Can I use Mac OS Time Machine alongside Dropbox?

Question

Having levelled up from the free version of Dropbox and using Time Machine alongside for years, and now on a professional plan and being told to ditch Time Machine.

This is a potential deal-breaker. Why exactly is it a bad idea to use both together? I find myself stuck here because Dropbox is not a full backup solution, as we are constantly told. So I need to use a full backup solution like TM to back up my system drive - is there another Time Machine like app that I can use that will work alongside Dropbox and is recommended?

Megan · Answer

Hi @Billiejeane, I'd be happy to answer this one for you!

Time Machine can indeed affect your Dropbox files, however there's a possible way to avoid that.

You'd need to make sure the app isn't syncing at the time you use Time Machine. Therefore, signing out of the app is a good idea, since your online files in the cloud will be safe.

Once everything is back on track with Time Machine and your device, you can re-download the app, and allow for your content to sync from scratch. Would you like to give this one a go?

Let me know more!

Billiejeane · Answer

Hi!

I recently had to get my MacBook Pro fixed and unfortunately all my data has been wiped. My last time machine back up was a year ago. But most of my current files since then have been stored on Dropbox.

If I reboot my computer with the old time machine back up will it delete or change my current up to date Dropbox files?

And what can I do to make sure this doesn’t happen? I’m nervous to reinstall my old time machine back up in case I lose all my current Dropbox files!!

Thank you!

MattFoster · Answer

Hi Hannah, thank you for your reply.

Yes I have looked in to the Rewind feature and it is great. I love Dropbox overall, I just like to have 2 physical versions of my project data and 1 Cloud version.

Of course it worries me that Dropbox recommends not to use Time Machine. As I have a 4 TB internal hard drive that is beyond the limit of backing up to Dropbox - plus other project drives. How may I have a local physical back up too if not Time Machine?

Is it possible that I use Dropbox whenever I need to roll back or Rewind a file? And only use Time Machine as backup without accessing the Restore features? Or perhaps get Time Machine to back up everything that Dropbox is not backing up.

For example I have Dropbox backup for the Dropbox Folder, Mac Desktop and Documents. If I have an additional folder outside of those, I can have Time Machine choose to back up only that later folder and not the Desktop etc

Much thanks, Matt