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Dropbox unlinked my accounts suddenly

Hi there!

I've have a free dropbox personal account for 15 years, and at some point added a free Teams account. Several years ago I upgraded the Teams account to a Professional account.

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Today I got this message, and all my Professional files were taken off my machines (they're still on dropbox of course)

Business Dropbox Removed:

Your business Dropbox account was removed from this computer because your accounts were unlinked. Your files have not been deleted.

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I would love to be able to link my two accounts, and continue having two separate dropbox home folders on my machine. Basically, I am leaving the country tomorrow morning and will have extremely limited internet access. I just need it to work how it used to, but I accept that I may need an alternate setup based on whatever Dropbox has changed.

When I am signed into my Personal (free) account, it says I have 3TB of space, and the same for the Professional account.

Within the settings menu the Pro account is called Personal Account, but when I check the billing plan for the Pro account, it calls it Dropbox Professional.

Any solutions? Many Thanks! (too bad this is my only option for customer support 🙂

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Mark

The only way to link them now, I'm afraid, is for one to be on a paid Business plan (i.e. with multi user licences).

https://help.dropbox.com/teams-admins/team-member/free-teams-overview

All comments

Mark

The only way to link them now, I'm afraid, is for one to be on a paid Business plan (i.e. with multi user licences).

https://help.dropbox.com/teams-admins/team-member/free-teams-overview

Rich

@Enialb2 wrote:
I would love to be able to link my two accounts, and continue having two separate dropbox home folders on my machine.

Dropbox has ended support for free teams and have begun disbanding all existing free teams. The only way to link two accounts is to be part of a team, and the only team accounts still available are paid Business teams.

https://help.dropbox.com/teams-admins/team-member/free-teams-overview

You can continue to sync one account to your computer, and you'll need to use the Dropbox website to sign in to the other account. Without being in a Business team, there's no way to sync both accounts to your computer.

Enialb2

Thank you for the answers!

KK2022

I'm in this scenario too - I've seen the warnings coming so I knew it was happening at some stage but I couldn't understand still how it applies to me.

I have paid to have a business level of access for a few years, so I am already paying, but now even though I'm paying money to have that... I can't have the two areas I have developed over time, linked?

I've had dropbox for around 14 years so I'm finding this extremely frustrating!

Thanks for any further guidance anyone may be able to give.

EPASION04

Yes, I find myself in the same situation. I have a paid Personal dropbox account, but my Teams account got converted to a regular account. Is there a simple way to transfer all my files from the Teams account to my personal account?

Rich

@KK2022 wrote:
I have paid to have a business level of access for a few years, so I am already paying, but now even though I'm paying money to have that... I can't have the two areas I have developed over time, linked?

If you're not on a Business plan (i.e. a plan meant for teams of three or more people) then no, you can no longer link accounts so they both sync to the same computer. While Plus, Professional and Family are all paid plans, they're not a Team plan, and only the paid Team plans (i.e. Business) are able to link accounts.

Nancy

Hey @EPASION04, hope you’re doing well!

In order to move your files to your personal account, you can share them from your previous Business account to this one instead.

You can check this link for all the relevant info.

Let me know if you’ve got any questions after that.

as444

I also had them unlinked and want to transfer them together. My question though is a little different. For some reason, the dropbox they left on the computer was the little used teams account and my personal dropbox was taken off my computer. Very frustrating. Once I transfer the files to my personal box, should I uninstall and reinstall the dropbox app to get the personal account on the computer? Any other ideas?

Mark

Hi @as444

If the one on your computer is the little used one I suggest logging out of Dropbox on your machine, moving all the files to your desktop and deleting the 'Dropbox' folder. Reinstall Dropbox from www.dropbox.com/downloading and log in to the OTHER account. That will download everything from that one for you. Then, just add any files from the desktop back to the folder 🙂

Deborah J.

I AM SO PISSED RIGHT NOW ... You just suddenly deleted my business folder and now I can't locate the files. I already pay a monthly fee. NOT COOL. HOW DO I FIND MY BUSINESS FOLDER NOW ??????????????

DID I MENTION I ALREADY PAY A MONTHLY FEE?

HOW DO I LOCATE MY BUSINESS FOLDER NOW??????????? Any guidance would be appreciated.

Deborah J.

I can't find my "business' folder anywhere after it was unlinked from my personal folder today.

How can I find it again so I can move it? I already pay a monthly fee. Thanks.

paul1111

I'm in the same boat, completely agree with Deborah!!

This is a ridiculous move from Dropbox, deleting access to business files without warning - no email was received that they say they will be sent out 30 days prior. I've checked my emails it was never sent!

All this is going to do is make me look at another cloud storage provided.

Again - REDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jacobcarlyle

SIMPLE QUESTION!

Can I have my "Fully Paid Business" Dropbox

and

My personal Dropbox

on the same computer??

as444

I just found the folder in my c drive on the computer. I was saving a file and picked a folder from last week. Helped me find the missing info.

kukuj

Hi,

I have a combination of several problems mentioned in this thread. I did not realize that the business account I was paying for was connected to the least used dropbox account in my desktop. I had two accounts, a business one and a personal one and they were linked, so altogether I had 2TB. What is confusing is that when I log into my personal one online, it keeps showing I have 2TB while I am invited to upgrade to get Dropbox Plus.

Anyway, over the years I continued using my personal one, which was linked to the teams business one, therefore both were linked in my computer, and gave me 2T. At the moment, the little-used one was left on my desktop while the other personal one has disappeared! My question is how I can transfer all the files from the personal one to the business one (i.e. the one I am paying for which gives 2 TB)? 1) If I manage to do this, will this mean all my current shared folders in the personal one will stop syncing with those of colleagues? We've kept these for so many years so I would like to reactivate them even if I transition all of them to the business account.

Please help, I have been a multi-year user and have paid my subscriptions. For some reason, the subscription i had been paying was associated with the account I used the least and I had not realised because my two accounts were linked and the benefits are carried over. I risk having to leave Dropbox altogether if this is not resolved as the system that works for me is no longer in place.

Thank you!

Natalia.

Megan

Hi @kukuj, I'd be happy to answer this one for you!

Can you access your plan page right here, and let me know what is the name of the plan you see there?

Now, you can either access what used to be your Business plan and upgrade the account, or you can move files from one account to the other by following these steps.

If you have any questions, let me know!

lil144

Hi Nancy

I upgraded to a business account but still cannot link my 2 original accounts.

Also I did what you suggested, creating a shared folder but I could not transfer folders that were already shared folders. Is there a way of 'unsharing' those original folders so they can be moved into a shared folder?

I feel like I just upgraded for nothing. Plus I had already just paid my year's subscription.

I wish there was someone to talk to for help.

kukuj

Hi, thanks for your answer.

So this is precisely the problem. The account that was left on my desktop is a Dropbox Plus account, using 42.9GB from 2TB, on a [removed per the Dropbox Community Guidelines] email address, set to renew next on the 3rd August, 2022, on a monthly cycle. But the one i used the most is a Dropbox basic, I think. At least it shows me that I could try Dropbox Plus free trial for 30 months, so i am assuming it is a Dropbox Basic. In which case, most of my files will have surpassed the quota.

kukuj

If I upgrade the Basic account to Business, i would be now paying for two accounts! What I would like is that the Business one serves as my main account, but i need to take the trouble to transfer all my files manually, correct?

Natalia.-

Toshiespeaks

I chatted with your business sales yesterday, and they said it had to be one personal and one business to have both accounts on all my devices (not 2 business accounts). I have also noted a new lowered limitation on quantity of devices that these two folder can be used.

It is a poor business decision for me to pay for two accounts to have the same functionality as I once had, the only difference is that I would have more storage which I do not need, as I currently do not use 1/5 of the 2T I have now.

Additionally, for the exact same functionality, I would also have to pay Dropbox for the personal and the business accounts, $119 annual Plus Plan, and $19/month for the business plan ($228/yr)

This change has had a negative impact on my work flow. Dropbox has responded by providing information as to how I can move files, which was somewhat quizzical, as I have been a Dropbox user since 2010 (and had stated that previously in my conversation with them via email); I am also fully aware as to how to move files and folders between accounts, but now it will be completely cumbersome because of this change and only emphasizes the extra effort this change has created. The other issue is when I bought the pro plan in 2014, that was a business plan (I still have the email and on one of my computers - it shows that my "business" account was removed). Over the years Dropbox has added additional plans and has now converted this "business" to a personal plan, but has not removed all references to this.

Believe me, I liked Dropbox and it is a shame because I have been a loyal Dropbox user since 2010 and purchaser since 2014. BUT, it is wrong to take functionality away from users. I am afraid that this change will cause a big loss for your company instead of the money grab that this move seems to be. You should charge for the link if you want us to pay more, but the current solution offered is untenable. It also makes me uncertain what functionality you might take away next.

I am planning on switching to One Drive before my renewal date because, although they also require a personal and business account to be linked to have both on any five devices, their $69.99/yr plan includes all the O365 applications, including word, excel, power point, etc. I can get a business one drive account only for $5/month ($60/year) or for $6/month ($72/yr) with the O365 capability. I wish that Dropbox would offer a more workable solution. I never used the Teams folders and had no idea how this change would ever impact my use of Dropbox.

Kristina G.3

I also have the same problem. I was also a loyal Dropbox user since the beginning. I find it pathetic how they make such incongruous decisions. Paying almost 700€ more per year for such a basic feature as being able to link a personal account and a pro account seems to me totally unjustified. While I paid my annual Professional subscription for the year... It's a shame! The support did nothing. I am stuck with a trial period in Business, unable to recover my files because I am subject to a redirection loop. I'm waiting for a response from support to cancel the trial period, it's pretty nuts!

I decided to leave for Google. Much cheaper. And less headache. Dropbox is becoming a gas factory.

kwjcurrie

Like the users above, I'm very frustrated with this decision from dropbox. Thats me out, time to find an alternative and cancel the subscription.

The Meerkat

I am cancelling my DB A/c. Such a simple action supported by claims for 'renewed focus' and creating insurmountable disruption with multiple users takes some doing. Like others, I have been utilising DB since it became active as a free user and paid for the last several years. The account addition of a 'Team Account' enabled me to run 'two systems' on 'multiple hardware' i.e. one for working and the other for University with ample 2Tb between the two.

Welcome to 2022 where DB takes a giant step backwards and claims 'refocus' but provides no visible evidence of such claims. The only 'focus' I can visually see is that DB requires the 'User' to pay for functionality. A bit like P&O Ferries sacking staff of 15, 20 and even 30 years to pay lower wages for the same service expectations.

My advice to anyone reading this is to look at buying a NAS. I have just ordered one where I can use multiple hardware and sync across all systems, implement my own 4096 bit encryption (far in excess of DB encryption protocol/handshake) and I can back up all my own computers and mobile devices and less chance of being subject to hacking data breaches as nobody else knows how, where your NAS is connected, especially when using a VPN!

DB - I pay £95.88 as a Plus User (2Tb) yet you now expect me to pay £198.86 as a Business User and one with multiple users or £191.76 running two Plus accounts, yet unlike having the 'Team Account' functionality (running both at the same time) that is no longer provided. I am no longer recommending DB and I have an extended family who is all cancelling their Plus Accounts... that's in excess of over a £1k a year or just sy of £2k/yr via business plan. Before anyone says about the 'family plan', some of us have to be DPA 2018 and ISO 27001 compliant for legal reasons. So, in essence... here's a phrase a pity the DB should really think on.. if it's not broke, don't fix it!

There's no 'I' in teams - I am a single user that had an excellent workflow with Plus with a Team Account - Now i'm a Drexiter. Long live the private cloud (NAS).
*mic drop*

lizettejonker

I have never had a free teams account, only a paid personal account with 2 TB space. Today I received an email form Dropbox telling me an account has been disbanded. But I can still see my personal account details and payment just went off again.

I am afraid I am very confused. I do sometimes share some folders with other users on my personal Dropbox. Does that count for a teams account then?

Mark

@lizettejonker it means that at some point you had linked two accounts together. You'd have not noticed it unless you actively logged in to both accounts via the website.

If everything is working as is dont worry 🙂

lizettejonker

Thanks, I have not lost anything off my Dropbox folder. I see the photos on my phone as well as the photos I download from my camera cards are all backed up on Dropbox. Does that happen automatically? Can I only get that photos when I log into Dropbox.com?

Toshiespeaks

@ Lisette

No, Dropbox (DB) will not unshare any folders or files that you have shared. The problem we are discussing is that we had two accounts which shared the storage from one plan (this was offered for years and originally was a business account, which was later downgraded to a personal pro account). These two accounts were linked and on the desktop or app versions (like on my iPhone) I could see both accounts and view and work with my files and documents from each. When they disbanded Teams, many of us thought that they were just getting rid the Teams folders which we did not use, which did happen, but they also unlinked our two accounts. This has raised havoc for many of us who have had a personal Dropbox account and a business Dropbox account and enjoyed easy access to both. DB has not offered a solution other than spending more than three times the money to have the same functionality. We can login and logout, but that does not work well. Imagine choosing to have your Business files on your iPhone and then being at a Doctor's appointment trying to access your personal medical files or saving email attachments like flight reservations to your DB account not residing on your Desktop. Dropbox has not offered any resolution to this and are just hoping that we pay more for the same functionality. I am heading to OneDrive after 12 years of using Dropbox and I am upset that they are forcing this, since I do not like the "internet of everything" and using Microsoft for my storage needs since they like Apple iCloud (and Google Drive) try to take over all your documents and photos. I am very willing to pay for the link to have the same same functionality, but Dropbox is not offering that. When my subscription renews in July, I am out.