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I don't want to sync my Desktop folder. Any ideas?

I changed my password. Logged out of the other devices that access my dropbox and then logged in with the new password. In doing so I notice there is now a desktop folder. I do not want drop box to share my desktop files. So I deleted the folder.

wrong.

I lost all my images that were left on the desk top.

I restored all the deleted files from today. But I still lost a lot of images. Im not convinced they will return.

How can I unsync my desktop folder or stop dropbox accessing it.

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Rich

Dropbox doesn't (and can't) sync the items on your Desktop on its own. It will only sync the items located within the local Dropbox folder on your hard drive. There have been work-arounds and other third-party utilities that allowed you to sync folders outside of Dropbox, but they are not supported.

So to determine how to prevent Dropbox from syncing your Desktop, we'd need to know how you set it up to do so in the first place.

TheDubs

I did not set it up to do so. When I logged back on to drop box I noticed the desktop folder. It was not there in the past.

TheDubs

It was not there in the past.

robwaterman

I had the same problem as you. I inadvertantly checked the box to sync my desktop folders. I tried to delete the desktop folder deep within the dropbox file structure and ended up deleting important documents on my desktop permanently. I was very frustrated and confused. Since I have important information synced with dropbox right now I haven't looked into it further. Did you figure out a solution?

VirgilFox

I am also wondering how to do this. I did not even get to choose if I was going to sync my desktop on my latest install. It just did it automatically.

Daphne

Hey there @robwaterman and @VirgilFox, just jumping in here!

We recently released a beta feature for automatically backing up your computer folders. If you'd like to disable this, then please check out the steps towards the bottom of this article.

If you're having any issues with this then please let me know and I'd be happy to help out with this.

Thanks!

Pegah

Hi, I have the same probloem. Did you find out the solution?

Pegah

It didn't work! I don't need to backup my folders. I just want to unsync the following folders to dropbox anymore!

Actually I didn't wanted to do so at all, but these folders had been selected when I first signed in and I didn't know that I should unckeck them!

Is there any way to undo this???

Pegah

Desktop

Documents

Downloads

Daphne

Thanks for joining us here @Pegah!

Were you able to follow the steps to disable the backup of those folders with the steps in the article I linked above?

If so, can you try moving the contents of the Downloads, Desktop and Documents folders back to their original locations outside the Dropbox folder?

Let me know!

mreher

I also made the mistake of allowing Dropbox to sync myMac, Documents, Desktop, and Downloads. I'm extremely frustrated, I thought it would give me a choice of folders, now every time I start up my pc it starts syncing hundreds of files that I do not want to exist on DropBox at all. I believe DropBox is trying to get us to have to increase our accounts and prevent us from getting our files back to restore our MacProsl back to normal. This document that keeps getting sent out tells you how to sync and backup. it does not explain or provide a way to back out of this new beta without losing information and breaking all kinds of links. I'm afraid to do anything now with my macBookPro because DropBox has taken over and has control of my content.

Rich

Dropbox released a beta feature for automatically backing up your computer folders. If you'd like to disable this, then please check out the steps towards the bottom of this article. You can also refer to the following thread to continue the discussion.

https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-files-folders/How-can-I-turn-off-the-automatic-computer-back-up-feature/td-p/404895

This topic is now locked as it did not originally discuss this new backup feature.