Need help reinstalling the Dropbox desktop app on my Mac, and making sure my files are synced.

Question

I tried migrating to the cloudstorage mac folder years ago and it was very problematic, so I ended up just putting my dropbox backup folder into my mac Home folder and continuing to do it the old way (it appeared to sync fine while there).

Something happened recently where it seems my mac suddenly lost tons of gigs of space and it seems to relate. I noticed that in the cloudstorage folder, a dropbox icon/folder still remains.

I cannot delete the dropbox icon/folder or whatever it is from the cloudstorage folder and it remains problematic while seemingly operating separately from my dropbox folder in my Home folder. I believe to remove the icon/folder from cloudstorage, I have to delete the dropbox program completely from my mac.

I can backup my Home dropbox folder (the one I use) to an external HD and then delete the dropbox program on my mac. Then move my dropbox folder from the external HD  back to the mac...and then reinstall dropbox. But I need to know the proper way to do it so that I utilize the cloudstorage method (the newer way). Most of my files are "online only", but I do have 4 gigs of local files in my folder. Please advise on the steps necessary to make sure I don't mess something up.

Thank you.

A

azodl · Answer

Also, the reason that "get info" for the cloudstorage dropbox folder says "created June 8th" is because that was the last time I opened dropbox. Even though the dropbox folder in my Home folder is the one that syncs, the one in cloudstorage appears to reflect certain things.

azodl · Answer

https://community.dropbox.com/en/discussion/comment/863551#Comment_863551

"You mentioned that you ended up just putting your Dropbox backup folder into your Mac Home folder and continuing to do it the old way. How exactly did you do that? Can you walk me through the steps?"

I do not recall exactly, but in 2022, I believe I simply deleted everything from my mac including dropbox itself after having a migration that lost a bunch of my files. Then I put my original dropbox folder (that I had backed up on my external HD) back on my computer in my home folder, like it originally was. Then I simply reinstalled DB and directed it to the home folder vs doing the cloudstorage migration again.

I only realized a couple months ago, when my computer suddenly started having major storage issues that suddenly there was a DB folder in cloudstorage again.

"Furthermore, which of the two paths is now syncing to your account online?"

The Home folder one. But I rarely keep dropbox open on my computer anymore because a couple months ago, my computer began to lose major hard drive space for no reason. The culprit was the fileproviderd process, which I guess is a cloud storage thing. I suspect it was related to dropbox in the cloudstorage folder (which as I mentioned I didn't even realize was there) because I do not actively use any other cloud storage software.

If I keep dropbox open on my computer, eventually at some point in the day, the remaining 300 gigs or so of storage space on my laptop will begin to dissipate (I can see it counting down) and I will get a warning that I have no space left on my computer. The only way to solve this is to shut down dropbox and let my computer sit for around 12 hours and then suddenly I have the storage back. It's very scary when it happens.

"Also, when you're talking about your backup, are you referring to this feature, or something different?"

I only mentioned that I would make a backup of my DB folder (the one in the Home location) to an external HD when I do a reinstall. I don't use any other backup features.

My OS is Tahoe 26.5.1 and my dropbox folder is in my Home location (screenshot attached). But as I mentioned the second location is showing up in cloudstorage, which is def not syncing, but it does continue to take up a ton of virtual memory and it keeps rising (screenshots attached)…and it appears to be the reason the fileproviderd file suddenly uses up a ton of CPU and suddenly the storage space on my computer dissipates to a point that I have to keep DB closed all the time, as I mentioned above. In the screenshot the icon says "No items". It's because I deleted the folders in there today as a test. But the icon itself will not delete and continues to show a TON of virtual memory being used.

Thank you.

A

Megan · Answer

Hi there, @azodl, lets jump right into this!

I'm going to ask a few additional questions to make sure that I fully understand the situation and can provide you with the appropriate next steps.

You mentioned that you ended up just putting your Dropbox backup folder into your Mac Home folder and continuing to do it the old way. How exactly did you do that? Can you walk me through the steps?

Furthermore, which of the two paths is now syncing to your account online?

Also, when you're talking about your backup, are you referring to this feature, or something different? If you're referring to this, can you confirm if it's enabled for your account? Can you let me know what OS you're using on your end and where your Dropbox folder is currently located on your machine?

If you have any screenshots of both your cloudstorage folder and your home folder, please send them over. They're more than welcome in order for me to have a visual too.

Keep me posted!