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Unify 2 macs after upgrade

I recently upgraded my macbook pro to a new macbook pro.

I'm a longtime Dropbox user. On my previous computer, I was set up to sync with dropbox such that if I went to the actual dropbox directory (on any device) I could see "My Mac (Macbook-Pro.local)" which had the standard "Desktop", "Documents" and "Downloads" directories.

Since upgrading, these are all still in my dropbox directory but they are not the same as those on my actual mac....it's as if I have 2 desktops folders, 2 download folders, etc.

How do I unify them?

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Jay

Hi @suite150, just to clarify to ensure I have it right.

The 'Desktop' folder in Favorites is pointing to "/Users/user/Dropbox/My Mac (MacBook-Pro.local)/Desktop",
Your actual visual Desktop folder shows up under the "/Users/user/Desktop" location and has no shortcut currently.

If this is the case, then there isn't any issue really. You can move the files from the 'Desktop' folder (the one in the Favorites bar), into the visual desktop folder. This will move files out of the Dropbox folder as well.

You should also be able to create a shortcut to the correct desktop folder, by finding said folder using these steps in your Home menu, and then dragging that folder to the Favourites menu.

If this works, you can do the same with the Downloads and Documents folders.

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Walter

Hey @suite150, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

It sounds like you're using the Dropbox Backup feature which enables you to backup your computer's OS folders to Dropbox. Did you set it up on your new computer?

Can you please send me a screenshot of how those 2 separate folders look on your end so that I can have a visual too?

Also, do you see both of them listed on this page?

Any additional information is more than welcome!

suite150

Thanks so much for your assistance.

I didn't set up the backup feature on the new computer. I did a direct transfer of files and settings from my old mac so I didn't think I'd need to make any changes (but clearly that was a mistaken assumption).

I've attached screenshots of the 2 'desktops'.... Screenshot 2023-05-29 at 1.55.00 PM11.jpg Screenshot 2023-05-29 at 2.00.13 PM.png

The "local" one is what is actually operating as my desktop visually (it's the ACTUAL desktop / startup screen) but if I select the desktop directory from the left hand 'favorites' menu it takes me to the other one.

And when I go to the link you sent (Backups) I see that the device is unlinked.

Hannah

Sorry to jump in here, @suite150, but can you please let us know what's the full folder path for each of these folders?

suite150

Thanks. Here are the full folder paths....

/Users/user/Dropbox/My Mac (MacBook-Pro.local)/Desktop

/Users/user/Desktop

Jay

Hi @suite150, just to clarify to ensure I have it right.

The 'Desktop' folder in Favorites is pointing to "/Users/user/Dropbox/My Mac (MacBook-Pro.local)/Desktop",
Your actual visual Desktop folder shows up under the "/Users/user/Desktop" location and has no shortcut currently.

You should also be able to create a shortcut to the correct desktop folder, by finding said folder using these steps in your Home menu, and then dragging that folder to the Favourites menu.

If this works, you can do the same with the Downloads and Documents folders.