Unable to stop or turn off desktop backup [SOLVED]

So, for anybody who happens to stumble upon this - here is how you can solve it.

1. Move your Dropbox folder - I found this solution accidentally, because my PC was getting full and I decided to move my Dropbox folder to another partition, but you could move it anywhere. Go into the Dropbox app, click on the picture of you, select 'preferences' , then 'sync' and then select the option to move your Dropbox folder. Just put it in a different location. Doing this will nuke your desktop. But do not panic. You will not lose any data.

2. Re-create your Desktop - i.e. make a folder called 'Desktop', in C:\Users\YourName\'.

3. Copy or move all your old desktop files from the Dropbox folder called 'My PC blah blah whatever \ Desktop' to your actual Desktop. This will get your desktop back, and Dropbox will no longer sync it, because it will be looking at the 'My PC' files.

4. Do steps 2-3 for the Downloads and Documents folders.

5. Get coffee.

All comments

For extra info: I've now tried unlinking / re-linking and un/re-installing to set up Dropbox from scratch, but it keeps syncing my desktop (downloads etc) even when I tell it not to.

Casper777

Hi there

Take a look at the post here: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-files-folders/How-can-I-turn-off-the-automatic-computer-back-up-feature/td-p/404895

To turn off this setting, please follow the steps below:

Click the Dropbox icon in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).
Click your profile picture or initials.
Click Preferences.
Click the Import tab.
Click Manage backup.
Uncheck the folders you'd like to remove from Dropbox or toggle all files to Off.

Hope it helps!

Regards

Casper

Hi Caspar,

Like I said in my post, I do not see an 'import' tab. I have also just un/re-linked and un/re-installed for a second time, and it is still doing it, even when I explicitly uncheck that option in the setup. Do you know any other way to do it?

This is all I see.

Casper777

OK.

Click on Preferences, Backups, Manage backup, and you should be able to untick the folders you do not want to have backed up. Then click Save.

Take a look at this too: https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/computer-backup

Hope it helps.

Regards

Casper

Hi Caspar,

I know you're trying to help. But there is no 'manage backups' option either.

Also, having unchecked the 'desktop' etc boxes, my entire desktop has now disappeared.

I really don't want to be one of those people, but I've been using and advocating Dropbox for years and this is really bad.

Casper777

OK this is what I think.

I can see the "set up" option at the top under "This PC". To me, it seems that backup is no longer set up for your computer.

How Dropbox backups works is that it MOVES the files and folders from your Desktop, Documents and Downloads folders into a new folder with your computer name INTO the Dropbox folder.

As the backup option looks to be disabled (not set up but my gut says it was before) the Desktop, Documents and Downloads folders will still reside inside your Dropbox landscape. You need to find the files, and move them back to their original location if the steps here did not work: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-files-folders/How-can-I-turn-off-the-automatic-computer-back-up-feature/td-p/404895. Also look for the "Files on my computer" shortcut that should be visible on your desktop.

The files of the desktop for example should reside here (this is my location as an example): C:\Users\Username\Dropbox (Personal)\My PC (SURFACE)\Desktop

Hope it helps.

Regards

Casper

Thanks Caspar. I know it's not your fault, and you're doing your best to help. But this is an absolute mess from Dropbox. I've managed to get my Desktop back, but there's no way I can find to turn off the sync Desktop/Downloads/Documents option that doesn't just delete it all over again. I'm just going to live with this as it is, because the hassle of trying to fix it will take too long and I've got more important things to do. But this is an absolutely massive screw-up.

Thanks for your help anyway!

So, for anybody who happens to stumble upon this - here is how you can solve it.

2. Re-create your Desktop - i.e. make a folder called 'Desktop', in C:\Users\YourName\'.

4. Do steps 2-3 for the Downloads and Documents folders.

5. Get coffee.

Gayent

Thanks Casper

I just tried this and I think it has worked for me and all my stuff is where it was before I went into the rabbit hole that is Dropbox.

AngelHI

This deos not seem to work. After unchecking the boxes, the Submit button is grayed out and will not allow me to proceed without at least 1 item checked. So annoying.

MAYA77

I dont have a preferences option on my initial. Now what?

Walter

Hi there @MAYA77; I'm sorry to jump in here, but are you sure you're accessing the app's preferences through the system tray/menu bar?

janthyer

I have just spent nearly TWO MONTHS dealing with this same problem and with your same issues (NO "MANAGE" or NO "IMPORT" icon). I have paid Carbonite to do my backup for years but I inadvertently clicked "YES" on the pesky pop-up that enabled this horrible Dropbox "feature" one day when it rudely interrupted my work. I have been trying to recover from having my files disappear from my PC ever since that day. I even manually copied 512 GBs of my files onto external storage to avoid my files disappearing from my hard drive again.

And don't get me started about the only support afforded me, Dropbox's totally pathetic CHAT. It is a TINY un-expandable box with eensy light gray type! so to try to follow it is impossible. Then my Dropbox employee "helper" guy emailed me the transcript of the chat. I had to format it in Word so that it was intelligible. With Carbonite I was able to speak to a human being who was very helpful. But before I could turn Carbonite back on, according to the Dropbox chat person, I needed to turn off this "Back-up" feature of Dropbox. I am now proceeding in the same way you are, hoping that Dropbox doesn't completely RUIN twenty years of Music entering and editing.

Anyway, I guess I really am THAT person because I now am telling everyone I know not to use Dropbox. EVER! Most everyone I know, uses Google for FTP, anyway. Sorry for your problems. I chose to follow this thread because it is listed the problem as "solved." NOT!!! Casper's solution sounds like "take arsenic! you really will feel better!"

Gayent

Janthyer - does Carbonite work like dropbox? I like dropboxes ability to upload my photos straight from my phone - BUT - it will only upload them to my computer after I refresh on the phone and also reinstall dropbox on my computer so it is very annoying but I have lost a lot of photos in the past so I am coping with it for now until I find something else that will work for me.

I shall research Carbonite.

thanks

Gaye

janthyer

Hi Gayent, I don't understand HOW Dropbox works at all so unfortunately I can't answer your question. I have used Carbonite for years to back up my computers, not my phone. I never intended to have Dropbox back up my computer but when it did, my files disappeared from my hard drive! Carbonite helped me recreate those folders in a different NON-DROPBOX location on my hard drive. Now I need to extricate myself from the Dropbox back-up process but I have been unable to do that because all of the suggestions I have gotten from Dropbox employees or community users have been unimplementable similar to the problem the other user I have replied to was having. Sorry you are having difficulties, too. Carbonite even gave me the number for an auxiliary support system they have to try to help me get out of this mess! Good luck!

rhondaredcat

cant find my picture on the drop box ap or preferences! not even sure i have an app now, doesn't look like an app, just a file.. I need help.

Megan

Hey @rhondaredcat, I hope you're doing great this Friday!

Can I ask for some more info in regards to the issue you're experiencing?

Do you have issues with our Computer Backup feature?

Keep me posted!

rhondaredcat

I deleted it all, gave up! what happened i think that dropbox got my desktop, documents and downloads, then I was over my limit and couldnt figure how to get those things out so i could use it, Thanks for trying to help me Maybe ill eventually get up the courage to try again

frank0434

Thanks for this solution.

Seems the only viable solution so far.

Enomy

Thanks so much dude. This solution calmed my anger and restored my photoshop from being torn to pieces by dropbox, and the rest of my desktop seems recovered as well
Thank you!!

Have the same problem. I can untick the folders but than the 'save' option becomes inactive?

Hi @JGLR, if the Save option is inactive, then it could mean that the computer backup feature is already disabled. When you view the Backups tab in the Dropbox desktop application, does it show 'Set up', or Manage at the top?

This is what I get...

Yes, it looks like it's disabled, so it isn't active currently.

Are the Desktop, Documents and Downloads folders still in the Dropbox folder?

Yes they are and if I try to remove them they seem also to get lost from my pc?

Could you go into the Dropbox desktop application preferences, click the Account tab, press Alt+H, and then choose 'Reset OS folders'?

This will move the folders and files back to their previous locations, which will also delete them from the Dropbox account online.

Tried so, it confirmed that it will stop back up but I still sees the file 'pc' in my online account?

Is it just the folder 'PC', with no other files or folders inside?