Child Item

Unable to rename the Dropbox folder to create a new folder.

Application Affected
Dropbox
Device
PC
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
Windows 11

For years, I've been using Dropbox on my PC without any problems. But today, something happened: for some unknown reason, the PC client lost authorization and asked me to log in again, as if I were launching it for the first time.

That's when the problems started. I ALREADY HAD Dropbox on my PC. Therefore, the Dropbox folder ALREADY EXISTS! And I don't need to create a new folder! I need to put it in the same location, BUT I CAN'T!

Errors:

[Window Title]
Dropbox

[Main Instruction]
Merge with existing Dropbox folder?

[Content]
A folder named Dropbox already exists. Do you want to add all the files in this folder to your Dropbox?

[~~Select another location~~] [Merge]

***

[Window Title]
Dropbox

[Main Instruction]
A folder or file named Dropbox already exists.

[Content]
To complete the installation, Dropbox will rename your "Dropbox" folder or file.

[~~Select another location~~] [Rename]

***

[Window Title]
Dropbox

[Main Instruction]
Unable to rename the Dropbox folder to create the Dropbox folder.

[Content]
To complete the installation, Dropbox needs to rename your Dropbox folder or file. Please close any open documents and try again.

[Select another location] [Try again]

How can I fix this error? I can't delete or rename the old folder.

Error: Folder already in use
The operation can't be completed because the folder or file is open in another program.

Find more posts tagged with

Setting Up the Apps

Desktop

Error Messages

Sync

Windows

Install

Spam

Insightful

AcceptAnswer

Closed - Partially Delivered

Delivered

Comments

Megan

Hey there @K14M, let's jump into this!

I'd suggest that you start by restarting your device. Do you still have a problem renaming or deleting the folder after that?

Once that's done, please kindly note that if the application detects that another Dropbox folder already exists on the computer, it should give you two options: 'Choose Another Location' in case you'd like to move your Dropbox Folder to another location or 'Rename' (since there's already a folder with the same name).

If you want your new Dropbox folder to be in a location different than your existing folder, click on 'Choose Another Location'.

If you wish you can always merge with the existing Dropbox folder.

Lastly, if your old Dropbox folder was added to: C:\Desktop\Dropbox you would need to choose C:\Desktop and the client will try and create a new Dropbox folder. If you're connecting with the same Dropbox account as before, our desktop app should detect the existing folder and then prompt you to merge the Dropbox folder. Upon merging the desktop version of Dropbox will check the existing files and the server versions and update accordingly.

I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!

Nancy

Hey @K14M! Did you follow the steps Megan suggested? We’d love to know if they helped resolve your issue.

Dibbs

Megan wrote:
If you're connecting with the same Dropbox account as before, our desktop app should detect the existing folder and then prompt you to merge the Dropbox folder. Upon merging the desktop version of Dropbox will check the existing files and the server versions and update accordingly.

I am having this exact problem at the moment, and the only reason I ended up with this problem is because the Dropbox help page literally tells you to try signing out of and back into your account in order to jump-start syncing again, when the syncing is frozen.

When you do so, the desktop app absolutely does detect the existing folder. The app can clearly tell that I've been signed in to this computer previously using my Dropbox login, it knows where my Dropbox folder was saved, and it knows exactly what folders I had selectively synced. What it won't let you do, is link to that folder ever again. Exactly as K14M explains, if you can manage to get the prompt to "Merge" folders, it just loops you back to an option to save in a new location, or rename the old folder so it can create a brand new copy with the same name.

It should do this : "Upon merging the desktop version of Dropbox will check the existing files and the server versions and update accordingly." but it is not doing that. And contacting Dropbox support is fruitless because clearly Dropbox haven't looked into this issue despite it being raised for a while now, by the looks of some internet searching.

If anyone has a work-around that doesn't involve copying and pasting every file I had downloaded from my old Dropbox folder to a new one, I'd love to hear it before I have to uninstall and reinstall the program and start from scratch.

Hannah

Hey @Dibbs, thanks for your contribution to this thread and for your feedback.

If you're currently logged out of the Dropbox desktop app, can you try to sign back in and check if you can see an "Advanced settings" link?

When you click it, you can choose the parent folder of the already established Dropbox folder.

For example, if you have your Dropbox folder in the path "D:\OtherDrive\Folder\Dropbox", you'll want to select the folder "D:\OtherDrive\Folder".

Does that help?