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Turning on dropbox backup but folder name is weird

I had tested the Dropbox Backup feature in the past so I know that when turned on my Computers should be added as My Mac (Unique Mac Name). I decided to turn it back on again when setting up two new Macs that I have but the backup now creates the folders as just Mac, Mac (2), Mac (3)

I've gone through the steps of unlinking Dropbox from each computer. Checking their names in System Preferences and also in the Security tab of my Dropbox account. The computer names are correct in Dropbox but the backup feature is still creating the folders as just Mac

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Dropbox Backup

Computer Backup

Accepted answers

nichole

OK, they are finally rolling up a Beta update for Dropbox Backup that will let you rename and I was able to do it! You can do go through Dropbox Backup in the app, disable the backups on all the computers there, and then restart them. Then, re-enable backups and it should move you over to beta so you can now rename things!

All comments

marioshadj

Hi, I am trying this new Dropbox Backup feature, and I'm noticing that a directory was created with a name I didn't choose, namely:

My Mac (123.dhcp.myisp.com).

I would like this to be something like My Mac (laptop), instead of the default name.

I noticed that my Desktop folder was moved in there and the actual Desktop folder is now a symlink pointing to Desktop in My Mac (123.dhcp.mysip.com), and while I could rename it and fix the symlink, it seems like this may cause issues with Dropbox looking at the wrong places in the future, e.g. when adding/removing backup folders at the very least.

Is there a way to rename this without causing issues?

Thanks.

Lusil

Hey @marioshadj, let's see what we can do on this.

Since the computer backup feature creates a folder named after your device's name, you can try the following steps to see if they do the trick:

Turn off the computer backup feature.
Unlink the device from your Security tab.
Rename your computer to what you want it to be called.
Sign in again with your account.
Make sure that the computer backup feature is enabled.

Let me know how it goes, thanks!

PS. If you're on a Basic (free) account, note that there's a three device limit and you'll have to make sure that you've got less than three devices connected to proceed.

marioshadj

Hi Lusil,

Thank you for the suggestion.

I had renamed my computer and restarted dropbox initially to try it out but that did not work, and it looks like it only looks at the name of the computer when I linked dropbox.

I assumed that what you suggested could work, though that would mean I have to set-up all the specific folders I want to sync on my laptop all over again, which is a bit of an overkill for such a simple rename

I understand that this is a "beta" feature, would it make sense to have an option to rename a device in the preferences?

Lusil

Sure thing, @marioshadj! You can post this here, where other like-minded users can comment and upvote it.

In the meantime, if you have any other thoughts or questions for us, just give us another nudge. Cheers!

Chris lutje Spelberg

Hi, I have the same problem.

I backed up many gigabytes already. So for me to apply the suggested solution it means re-downloading and uploading at least 60Gb of data.

So please provide a way to rename the folder. It looks so unprofessional.

For your information: it has the domain name of the modem of my previous internet provider. Completely useless naming..

nimbleg

Why is this going unaddressed? This is an issue on business accounts and its confusing my users.

eperadam

I have a few question about Dropbox.

First, how can I rename "My Mac (xy)" featured Folders, because I had two Mac folders, a MacBook Pro, and an Air, so I want to change it to: My Mac ( Pro) and My Mac ( Air). (because its looks like cool)

Képernyőfotó 2021-01-17 - 14.16.46.png

Képernyőfotó 2021-01-17 - 14.18.02.png

Thanks for help!

Daphne

Thanks for posting @eperadam!

I've just moved your post here since you have a similar question.

When you have the time, please check out the info here, and let me know if you have any questions!

eperadam

Thank you, but I didnt understand...

What will happen. If i Unlink my Mac from Dropbox, and It will stop sync feature? Files that have been synced to dropbox in the past will be deleted after unlink defice or not? Because it synced over 500 GB, which I don’t want to delete.

Daphne

Thanks for getting back to me here @eperadam.

Since the backup folder can only take the name of the device when it's enabled, that's why we suggest unlinking the device from the Dropbox account, so it can be reconnected with the correct device name.

Unlinking the device from your account will indeed stop the app syncing, but it won't delete the files from your Dropbox account online, or locally on your computer.

I would just say to make sure that the app is showing "up to date" in the sync status, and that it's not trying to sync files before you unlink the app.

sprocket003

I'm having this issue as well. Tried all these steps and still it's naming it "Andys-MacBook-2" because previously there was another "Andys-MacBook" on the network. I've since renamed the second computer and removed the 2 but Dropbox is still naming the backup folder with it. Can't figure out a solution.

Daphne

Hi @sprocket003!

Can you clarify for me, is it showing this on the original backup folder, or did you re-enable the backup after renaming the device and it still shows the old name?

eperadam

If i Rename my mac, the folder doesnt refreshing...

Chris lutje Spelberg

The way Dropbox reacts to this stupidly implemented solution and the way they focus only on more distracting 'features' I decided to cancel my subscription.

All the best

Lusil

Hey @, eperadam, could you let us know if you unlinked the desktop app from your account?

What does the Security tab online show in regards to your connected devices?

eperadam

Yes, I did this, but the result is bigger problem than before: Dropbox created a another My Mac, and start the bacup again, from the beginning. Now, I have two My Mac, with the same files/ docs. The Problem is solved, but this solutions is so bad.

tjanderson

The device names registered in my dropbox are

Hannah

Hey @tjanderson, thanks for reaching out and sorry for the delay!

It seems that this change was implemented to simplify things with the computer backup folders.

The folder of the first computer that is connected to the account is named 'Mac' and the next one 'Mac (2)', etc.

This cannot be changed at the moment and the folders cannot be renamed.

Let me know if you have any questions!

tjanderson

Hi @Hannah,

Thanks for the confirmation this is expected behavior now.

Please pass along the feedback though I think this is a bad design choice and really doesn't simplify anything.

In my use case I have three different macs all with backup enabled. Which one is Mac or Mac (2) or Mac (3)?

If I'm on my iPad and know that I need to get a document that was saved in my iMacs Document folder - which Mac folder would I go to?

The previous setup where it would be Mac (Device Name) made these scenarios easy but giving a generic name makes it somewhat unusable unless you only had a single Mac or maybe a single Mac and single PC.

At this point I will turn off the backup features from Dropbox as I can't use this as is.

Hannah

I do understand your view on this, TJ, and I will happily pass this feedback and your comments along to our team.

If there's anything else I can help you with, please let me know.

simmsg

Hi,

I just started backing up a new computer. The previous two show up in Dropbox as My PC (PC Name) but this third one shows up as PC (3).

The PC name is set just fine afaict.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Rich

@simmsg wrote:
I just started backing up a new computer. The previous two show up in Dropbox as My PC (PC Name) but this third one shows up as PC (3).

That is how the folders are now named. The first one will be named PC. Subsequent folders will be named PC (2), PC (3), etc. It was a change that was implemented to simplify the computer backup folders.

simmsg

Thanks for responding. What a shame. The previous naming convention was at least understandable. And as others have pointed out, who is going to remember which is PC 1 vs PC 2 vs PC 3?

lorenzofanchi

Fully agreed. What a horrible decision to give the computers such non-descriptive names. When will this be addressed?

SNANA51832

After I reinstalled my pc, it create a new folder named PC2, and the previous folder PC I can't change its name, nor I can delete it. Does anyone have a solution?

Hannah

Hey @SNANA51832, thanks for letting us know about this.

The 'PC' and 'PC(2)' folders mean that you have enabled the computer backup feature on two connected PCs, but the backup folder name cannot be changed.

Can you clarify what you mean when you say that you reinstalled your PC?

Did you update your operating system or did you just reinstall Dropbox on it?

And, are you seeing two backup folders for the same PC or do these two folders contain different desktop files?

Keep me posted.

SNANA51832

I reinstalled my operating system a few days ago and these two folders are not visible to me and show up on the new one as the PC folder. You can see the picture here.https://imgur.com/gallery/mGhrwen

But in dropbox, it will show this.https://imgur.com/5XcXvfi

After I reinstalled my operating system, I move all my desktop files from PC to PC2.So the PC folder is empty.And I can't delete it nor can i rename the PC2 folder.

And the dropbox desktop software will contain a PC2 folder.https://imgur.com/ka8UPxN

Look forward to your favourable reply.

Jay

Thanks for the info, @SNANA51832, this is related to the computer backup feature.

Could you check if the old computer has been removed from the list of devices on this page?

SNANA51832

Sorry for the late reply,but it is always the PC2 folder.Though I have deleted all my devices and folders on dropbox, and I resynced, it will create the same PC2 folder.

Hannah

Hey @SNANA51832, thanks for the update here.

You won't really be able to rename the PC(2) folder, I'm afraid.

And even though the computer was unlinked, it's still the same computer, and Dropbox recognizes that, so the backup folder will keep getting named 'PC(2)'.

Now, since the first 'PC' folder is empty, though, now that that computer is unlinked, were you able to delete it?