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How to migrate a Dropbox folder from one PC to another?

Dear all,

I have a shared physical Dropbox folder on my old PC with all the "original" data in it, which is synchronized with the Dropbox cloud storage.

Now this PC is broken and I want to physically migrate this shared Dropbox folder to my new PC.

How can I do that?

When I log into Dropbox on my new PC I can only access the Dropbox cloud storage but the data is not physically on my hard drive (which is what I want).

Thank you very much!

Kind regards,

ostbeyer

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Rich

@ostbeyer wrote:
But in order to download the files automatically, I first need to designate a location on the hard disk, don't I?

But where do I do that?

When you install the Dropbox application it will create a Dropbox folder in your user profile, though you have the option to select a different location during the install process.

All comments

Rich

@ostbeyer wrote:
... I want to physically migrate this shared Dropbox folder to my new PC. How can I do that?

The easy method is to just install the Dropbox application on the PC and sign in to your account. All of your files will sync to your computer automatically.

If you're looking to actually move an existing Dropbox folder from one computer to another it can be done, though it's more technical. If that's what you want to do, let me know, though I suggest you just install the application and let it download your files automatically.

ostbeyer

But in order to download the files automatically, I first need to designate a location on the hard disk, don't I?

But where do I do that?

Rich

@ostbeyer wrote:
But in order to download the files automatically, I first need to designate a location on the hard disk, don't I?

But where do I do that?

When you install the Dropbox application it will create a Dropbox folder in your user profile, though you have the option to select a different location during the install process.

ostbeyer

Exactly what I wanted, thanks a lot!! That worked!!

catstepmum

I've got a new MacBookPro, and the migration of everything - even my screen saver - from my old one was surprisingly easy. Except for Dropbox. My Dropbox on the new computer was empty. So I had to save an important folder I'm currently working on onto a hard drive, rename it and transfer into the new Dropbox I was forced to create on the new computer, and ask the co-editors I'd shared it with to share the new folder instead. Now I've been told by Dropbox that it will disappear tomorrow unless I start paying them. I am retired and do this journal editing on a voluntary basis. I'm not keen to have to pay.

Megan

Hi @catstepmum, let's jump right into this!

Is it possible that you're using two different Dropbox accounts: your old one, on the old device and a newly-created one, on the new device?

What is the app's syncing status right now? You also mentioned something about a message that Dropbox would "disappear" tomorrow, can you let me know more about this message, or notification and even send a screenshot too?

Let me know more!

catstepmum

Dear Megan,

Thanks for responding.

I clearly am using two Dropbox accounts, but I don't know why - why was the Dropbox empty when everything else migrated to my new Mac? I don't know what is meant by syncing status or how I'd find out. I've taken a screenshot of the message about expiration.

Screenshot 2023-01-04 at 15.22.05.png

Yours,

Ann

Megan

Hi @catstepmum, if you created a new account, and linked it to the new device, then that would explain why it's empty.

Have you clicked on the above link I provided about the syncing status? Also, this email refers to Dropbox Transfer, not your Dropbox account.

catstepmum

I didn't mean to create a new account. When I clicked on the Dropbox icon on my new computer it was empty. I've clicked on the syncing status link that you sent but as the folder is empty (apart from the one folder I've laboriously transferred by going back to my old computer, copying it onto an external hard drive and then moving it into the empty Dropbox) I don't see how this helps. And I don't understand why my 'new' Dropbox account is telling me I'll lose the transferred folder today unless I upgrade. It's no big deal in the sense that i've got a copy of it, but it does mean that I now have to stop using Dropbox with my co-editors and find some other way of sharing files. To be fair, I've never really understood why Dropbox did all this for free, and I'm not all that surprised to be asked to pay. But I already do the editing for nothing, as, I guess, a service to my section of the academic community. I realise that sounds pompous.

Yours,

Ann

catstepmum

Dear Megan,

I understand the email to mean that the folder I transferred to my (new) Dropbox would be deleted shortly. Is that not the case?

Yours,

Ann

Megan

Hi @catstepmum, the email states that the transfer would no longer be active after 1 day, not that the content would be deleted.

The link for that transfer would break.

As for your desktop app on the new device, you should be able to link it to your Dropbox account (the one you used to use on the old device), and your content would automatically sync to the new computer.

Provided you used a different account (especially if the account was new, therefore empty) it'd appear as empty.

catstepmum

Dear Megan,

Thanks for this. I don't understand what is meant by 'the transfer will no longer be active' - I've never had a message like that before. As long as the folder is still there, I guess that's fine. I'm afraid I still don't understand how to link the Dropbox on my new Mac to my old account. I did try, but didn't get anywhere - I don't have a record of any password I'd used for the old account (never needed one for day to day use, but I presumably originally had one) but I couldn't find a way to change it - it wouldn't accept the computer sign-in password or the fingerprint recognition or any of the things it was asking me for in order to send me a link to change my password. But I'll try again. Thank you for your patience. I am relieved that my folder is not going to be erased - that's something. If my folders are not being erased after a certain time, I guess I could simply just use this new Dropbox, and transfer stuff out of the old one if I need it. Basically I only really need folders relating to the edition of the journal we're currently working on - I rarely need to consult the folders relating to past editions and can do that via the journal website anyway, once each edition is published. Could you just tell me whether the fact that the transfer is not active will affect my work with the co-editors I share files/folders with?

Yours,

Ann

Jay

Hi @catstepmum, if those co-editors are going to be using that Transfer link to download the files, they won't be able to access it after it expires.

The best option would be to create a shared folder, and invite them to the folder, if they need to edit, delete or add files.

catstepmum

Thanks, Jay. I've always managed to share the folders before, I don't know why this time I did a transfer link. I'll check it out.

Yours,

Ann

Jay

No worries, let me know if you need any further assistance in the future!