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Old Dropbox folders displayed in Windows File Explorer. How to remove them?

I have several DropBox folders on my desktop computer - Dropbox, Dropbox (Old), Dropbox (Old (1)), Dropbox (Old (2)). I don't know how this happened. I tried deleting some but lost my desktop icons and had to resore them all back to square one! With all these duplicate folders I don't know where my files are being copied to. How can I rationalise my DropBox setup, please?

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Megan

Hey @equado, let's jump right into this!

Usually these folders are created when you unlink/link to a different account on your computer, or if you re-install and choose a different location for your Dropbox folder.

Here’s an article that discusses this in more detail.

You can always check your app's preferences, and more specifically under your Sync tab to see where your Dropbox folder is currently syncing. On top of that if you locate your little Dropbox icon in your taskbar, next to your WiFi and click on it, then click on the little Dropbox folder on top of the activity tab that should redirect you to your folder.

Once you identify which is the one that's currently syncing to your account online, you should then be able to delete the other folders.

Keep me posted!

equado

Cliccking on the little dropbox folder on top of the activity tab takes me to an old copy of a folder which does not contain my more recent changes. My C:\Users\paulc\Dropbox (Old (1)) file contains the most recent files! But this showsas an ordinary file folder icon, not he blue box icon.

Megan

Hey @equado!

Can you send me a few screenshots of what you see on your end in regards to these Dropbox folders in order for me to have a visual too?

Also, please send me a screenshot directly from the app's preferences, showing me what's the path under your Sync tab.

equado

Hope these help...

Hannah

Thanks for the screenshots, @equado.

From what they show, it seems like the Dropbox folder that's syncing to your Dropbox account is the one in "Users\(username)\Dropbox".

Can you go to that folder to add a test file in it and see if it does sync to your account on dropbox.com?

equado

I added a Word document todayon my desktop. It synced to Users\paulc\Dropbox(Old(1)). But the icon for this is an ordinary file folder. But there's no sign of it in the folder with the blue Dropbox icon.

Walter

Thanks for the update on this @equado - much appreciated.

In this case, I'd suggest logging out from your account through the app's preferences, delete all of your old Dropbox folders and then log back into your account and let the Dropbox desktop app create and sync your Dropbox folder anew.

Just make sure to give it time to re-index and sync your files normally.

Let me know if that helps!

Nancy

Hey @equado, I wanted to give you a little nudge here, in case you need any further assistance with your previous issue.

Let me know.