Child Item

I can't back up the Documents folder, if the Dropbox folder is on the D\: drive.

Device

Omen 17 laptop
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)

Windows 11
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)
244.4.6580
Syncing Status

"Up to date"

Question or Issue

I moved Dropbox to my D\: drive in order to clear space on my C\: drive

I had to disable backups to make the move

I then received an email telling me 4680 files were deleted

I try to enable backups for Documents and it won't, stating 'Dropbox and folder are on different drives'

I move Documents (Properties > Location > Move) to

\Dropbox\Documents (2026)

It won't backup, stating 'Not in default location'

Is it possible have have Dropbox on the D\: drive and make backups of Desktop, Documents and Downloads?

I'm concerned that my files are being deleted according to the email I received.

Can someone please help?

Find more posts tagged with

Desktop

Sync

Dropbox Backup

Comments

Hannah

Hi there, @Niall D., thanks for taking the time to post to our Community!

What you're describing is actually the expected behavior when it comes to the backup feature.

You can only back up files and folders from the drive with the Dropbox app installed on it (in this case your C: drive).

Also, the folders need to be in their default location for you to back them up, so this is why you're facing these issues.

Regarding your deleted files, can you go to your events page and let me know what you see?

Thanks in advance.

Niall D.

On the events page it shows I deleted the files on 20 March, this would be when I moved Dropbox to D/: and had to disable backups.

I want to keep Dropbox on D/:, does this means I can't make backups?

Hannah

In this case, I'm afraid not, Niall.

The backup folders need to be on the same drive as the Dropbox application, so you'd need to move the Dropbox folder back to its default location to be able to back your folders up.

I'll make sure to pass your feedback along to our team about this, though and if you have other questions, feel free to let me know.

Niall D.

So the only option for me is to move Dropbox back to C\:?

Why is moving Dropbox to a different drive even an option?

Hannah

I totally understand your frustration here, Niall.

The backup feature is just another feature of the Dropbox app, but you don't need it to sync files to your Dropbox account.

The main usability of the Dropbox folder is to sync the files you add in it to your Dropbox account, so if, for example, you have too much data in it, you might want to move the Dropbox folder to a different location that might have more available space.

I hope this clarifies things, but let me know if you still have questions.

Niall D.

The files that Dropbox deleted as a result of me moving to D\:, what happens if I don't restore them?

Are they the original files?

How important is the backup.

If I have a power cut, do I lose everything?

Nancy

Hi from me, too! I’d like to clarify one thing first; the files that you mentioned having been deleted, were they previously in the Documents folder you had backed up with Dropbox?

Did you follow these steps, in order to disable your Dropbox backup, before moving the Dropbox folder to your drive?

Niall D.

As far as I know the deleted files are in the Documents folder ( which is currently in \Dropbox\Documents (2026) ), how can I see the total number of files in the folder to see if it matches what's in the original email?

I need a holiday!

Niall D.

I see now I have 2 Document folders in \Dropbox\

One I must've made years ago, it doesn't look to have much in it but when I look under Properties it says it's 46.2GB, 38,025 files, 5,230 folders - it certainly doesn't look like there are that many when I open the folder (under Properties it says \Dropbox).

For the other Documents folder it's 3.16GB, 8,835 files, 2,120 folders - when I look in the folder I see what I moved from C:\ recently and more than in the other Documents folder (under Properties it says \Dropbox).

Both hold more files than what the email said.

This is confusing...

Nancy

If you go to your Events page here, you should be able to see the specific deletion event and check more details on the files that have been deleted.

As for the two folders that you mention, can you perhaps send me a screenshot of what you see on your end? Just to have a visual.

I’d also like a screenshot of your Backups page here.

Niall D.

Turns out that bottom folder in the first screenshot has a Documents folder, it seems to match the Documents folder in the middle.

On Events Page it shows 4680 was deleted on 20 March, same as email said.

Niall D.

I don't recognise any of the deleted file names on Events Page, a lot of them seem to be 'manifest.json'. I didn't look at all of them as there are over 4,000.

Sending you a screenshot, would that mean showing the contents on this public forum?

Jay

HI @Niall D., thanks for the details. At this point it might be better for the support team to look into this in more detail.
You can contact them directly via this link, and they'll be able to investigate further.