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Can't backup a folder because it's not in default location (it is, I think)

I had used Dropbox before, worked great. I had to reinstall it to today because of reasons. When I wanted to set it up again, I checked to backup the Documents folder but got the message below. Also, in my File Explorer, the option to "Backup to Dropbox" is no longer there.

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Megan

Hi @EnAr, happy Monday, let's look into this!

Can you clarify the app's current syncing status, along with the version of the app that you're using there? We want to make sure that the app is using the latest stable version, and that it is up to date.

Also, what do you see when you visit your Backup page online?

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

EnAr

The Dropbox icon in the taskbar is clean, when I open the small window it says Your files are up to date

I'm using version 173.4.6706

This is the image of the page that opened when I clicked your link:

Rich

@EnAr wrote:
Can't backup a folder because it's not in default location

What is the exact path of your Documents folder? The default location on a Windows system would be C:\Users\[your username]\Documents. If that's not where the folder is located, you'll need to move it back before Dropbox can back it up (which actually just moves it to the local Dropbox folder so it can sync).

Go into Properties for your Documents folder and check the Location tab.

EnAr

So my Documents folder was in here actually: C:\Users\Ento\Dropbox (Old)\PC\Documents

The reset to default location button didn't work, so I followed this guide

Now, MY DOCUMENTS FOLDER IS EMPTY! Where are my files??? I have really important documents in my documents folder.

It's still kind of fine because my important files that I was syncing are in my Dropbox, I have a Dropbox's "Documents" folder, however it is not a proper replacement. While my most important files that I was syncing are in that folder, I can't find the other files from the original Documents folder that I wasn't syncing.

Hannah

Hey @EnAr, have you searched your hard drive for the files, to find where they might be located?

hejlightyear

I have the same issue.. My laptop is Macbook Pro M3 Max. Can you let me know if you found a solution to this? Thank you very much

Hannah

Sorry to see that you're having this issue, @hejlightyear.

Can you let us know where your Dropbox folder is currently located?

What's the exact error message that you're getting? Can you send us a screenshot?

Thanks.

EnAr

Hello.

Unfortunately as this was 2 years ago and I stopped using Dropbox, I don't remember the details.

I think that, for some reason, probably for being previously a user of many other drives (i think the main cause of the issue was onedrive, but possibly the mega app too), I had different "Documents" folders. One in the Documents location, and one or two in other locations.

I don't remember how I fixed the issue. First, I probably reinstalled the dropbox app (try both before and after these steps). But, it was probably one of these two:

Instead of backing up the Documents folder, i left it unchecked, and manually set the folders I wanted to back up to back up (go to file explorer, right click, youll find there, at least in windows).
Playing around with the Documents folders I had. Renaming some, replacing, deleting, until only one remained in the default docs location, but I DON'T think this is what I did. If remember correctly, all the months I was using Dropbox, I was syncing from the randomly located "Documents folder."
I jist remembered this one, I think this couldve been it, along with the reinstalling: Deleting OneDrive and Mega completely from my system, not just disabling them. I think Onedrive caused a lot of issues.

I don't use Mac, never did. Perhaps the issue for you is iCloud (instead of OneDrive), or another default way the system is backing up files. Good luck.

hejlightyear

Thank you, Hannah! Here's the screenshot.

Jay

Hi @hejlightyear, thanks for the image. In order to look into this matter in more detail, I'd recommend contacting the support team directly for them to investigate further.