Tod_Tigi

DropBox,

You are right. If in Chrome, you can drag and drop. However, your upload times and error rates are terrible. Unfortunately Google Drive has you licked on this one. Hope to see some improvement if you want to keep my business.

~TT

Tammie

Thank you loads for this, you just saved me from major frustration!

I was attempting a folder upload using a Safari browser which wasn't allowing for whole folders upload!! I have now been able to do just that using Chrome!

Thank you for your post.

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