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Upload versus back-up?

I know the difference between uploading a file and backing up one. But....when I upload a folder from my desktop into Dropbox it is still present on my desktop. The same is true when I backup a folder. This makes me wonder about the difference between the two.

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Accepted answers

Mark

The main difference is what you can do with them.

Sync'd folders you can manipulate, edit the files within on other devices, share links to them and work on them on the Dropbox website for example.

Backups are static backups that do update changes BUT not in real time like sync'ing does - and you cannot manipulate / edit things in it. So if you were on a different machine you couldn't go in to a backup to get a single file out to work on for example.

All comments

Mark

The main difference is what you can do with them.

Sync'd folders you can manipulate, edit the files within on other devices, share links to them and work on them on the Dropbox website for example.

lpvmc

Thanks a lot.

Theresa

Hi @lpvmc and welcome to the Dropbox Community. I am glad to see you got your question about sharing files and folders answered by our amazing Super User @Mark .

If you have any more questions or need tips on how to use Dropbox, feel free to join our Dropbox for Beginners group here in the Community. We share handy how-tos, tips and tricks, and it’s a great place for new users to chat and get comfortable with the platform.

By the way, I'm Theresa, and you’ll see me popping up around the Community 👩‍💻. Feel free to tag me in a thread if you'd like more info or have any questions 😊.

Looking forward to seeing you around.

T 😺 (Dropbox Community Manager)

lpvmc

I uploaded a folder into Dropbox form my PC. Then I removed the folder from my PC, refreshed the page and the folder was still present in Dropbox. I must have done something wrong because this would mean that a back up has no added value, right?

Rich

lpvmc wrote:
I removed the folder from my PC, refreshed the page and the folder was still present in Dropbox. ... this would mean that a back up has no added value, right?

What, exactly, are you trying to accomplish?

It sounds like you're trying to compare completely different methods of file handling, uploading, syncing, and backups, but it's difficult to provide details on the differences and how they work when we don't have a clear understanding of how you're using Dropbox.

Do you have the Dropbox application installed and you're adding files to a local Dropbox folder, or are you just using the Dropbox website to upload files manually? Is your goal to back up your files in case of an emergency, simple cloud file storage, or do you want to automatically synchronize files to the cloud and other devices?

lpvmc

Okay, I understand I am confusing you.

What I would like to do is use Dropbox, I have a license for Dropbox Plus (2 TB), as a save place for important folders. Until now I have used external HD's/SSD's but I do not trust those on the long run.

What I like about uploading folders/files into Dropbox is that I can work with them on my PC, they sync automatically and are relatively safe. But, I would like to clear my c- and/or d-drive as much as possible to be able to use them for other tasks.

My test shows I can remove a folder from my PC, after I have uploaded it, and the original folder is still present in Dropbox. If this is true I don't need to use the backup option, which takes a lot of time, space in Dropbox etc.

I think my question is: can I upload folders from my PC into Dropbox, remove the folders from my PC, and have them save in Dropbox?

Thanks in advance and with kindest regards, Leo.

Rich

lpvmc wrote:
I think my question is: can I upload folders from my PC into Dropbox, remove the folders from my PC, and have them save in Dropbox?

If you're uploading files through the Dropbox website, yes, you can delete the files from your computer after you've uploaded them.

Do you have the Dropbox application installed, or are you uploading solely through the Dropbox website?

lpvmc

So what sense does it make to backup files/folders as well?

Not sure what you mean. How do I know the difference? What is the difference? I can only upload files/folders if I have a license for Dropbox, in my case Dropbox Plus.