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I have 3 Dropbox folders after opting out of File Provider

Dropbox
Mac Studio
Mac 15.7.4
Using app but can't find version, I think its the latest

I had to sign in and out of the app on 3 March due to a syncing loop, and when I signed back in, I inadvertently forgot to opt out of File Provider. After I relogged in, I ended up with two Dropbox folders on my Mac, one in Locations, for File Provider, and one in my Users > Named folder. My original DB folder was named Dropbox (Personal), because at one time, I had a work Dropbox linked to my Mac as well. I no longer have that work account, but I didn't change the name of my personal Dropbox folder.

I only realised this had happened today. I wasn't working Weds, and not many files were updated yesterday. Although I saved some files to my shortcuts in 'favourites' from Figma, which obviously are no longer linked to the File Provider location of Dropbox. This is how I realised something was wrong. I also use an app called Eagle, which I use to collect research screenshots and URLs of websites, etc., and these are stored in local libraries, which are stored in my Dropbox (Personal) folder. All my favourites were also linked to the older Dropbox (Personal) folder. So I decided to log out of the Dropbox app and relog in using your steps:

https://help.dropbox.com/installs/dropbox-for-macos-support)

Now I have three Dropbox folders! The new one (which is still syncing) is now called 'Dropbox' and is stored in my Users > Named folder. The original one (Dropbox (Personal) is also in the Users > Named folder. I can see that the Dropbox (File Provider version), has been marked as 'this is an unlinked Dropbox', and I can delete it when I am sure the new one is syncing. However, what do I do when the new 'Dropbox' folder has finished syncing? Do I delete the older folder (Dropbox (Personal) and, of course, follow your steps to delete the File Server version? I fear that the Eagle libraries will have lost their route to their location as well as all my favourite shortcuts as Dropbox has created a third folder location, and so I will have to manually relocate them anyway! So I feel foolish and should have just stuck with the File Provider version.

Do you have any advice?

Thanks

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Accepted answers

Nancy

Hi @MarySea! Hope you don’t mind if I jump in here.

Since the Dropbox (Personal) folder no longer syncs to your Dropbox account (online/our servers), you can go ahead and delete it from your computer.

All comments

Jay

Hi @MarySea, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Were you once link your personal account to a Dropbox team account (which would create a separate Personal folder as well as a work folder)?

Could you confirm the current plan you have according to this page?

This will help me to assist further!

MarySea

Thanks, I have the Dropbox Essentials plan with 3TB space.

My work folder was with my previous business and is no longer active. My current account is my own personal account and not linked to my old business account – they were separate. I just named my own Dropbox "(Personal)" to differentiate it from my work (Wave) account when that account was still active.

The new Dropbox has synced now, so I can delete the File Provider folder but I am still unsure what to do about the old (Personal) folder in my Users folder. All the file paths from the apps and favourites are pointed to the older 'Dropbox (Personal)' folder, can I merge that with the new Dropbox folder just created or do I have to manually relink about 50 file paths locations?

MarySea

I have deleted the File Provider Dropbox in Locations. I have tested the sync by making a new folder in the web app and it only syncs to the new 'Dropbox' folder, not my original 'Dropbox (Personal)' folder. I have also tested my Eagle libraries – and I have to drag the Eagle library folder from the DB(Personal) folder to the new 'Dropbox' folder and then 'Switch the library' in Eagle. It's a bit of a pain, but I guess that is what I will have to do, then remove all my other shortcut 'favourites' and re-add them?

The size of my two Dropbox folder is different too:

You can also see from these two screenshots below, that the Eagle folders have an icon in the old 'Dropbox (Personal) folder but not in the new 'Dropbox' folder. I have moved the DCF 2023-26 folder as an example and relinked it from the Eagle app.

Jay

Could you check to see if the Dropbox desktop application created a hidden symlink so that any references to the Dropbox (Personal) folder would redirect to the Dropbox folder?

MarySea

Hello Jay,

I don't think so. I have two folders, I searched for .dropbox, but only found a really old file from 2017 that doesn't appear to be what you are asking about:

MarySea

As far as I can tell from looking on the forums and help pages, it appears I should have had an option to locate my original folder and resync it, but there was no option to do that when I signed back into Dropbox and used the Advanced settings. Sorry if I am not making much sense!

MarySea

Hello Jay, are you in the US? Does the support time of 9am to 5pm relate to US time zones? I am in the UK and will be stopping work shortly. It's 17:25 here.

I think I am going to have to manually relink my Eagle libraries and delete my shortcuts. And then decide what to do – If I delete the old 'Dropbox (Personal)' folder after that, hopefully I won't be deleting any files from the Dropbox on web!?

thanks

MarySea

I don't think it does, otherwise my shortcuts in my favourites sidebar would work wouldn't they?

Jay

Thanks for the info, it doesn't look like a symlink was created, so you would need to manually change the files to point to the new location.

MarySea

Hi Jay, could you let me know if it is safe to delete the old Dropbox (Personal) folder on my Mac?

Nancy

Hi @MarySea! Hope you don’t mind if I jump in here.

Since the Dropbox (Personal) folder no longer syncs to your Dropbox account (online/our servers), you can go ahead and delete it from your computer.