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I get the error "You've reached the device limit for your work account" when using Dropbox Backup

Ram_Noham

My account alowes me to backup unlimited devices, even though I get a message I've reached the device limit - see the attached mesage I receive

Screenshot 2026-10-15 at 12.30.02.png

How can I resolve it?

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Dropbox Backup

Accepted answers

Megan

Hey @Ram_Noham!

Based on your initial screenshot, it looks like you have two computer backups active, along with two external drive backups named "Ram Noham."

Could you check if any of them are currently active? If one of these external hard drives is enabled, you will need to delete it first before you can connect your preferred external drive.

You can delete it using these steps:

Go to Dropbox Backups.
Select the external-drive backup.
Choose Manage backups.
Turn Automatic backups off.
Select Delete backup, then confirm.

This removes the backup from Dropbox only without deleting anything from the physical external drive.

All comments

Megan

Hey there, @Ram_Noham, let's jump right into this!

It looks like you are encountering a device limit error while setting up an external drive backup.

While paid plans allow an unlimited number of desktop app installations, the Dropbox Backup feature limits the total number of external hard drive backups your team can create to match your number of licenses (for instance, a 15-license subscription permits 15 backups). You can have a look here for more info.

How many licenses do you currently have?

Keep me posted!

Ram_Noham

Thank you Megan for the quick reply,

I have a Mac with two external SSD drives for storing the data, because the internal drive isn't big enough.

How can I backup the external SSD?

Ram_Noham

Thank you Megan for the quick reply,

I have one account, but I have a Mac with 2 external drives for the data. My Mac's hard drive dosen't have enough space for my data.

Megan

Hey there, @Ram_Noham!

I understand this can be confusing, but as mentioned, your team's external hard drive backups are limited to match your total number of licenses.

To help clarify your setup, could you share a bit more information?

How many licenses are currently active on your team's account?
What is the exact subscription you're using?
How many external drives are you trying to back up right now? (You mentioned 2, but how many do you see when visiting your Backup page online?)

As an alternative to help with your storage issue, you could also use the online-only feature for some of your folders and files to free up hard drive space. Have you considered this option, and would it work for you?

Ram_Noham

Hey Megan,

I have only one license, and the team is only me.
My subscription is standard (see attached).
I have only 2 harddrives connected to my Mac, and they are the only ones I need to backup.

I use the online-only feature, but steel there isn't enough space for my data, so I want all data to be on my hard drive.

Megan

Hey @Ram_Noham!

Since you are using a single license on your Standard team, your account is limited to backing up one external drive. This explains the error message you are receiving.

I hope this clarifies things! Let me know if you need anything else.

Ram_Noham

Hey Megan,

I understand I can backup only one external drive, but Dropbox desn't allow me to backup either of them.

I can organise my data in only one drive.

Megan

Hey @Ram_Noham!

You can delete it using these steps:

Go to Dropbox Backups.
Select the external-drive backup.
Choose Manage backups.
Turn Automatic backups off.
Select Delete backup, then confirm.

This removes the backup from Dropbox only without deleting anything from the physical external drive.

Ram_Noham

Hey Megan

I followed your instructions: deleted the unnecessary devices and it allowed me to backup the drive I need backedup.

Tank you

Ram_Noham

Hey Megan,

IT WORED

Followed your instructios: deleted the devices not in use, and it allowed me to backup the external drive I want.

Thank you

Jay

Hi @Ram_Noham, thanks for your reply.

We're happy to see that you were able to resolve this matter regarding your external drive backup.

If there's anything else we can assist with, feel free to reply back here!