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Desktop items not included when syncing with Dropbox

Gazzor1969

I'm working on an M1 MacBook Pro running macOS Tahoe. For some time now (including before I upgraded to Tahoe) I have noticed that items I leave on my Desktop are not included in the Dropbox Sync. I have carried out an extensive search on this issue but thus far have found no solution. Can anyone assist me towards a resolution of this issue?

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Rich

Gazzor1969 wrote:
If I have a PDF file on the desktop of my Mac, am I unable to find and open that file from a Dropbox App on my iPhone.

Correct.

Gazzor1969 wrote:
Equally, if I have a PowerPoint file on the desktop of my Mac, am I unable to find and open that file if I access my Dropbox from another computer via browser?

Also correct.

In the past, the Backup feature would allow for it to work like that if you were backing up the Desktop folder. This is because your Desktop folder was MOVED into your Dropbox folder, allowing it to sync like any other folder.

Now, however, the Backup feature no longer works like that. You can still backup your Desktop, but backups are now stored in a separate space within your Dropbox account. They're backups. They're not meant to be working files. They're for recovery.

If you want to be able to open files across devices, you need to store them in your local Dropbox folder. The intent of Dropbox has always been that your files are stored in your Dropbox folder and you work on them from there. If needed, create a shortcut or an alias (not sure how it works on a Mac) to the file and place it on the Desktop for quick access, while leaving the file in your Dropbox folder.

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Jay

Hi @Gazzor1969, thanks for messaging the Community!

It sounds like you've enabled the Dropbox Backup feature, which would also back up files on your desktop.

Could you check to ensure that the desktop is still enabled for backup in the Dropbox desktop application settings, under 'Manage backups'?

Keep me updated with any progress!

Gazzor1969

Hi Jay,

Yes, just checked and the Drobbox Backup feature was enabled and the Desktop folder was the only folder as part of this Backup. I have now disabled Dropbox Backup.

Will my Desktop items now be part of the normal sync?

Jay

Actually, it should've been the opposite, if the Desktop folder is enabled, then it would be included in the Dropbox Backup, as shown on the Dropbox site. There isn't another way to 'sync' the desktop folder to Dropbox.

When you said that the desktop files were syncing, did you mean in the normal Dropbox folder itself, or in Dropbox Backup?

Gazzor1969

Well, I'm not concerned about Dropbox Backup. I simply like all my files to be sync'd with my Dropbox so they are available wherever I am - I just need to login to Dropbox and I have access to everything. However my issue is that if I am away from my computer, I can't seem to access any files I left on the Desktop of my Mac. I know I used to have access to these through signing into Dropbox on the browser of another computer, but now I can't locate them.

This is the issue I am looking for a solution for.

Jay

At this time, only files stored in the Dropbox folder would sync to the Dropbox site, and thus to other devices.

The older version of Dropbox Backup did allow the desktop folder to appear in the Dropbox folder. However, it sounds like that you've upgraded to the newer version of Dropbox Backup, which changes things on the backend and doesn't physically move folders, and will only back up files to the Dropbox Backup site.

Currently, it wouldn't be possible to revert to the older version of Dropbox Backup to get the previous behavior you wanted.

Rich

Gazzor1969 wrote:
I know I used to have access to these through signing into Dropbox on the browser of another computer, but now I can't locate them.

The only way that worked before was through the Backup feature, which moved the backed up folders (in this case, your Desktop) into the Dropbox folder. Those folders were then visible within the Dropbox folder on other devices, or on dropbox.com.

However, the updated Backup feature no longer works like that. Folders that you choose to back up are now stored separately from your regular files in the Backup section of the Dropbox website. These backups are only visible on that page and are not accessible in the Dropbox folder on other devices.

Gazzor1969

Hi Rich,

Could I just check what you are saying...

If I have a PDF file on the desktop of my Mac, am I unable to find and open that file from a Dropbox App on my iPhone. Equally, if I have a PowerPoint file on the desktop of my Mac, am I unable to find and open that file if I access my Dropbox from another computer via browser?

Grateful for your steer on this.

Cheers,
Gareth

Rich

Gazzor1969 wrote:
If I have a PDF file on the desktop of my Mac, am I unable to find and open that file from a Dropbox App on my iPhone.

Correct.

Gazzor1969 wrote:
Equally, if I have a PowerPoint file on the desktop of my Mac, am I unable to find and open that file if I access my Dropbox from another computer via browser?

Also correct.

Theresa

Hi there @Gazzor1969 , and welcome to the Dropbox Community 👋

I’m really glad to hear everything’s working again and thanks so much for coming back to update us! It’s always helpful when folks share that their issue is resolved, especially with sync issues like this that can be tricky to pin down 😊

And a huge thank you to @Rich for the amazing help here.. we’re lucky to have super users like you in the Community 💙

By the way, I’m Theresa 👩‍💻, one of the Community Managers here at Dropbox HQ. Since you’ve been using Dropbox for syncing your desktop, I’d love to know… what’s your favourite Dropbox feature? Whether it’s something simple or a power-user trick, I’m always curious what people enjoy most about the experience.

Looking forward to hearing more,

T 😺 (Dropbox Community Manager)