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How to view my Backup folder on my Mac's desktop app?

Greetings community!

Previously, I used to be able to see my Mac represented on my Dropbox as a folder (I had enabled the backup option). This was super convenient because I could easily access my files on-the-go using my Dropbox iPhone app.

However, due to a computer issue, I needed to wipe my MacBook Pro clean and reinstall everything (including Dropbox). I enabled backup for my MacBook. However, now, it doesn't show me the MacBook folder like it used to. So I can't access my files on the go. It shows me that I have backed up my files and I am able to see them through a web browser. However, the folder representing my MacBook (backup) has stopped showing on Dropbox.

Is this due to some update in how backups work now for Dropbox on Mac? How do I get the backup folder to start showing up on Dropbox again.

Thanks!

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Jay

Hi @dislokated, thanks for messaging the Community!

This was the behavior of the old Dropbox Backup feature.

After an update to the feature, the backups are now only visible on the Dropbox site. It isn't possible to revert this change.

If you have any further queries, feel free to message back.

tlloyd88

I just encountered the same problem when starting a new macbook. This is a _really_ unhelpful change! Any chance it could be changed on the next update? (Please!!!)

Jay

Hi @tlloyd88, we appreciate the feedback on this matter.

We take all comments into consideration when improving the Dropbox site and services.

mbriney

I agree with the poster above.. this has made things very troublesome by not allowing everything to be read via the mobile app. I understand the principle of having the major "backups" be in a different segment of dropbox.. but it shouldnt be that hard to access all the files. Maybe inside the regular current Dropbox app, feature a button that allows up to actually open the files that are in this "backups" section? OR maybe create another "Dropbox Backups" app that will allow us to remotely view these backup files without having to go thru the browser?

ensoniq70

@Jay wrote:
This was the behavior of the old Dropbox Backup feature.
After an update to the feature, the backups are now only visible on the Dropbox site. It isn't possible to revert this change.

Is it a joke? I can't access my desktop data from the iPhone or iPad App? What a stupid idea. The whole Dropbox behavior is awful on a mac. We pay for the service and it gets worse and worse with every update.

Rich

@ensoniq70 wrote:
I can't access my desktop data from the iPhone or iPad App? What a stupid idea.

Don't confuse your Dropbox data (files located within your Dropbox folder) with the data saved through use of the Backup feature. Your Dropbox data is accessible in the mobile apps. It's just your backup data that can only be viewed through the website.

tlloyd88

Yes, I think the posters above understand this. It's just that the developers _took away_ a feature (access to backup files via iphone or ipad) that was very useful before to many people, without any appreciable benefit....

ensoniq70

Hello Rich,

thanks for the quick answer, but i want use my Desktop files on other devices. This was the normal behavior in the past (4-5 month ago). Now Dropbox launch a "Backup" App and we can't use these files on other devices? Sorry this is stupid. I have enough real backups. I don't need another online backup for my desktop files. Why did Dropbox change it?

Since i join the Beta versions on my main mac, Dropbox is not anymore the tool i want to use.

Hannah

Hey everyone, thanks for your feedback on this.

We've already passed your comments along to our team.

If you'd like to access your backup files from all your devices, a workaround could be to move them into the Dropbox folder.

I understand it's not a solution, but I hope it helps.

We really appreciate you taking the time to post your thoughts and rest assured that they've reached the appropriate people.

lrw2

Our company uses Dropbox across all devices, precisely because our employees could see anything in their documents folder wherever they were, on any device.

We just got hit with this when we "updated" Dropbox Backup. Lost access to all Documents folders and files on anything other than the computer itself. BE WARNED: this will happen even if you tell Dropbox you DON'T want to remove the files.

This is beyond irritating. The main reason we used Dropbox was so we could access our documents anywhere, anytime, from any device. Moving things to the Dropbox folder is NOT a solution, since Dropbox sometimes lags and crashes. All we wanted was the ability to view Documents folders remotely.

Pretty please, either move the backup function back into the main Dropbox "files" folder, or find a way to make the "backup" files accessible on all Dropbox apps and linked devices. The service becomes almost useless (for us) without it.

BenPM

Is there any chance this update will revert back because it's the main reason I use dropbox? I'm a musician and the ease of checking recording mixes in the car or blue toothed from my phone to my stereo was incredible with the phone app. Now that it is no longer accessible, check mixes will become more tedious and time consuming.

lilaspelarina

This is a major disadvantage for me and has disabled one of the best features of Dropbox.

I didn't really need another backup, I just found it incredibly useful to be able to view files stored on my Mac while on my phone. PLEASE REVERT!

lrw2

Sure hope so. If not, my Firm will be switching to any of the other myriad services that provide exactly what Dropbox now does. One of them is free for us, but we used Dropbox exactly for that real-time access advantage.

Donald Newman

I'm fairly illiterate about the inner workings of Dropbox. IF I'm not mistaken (and I may well be), using Backup was the only way I could prepare a document on my iMac, save it in an existing Documents (or Desktop) folder on my computer and have it simultaneously be included in that same folder on Dropbox Backup. Perhaps the sync function accomplished that but I was never sure! The sync function seemed to require me to put the document into a Dropbox folder/file rather than into one in my existing Documents folders on my Mac. In any case, the Backup Documents & Desktop folders were easily accessible on my iPhone and in my Dropbox app on my Mac desktop. But that no longer appears to be the case. Today I scanned a document using my Dropbox on my iPhone. I wanted to put it into a Documents folder BUT that was in Dropbox Backup and was NO LONGER available to me. Were I to move all my Documents folders currently in the new Dropbox Backup straight into Dropbox (as one respondent here suggested as a makeshift solution), I could move that scanned file into Documents in Dropbox BUT would it also show in my Documents folder on my Mac? I suspect not but beats me. HELP!! (And I apologize if what I've written above makes no sense to those of you who understand how things work!)

Hannah

Hey @Donald Newman, thanks for reaching out to us.

If you've updated your backup to the new experience, it's true that your backed up folders won't be accessible from the mobile app.

If you want to access files from the mobile app, you can add them to your Dropbox folder instead.

Otherwise, you can always access your backups from your backups page on dropbox.com.

Donald Newman

Thank you, Hannah. Am I correct that were I to add my Documents folder to Dropbox and not have it in Backup that I would then no longer be able to see files I place in the Documents folder in Dropbox in my Documents folder on my computer? Currently I simply save a file in my Documents folder on my computer and it is automatically saved or backed up in my Documents folder in Backup. Thank you for clarifying whether I have an accurate understanding.

Rich

@Donald Newman wrote:
Am I correct that were I to add my Documents folder to Dropbox and not have it in Backup that I would then no longer be able to see files I place in the Documents folder in Dropbox in my Documents folder on my computer?

If available to you, use the feature in your operating system to move the Documents folder to a new location, and move it into your Dropbox folder. That's how the old backup feature worked. It didn't back up your Documents folder in its original location. It MOVED your entire Documents folder into the Dropbox folder so it could sync.

If you have the ability to move the Documents folder in your OS (i.e. like you can in Windows), just move it to Dropbox and you've recreated the old Backup feature functionality.

Spushor

I’ve got the same problem. Dropbox sent me an update. I had to do a back up and they screwed it all up now. I can’t look at my back up Desktop on the IPhone Mac due to a file change now called back ups. Dropbox pull this number on me at midnight on a Saturday. I was tired now that the backup took a long time. They totally screwed this up shame on Dropbox you ruined the product and I’m gonna have to go to elsewhere or do something else. How do I get the file called Dropbox/backup/Mac to show up on my Dropbox iPhone app it doesn’t the product is useless

petegold

Thanks Hannah.

Please ask your team to fix this fast!!

It affects the entire way I run my business!!

It's super unhelpful that Dropbox have changed this functonality.

user1993

This is such a disappointment. This is one of the main features that made the app useful. Doesnt really provide much value to have files stored when you cant access them. Time to find a new solution. Try Sugarsync.

paoloa

I've updated backup software and got into the same problem. Any news on reverting the backup folder visibility?

Tim

I'm late to the parrty, but just realized that I could not find any of the files saved on my iMac via the Dropbox app. Everything worked prior, now it's just gone, and I have to access it through the browser. Is this a joke? Is there not a way to toggle this feature? So basically I have to drag everything from my desktop to a folder, then continue to save that way? And the folder has to be a Dropbox Folder. I have no idea who signed off on this idea, but its implementation is terrible. And please don't call it an "experience." It's an unwanted change.

mbriney

Correct @Tim .. Its a major letdown and pain in the rear end to be honest. Please go to this link and vote to show your support to get things back to the way it should be. Or at least implemented in a user-friendly way for us to get simpler access to the features were paying for.

https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-ideas/View-dropbox-backups-on-app/idc-p/772933#M83899

ara1

Hi@"dbox_" please change this. This is a bad idea. It feels like a deal breaker. Why would I pay all this money to not be able to access my “backup” files on mobile? I hope it changes soon. Otherwise I’m sure many of us will look for alternatives (particularly given the interface is already not top of the class).

JJ2024

@dbox_This is ridiculous. I just had to re-create a new account and spent over a month uploading almost 2TB of backup files. Then I spent longer organizing some additional folders I added. I was so excited once it finished. Now I’m just realizing you took away the only feature that made your app worthwhile.

Has anyone found a useful alternative yet? I was just about to pay for a yearlong subscription. I’ve been using it for 6 years.

Briskola

Please write here alternatives to db backup if someone can find them, thanks