When I try to remove the Dropbox app from my computer I lose access to my desktop folders

Okay, so it looks like you've already disabled the computer backup. Could you follow these steps to restore the default location of the folders?

All comments

Hi @ColinD, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

It sounds like you enabled the automatic computer backup feature in the Dropbox desktop application. Could you first try disabling the computer backup from Dropbox using the steps in the above article to see if this helps?

Afterwards, you'll get the option to move the folders and files back to their previous locations, which will also delete them from the Dropbox account online.

Keep me updated with any progress!

ColinD

Thank you for replying.

To turn off computer backup:

I have got as far as the Backup Tab but I can't see any option for "Manage Backups" so that's where I am at. see screen shot.

Okay, so it looks like you've already disabled the computer backup. Could you follow these steps to restore the default location of the folders?

ColinD

Thank you so much. It has worked.

I have spent about a weak getting my folders back on to my computer and at last they are where they were.

Grrrrrrrr Dropbox.

Thomas Kalasz

I HAVE THIS PROBLEM TOO, tried following the directions on your link, In "backups" section of the preferences on my desktop app there is no "manage folders option".

this is insane, I've been battling this a long time

Walter

Hey @Thomas Kalasz - sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Could you send us a screenshot of what's shown in your backups tab in the app's preferences so that we can have a visual too?

Carlotta123

I am also trying to remove Dropbox completely from my machine, get rid of the duplicate C:\Users\[user]\Dropbox\ path and revert back to the default Documents path.

I have uninstalled the Dropbox desktop and if I reinstall the desktop to remove the syncing it seems that it would result in yet another "dropbox" path being created.

Can someone from support please contact me to explain how to fix this?

EdNewbold

HOW does one "...first try disabling the computer backup from Dropbox." I have yet to find this information here or elsewhere. When I uninstall Dropbox, it automatically removes my Downloads folder! Not good at all!

Thank you.

Ed Newbold

ColinD

I suggest you go to the top of this post and read all of Jays replies.

EdNewbold

I, like hundreds of other people, am experiencing the SAME SITUATION with the Windows "Can't redirect into reparse point, please choose different target path" error. This is DISGRACEFUL on Dropbox's part that the don't have a solution to fix this and are obviously trying to IGNORE it. I am so sorry I waster my money on such a lousy company.

If any of you have had this condition fixed, please let the rest of us know how you did it.

Thank you very much,

Ed in Ohio

coronado3779

I have the same problem. If I delete dropbox I lose all the files. This is unacceptable.

Nancy

Hi @coronado3779, I hope you’re well.

Just to make sure we’re on the same page, can you clarify if you’ve also enabled computer backup on your device and if you’ve taken any steps to turn the feature off?

I’d like to see what you’ve tried so far, so that we can check this further.

Keep me posted!

When I follow these steps, I receive an error message stating "Can't redirect into reparse point, please choose different target path."

Any further suggestions?

Walter

Hey @FrustratedUserB, sorry to hear about this.

Can you please clarify if you have the desktop app installed on your computer or if you've uninstalled it at some point in the past?

The application was uninstalled from this PC.

Thanks!

AnnHHunter

I had the same problem. It came to my attention because some other apps stopped working after I backed up my computer on Dropbox. I fixed it eventually only by working with Apple support for several hours. Luckily, Apple support will respond to requests quickly and work with you in person to solve individual issues, which Dropbox won't do unless you have the highest level subscription. Basically I had to recreate my original file structure and copy the files into it from the Dropbox app. I also had to redo all the aliases and shortcuts I had set up to access key files quickly.

The problem with getting off Dropbox is created because if you download the app, Dropbox lures you into backing up all your files on Dropbox, and then when you click yes, rearranges the structure of the files on your computer. They don't give you any warning ahead of time that it is going to happen. They don't have an undo option to reverse this operation if you change your mind. Once I had disabled the option and rearranged my files so that everything worked again, Dropbox still tried to get me to do sync with it again and also seemed to do strange things to my Desktop, until I removed all Dropbox applications from my computer.

Dropbox is still a useful tool for sharing files if you work only via the web without downloading the app. It's no longer a viable backup tool in my opinion.

Walter

Thanks for clarifying that @FrustratedUserB

Could you also clarify which steps you're following and send us a screenshot of the exact error you're getting?

Steps being followed are:

Right click the Desktop folder
Choose "Properties"
Go to the "Locations" tab
Choose to reset to default location.

Screenshot 2022-06-30 163131.png

Hannah

Thanks for the clarification here.

Can you please try the following steps, to see if they help?

1. Click the Dropbox icon in your system tray.
2. Click your profile picture or initials.
3. Click Preferences.
4. Click the Accounts tab.
5. Press 'alt+H'keys and at the same time click the Reset OS folders locations button.

6. Click 'Continue' to proceed.

Yes the same thing happened to me when I remove dropbox I lost all my folders desktop and documents and they’re in dropbox now and I can’t get them. He tells me the hover over the folder and then do”…” eclipse … which I don’t know what it is I googled it but I couldn’t get a straight meaning on how to do that function. I do have a feeling that dropbox just want to own all our data it’s really hard to get anything back, my files all got sucked up into dropbox in the first place without me even knowing what was happening and I couldn’t get them back.

Megan

Hi @Janinec, thanks for posting here!

Do you have an open ticket with our Support team about this? If so, can you send it to me here so I can locate it on our system?

Let me know more!

Hi Megan,
I have emailed for support but no answers. Someone told me I can search for a file and download it…. But seeing there are 4000 and I want them all back that’s gonna take a very long time and I did read on one help page that you can just get them back when a time. I don’t understand I saw rewind app that I had to pay for which is unfair. I got an email telling me that they were gonna delete it after a certain time which isn’t very far away all my data.I feel there is something very wrong with this situation I would like my data to all be given back to me…. Which I never knowingly asked to have it taken, no no support tokens offered to me. Janine

Thanks for this. I assume that I will need to re-install Dropbox first.

Hannah

No worries, @FrustratedUserB, yes, the Dropbox app will need to be installed, so you can follow these steps.

As for you @Janinec, can you maybe tell us a bit more about your issue?

Have you followed the steps here to disable our backup feature, after realizing that your desktop and documents folders were backed up to Dropbox?

What troubleshooting have you done so far? Any additional info would be really helpful.

Gosh I don't really want to reinstall it as it seems like a virus that controls all my files. I lost so many to drop box and Im unrecommending it to men friends.....the prices to get my own files back I never gave permission to give is ridiculous and extremely time consuming. I really think there are some ethical problems with the ways its operating. I guess I have no alternative but to sit for hours longer trying to figure out how to get MY files back.

regards

Janine

I don't want to install the app - is there any other way? can't I do it from the website? please send me the instructions...

also I have lost 3 folders from the lap top desktop, photos, documents and downloads....its ridiculous..... I just want all my files back and to close off. I hope. you can assist me to do this?

regards

Janine