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In dropbox on the web my desktop folder redirects to backup

skystep

I use dropbox on my Mac and activated the option to have my desktop local filder saved in dropbox.

When I try to use files from my desktop on other computers I connect to the website and select my desktop folder.

This redirects to the backup section and there is no other option than download all folder.

I did not activate backups !

On other devices with the dropbox app the desktop folder is available as it used to be.

Thank you for any help !

Alex

PS :

There is a little change just after my initial message :

I am still redirected to backups folder for my desktop but now I can see all files.

Only occurs for the desktop folder !

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Megan

Hi @skystep, let's jump right into this!

Based on the info you provided, it sounds like you have enabled our Backup feature. This is how your Desktop, would be linked with Dropbox.

You mentioned that on other devices using the app, the Desktop folder is available to use. Do you mean that you can't locate the path on a different device, or online? What is your end goal here: to disable Backup, or to be able to access, and download your desktop files?

If you could send me a few screenshots, it'd help me get a clear visual of this.

Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there!

skystep

Thanks @megan, for your quick answer

I did not enable backup (on purpose)

I just enables this option (sync/select foders/desktop/My MAC...) which created an alias for my local desktop

When I visit dropbox.com I can see tris folder :

Screenshot 2023-05-11 at 13.57.52.png

The problem is : when I select this My Mac ... folder in the browser it redirects to the backup section (after a few seconds) :

Screenshot 2023-05-11 at 13.59.02.png

Inside the mac dropbox app here is the backup screen :

Screenshot 2023-05-11 at 14.07.14.png

Not clear for me if it is enables, but there is no option to disable backup either ?

What I want is no backup option, just the ability to get my files from dropbox when I need them.

Thank you for your help.

Alex

Walter

Hey @skystep, sorry to jump in here, but it seems that you somehow enabled the Dropbox Backup feature indeed.

Could you try these steps to disable it?

skystep

Thanks Walter,

I don't think I activated backup.

Here is my screen from backup configuration.

There is no disable option.

Screenshot 2023-05-11 at 17.16.55.png

Hannah

Is that the same thing you see when you try to disable the backup feature from the backups page online, @skystep?

skystep

Thanks @Hannah,

The web page shows the same folder (desktop)

But clicking on the parameters :

has no effect (I stay on the same page, no action available)

There is no way to de-activate backup on this folder !

Alex

skystep

Hello,

Due to syncing problems (thread here) I uninstalled Dropbox from my MAC.

I had a Dropbox folder synced with my Desktop folder.

Screenshot 2023-05-11 at 13.59.02.png

Once Dropbox uninstalled, I lost my Desktop folder, replaced by a Symlink :

Desktop -> /Users/user/Dropbox/My Mac (Alexs-MacBook-Air.local)/Desktop

But all commands to delete this link get errors :

"unlink: Desktop: Operation not permitted"

(even with sudo any operation is forbidden on that file)

I can not create a new Desktop folder

Hannah

Thanks for checking that, @skystep.

In this case, can you please try to follow these steps? They will help you reset the location of your desktop folders:

Click the Dropbox icon in your menu bar.
Click your profile picture or initials.
Click 'Preferences'.
Click the 'Accounts' tab.
Press the Option key and at the same time click the 'Reset OS folders locations' button.

skystep

Thanks

There is no such option ?

I only have :

- Fix permissions

- Fix hardlinks

- reset file system warning options

I activated each one but it didn't solve my problem.

I still have a symbolic link named Desktop I cannot access or delete

Alex

Hannah

No worries, @skystep, we should be able to reset the locations manually, then.

Can you please follow the steps in this post and let me know what happens?