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How can I connect two devices to Dropbox, so I can sync the files between them?

Devices are a HP pavilion desktop and a HP laptop (both Windows 11)

Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
Windows 11
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)
installed Basic
Syncing Status

Dropbox is running OK on the desktop and I loaded DropBox on a new HP laptop this morning I can see the files in dropbox folder of the desktop machine. They seem to be updating as required.

New user here. first time trying to connect a second computer to a common dropbox

How do I connect the Laptop to the DropBox folder that exists on my desk top HP ?

Must I have an E-Mail account on the new Laptop to do this?

Basically I just want to constantly keep in sync the files on the Laptop with the DropBox files on the Desk top machine and vice/versa.

Thanks for your help!

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Mark

Hi @RFB

To do that simply log on to the account which you use on the first machine (i.e. the desktop) and it will sync for you. So just download from http://www.dropbox.com/downloading on machine 2 and install

Megan

Hey @RFB, thanks for posting here!

I'm here to second what @Mark already said.

Once you download, and install the Dropbox desktop app on your new laptop, you should be prompted to sign into an account.

All you'd have to do would be to sign into the same account used in your desktop machine.

If you have any questions, or face any issues don't hesitate to let me know. Thanks!

RFB

Thanks to you both - I am about to try your suggestions - will let you know. - Ron

RFB

Thank you Mark and Megan

I seem to be stuck in some kind of a loop here.

I have down loaded DropBox to the Laptop but the install ends with a display of Dropbox cache, dropbox and desktop.

I do not see an invite to join the desktop's folder.

What am I missing here?

Megan

Hey @RFB, thanks for the heads up!

Computers sync directly with the Dropbox website, not with each other.

In this case, your desktop device will have a Dropbox folder that will sync any changes to your account online (and vice versa). In return these changes will sync to your laptop.

When you open your Dropbox folder on your laptop, what files do you see synced there?

RFB

Thank you for the reply. When I open the dropbox application on the LapTop, the first thing I see is a dropbox folder, It contains a sub-folder called .dropbox.cache. also in that first folder there are files identified as .dropbox , and a .desktop. file. It contains a few lines of unidentified text,

The cache file contains another short text file. and then app_fs_sphemeral_files (empty) and app_fs_new_files (empty), and icons (empty), old_files (empty), tmpfiles (empty) canary ( error) marker files (empty) and canaryenabled (empty Does that info help?

Walter

Could you maybe send us a screenshot of the Dropbox desktop app's exact status as shown in your taskbar so that we can have a visual too @RFB?

If it's running and syncing properly you should be able to see your Dropbox folder as well.

RFB

Let me try

RFB

This is the Laptop HP

Megan

Hey there, @RFB! Thanks for the screenshots.

However, keep in mind that we can't see the app's current syncing status in any of them.

You can find both by hovering your mouse over the little Dropbox icon in your taskbar next to your WiFi.

One more thing for you to check. Can you access the app's preferences, and more specifically your Account tab on both your desktop device, and your laptop and check to make sure that you're using the same email address?

RFB

Thank you once again for your observations and suggestions.

The Laptop reports " 178 bytes - Excluded (not synced)."

To he HP tower reports "Sync Pending" error 0x80070185 "The cloud operation was not successful."

I will check the Account. When the tower account was set up there was no Laptop E-mail address available.

regards. RFB

Megan

Hey @RFB!

Could you send me some screenshots of each device's syncing status too?

And definitely take a look at the Account tab on each computer, and let me know if they report the same email address.

One last thing: if you add a file using your desktop, can you see it when visiting your account online?
What about your laptop?