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How can I sync my Dropbox files to File Explorer?

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On my old laptop I could see Dropbox in my file explorer. After changing to a new laptop I can not find any instructions on how to do this. The more I look the more I get annoyed because there is just nowhere where I can find instructions or get help. Can anyone here help me with this?

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KathiH

Thank you, Rich, for identifying this. As I was told to look for the icon on the taskbar that's what I did. I now followed your directions and everything is currently synchronising and starting to show in my file explorer. Thank you so much for your help!

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Nancy

Welcome aboard our Community, @KathiH!

Do you mean that you’d like to download and install the Dropbox app on your new device, so that you can sync your files?

If yes, you can find all the related info in this Help Center article.

Let me know, if you need something else though.

KathiH

Thank you for getting back to me. I have already downloaded and installed the dropbox app and I can see it in my file explorer but I can't see my files there. How do I synchronise them to my computer?

Rich

KathiH wrote:
I have already downloaded and installed the dropbox app and I can see it in my file explorer but I can't see my files there. How do I synchronise them to my computer?

Are you sure you've signed into the correct Dropbox account? If you installed the app and signed in with the same account that was in use on the old laptop, then you would see your files if you chose to sync them.

Open Preferences within the Dropbox app on both laptops and click on the Accounts tab. Is the email address the same or different between the laptops? If they're different, sign out of Dropbox on the new laptop, and sign back in using the same email address as the old laptop.

If both email addresses are the same, then check your Selective Sync settings on the new laptop and make sure you've checked all the folders that you want to sync to the new laptop.

KathiH

Thank you, I'm definitely logged in with the correct email/account because 1 folder has syncronised. It was right after I installed Dropbox on my new computer where it gave me an option. Because it also warned me about filing up my hard drive I only selected 1 folder as a test. I found this warning confusing because I always set all my files to 'online only' so that it doesn't affect my hard drive. But in the warning it didn't say anything about choosing to make them online only so I was precautious in case some dropbox options had changed. But now I struggle to get to see the rest of my files in my file explorer. I will now try your suggested Selective Sync settings. Thank you for your help.

Megan

Hey @KathiH!

Definitely try out the steps that @Rich provided in order to check your selective sync settings, and update us back here with additional info.

I think this might be the culprit there. If not, then please let me know the app's current syncing status too.

I'll be waiting for your reply!

KathiH

So I went into the Selective Sync Settings link. It says to click on my avatar or initials at the bottom left. There is nothing at the bottom left. When I go through Dropbox.com I can click on my avatar there (on the top right) which brings me to my account settings but nowhere there can I fin anything about sync. Why does this have to be so awkward?? I always thought Dropbox is straight forward but I'm finding out now that it isn't at all.

Megan

Hey @KathiH!

Your selective sync settings aren't visible online. You should be able to have a little Dropbox icon in your taskbar, that you need to click on and then follow the steps mentioned in the article.

If you don't see such icon, you might need to reinstall our desktop app using this link.

KathiH

This is supporting that I've done all which was advised and to your last point, I do have dropbox installed and I do have the icon on my taskbar. But as explained before, it doesn't make any difference as it does not lead me to anywhere where I can sync my files.

KathiH

I have 1 folder showing in my file explorer out of about 50. See screen shot.

Walter

If you made sure that the Dropbox desktop app is 'up to date' in your system tray/menu bar and not still syncing, can you check your selective sync settings through the app's preferences and let us know what you find @KathiH?

Rich

KathiH wrote:
This is supporting that I've done all which was advised ...

You're looking in the wrong place. The icon you need to click on to get to Preferences is in your system tray, by the clock.

Click that icon. Click your avatar in the bottom left corner. Select Preferences. Then click the Sync tab. Then click the View Folders button. Put a check mark next to any folder that you want to sync down to your computer.

KathiH