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Unable to stop or turn off desktop backup [SOLVED]
A while ago I turned on the new 'backup desktop/documents/downloads' feature. Now I want to turn it off, but I can't. There's no obvious 'turn this feature off' button. All the instructions I've seen...
So, for anybody who happens to stumble upon this - here is how you can solve it.
1. Move your Dropbox folder - I found this solution accidentally, because my PC was getting full and I decided to move my Dropbox folder to another partition, but you could move it anywhere. Go into the Dropbox app, click on the picture of you, select 'preferences' , then 'sync' and then select the option to move your Dropbox folder. Just put it in a different location. Doing this will nuke your desktop. But do not panic. You will not lose any data.
2. Re-create your Desktop - i.e. make a folder called 'Desktop', in C:\Users\YourName\'.
3. Copy or move all your old desktop files from the Dropbox folder called 'My PC blah blah whatever \ Desktop' to your actual Desktop. This will get your desktop back, and Dropbox will no longer sync it, because it will be looking at the 'My PC' files.
4. Do steps 2-3 for the Downloads and Documents folders.
5. Get coffee.
OK this is what I think.
I can see the "set up" option at the top under "This PC". To me, it seems that backup is no longer set up for your computer.
How Dropbox backups works is that it MOVES the files and folders from your Desktop, Documents and Downloads folders into a new folder with your computer name INTO the Dropbox folder.
As the backup option looks to be disabled (not set up but my gut says it was before) the Desktop, Documents and Downloads folders will still reside inside your Dropbox landscape. You need to find the files, and move them back to their original location if the steps here did not work: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-files-folders/How-can-I-turn-off-the-automatic-computer-back-up-feature/td-p/404895. Also look for the "Files on my computer" shortcut that should be visible on your desktop.
The files of the desktop for example should reside here (this is my location as an example): C:\Users\Username\Dropbox (Personal)\My PC (SURFACE)\Desktop
Hope it helps.
Regards
Casper
Thanks Caspar. I know it's not your fault, and you're doing your best to help. But this is an absolute mess from Dropbox. I've managed to get my Desktop back, but there's no way I can find to turn off the sync Desktop/Downloads/Documents option that doesn't just delete it all over again. I'm just going to live with this as it is, because the hassle of trying to fix it will take too long and I've got more important things to do. But this is an absolutely massive screw-up.
Thanks for your help anyway!
So, for anybody who happens to stumble upon this - here is how you can solve it.
1. Move your Dropbox folder - I found this solution accidentally, because my PC was getting full and I decided to move my Dropbox folder to another partition, but you could move it anywhere. Go into the Dropbox app, click on the picture of you, select 'preferences' , then 'sync' and then select the option to move your Dropbox folder. Just put it in a different location. Doing this will nuke your desktop. But do not panic. You will not lose any data.
2. Re-create your Desktop - i.e. make a folder called 'Desktop', in C:\Users\YourName\'.
3. Copy or move all your old desktop files from the Dropbox folder called 'My PC blah blah whatever \ Desktop' to your actual Desktop. This will get your desktop back, and Dropbox will no longer sync it, because it will be looking at the 'My PC' files.
4. Do steps 2-3 for the Downloads and Documents folders.
5. Get coffee.
I have just spent nearly TWO MONTHS dealing with this same problem and with your same issues (NO "MANAGE" or NO "IMPORT" icon). I have paid Carbonite to do my backup for years but I inadvertently clicked "YES" on the pesky pop-up that enabled this horrible Dropbox "feature" one day when it rudely interrupted my work. I have been trying to recover from having my files disappear from my PC ever since that day. I even manually copied 512 GBs of my files onto external storage to avoid my files disappearing from my hard drive again.
And don't get me started about the only support afforded me, Dropbox's totally pathetic CHAT. It is a TINY un-expandable box with eensy light gray type! so to try to follow it is impossible. Then my Dropbox employee "helper" guy emailed me the transcript of the chat. I had to format it in Word so that it was intelligible. With Carbonite I was able to speak to a human being who was very helpful. But before I could turn Carbonite back on, according to the Dropbox chat person, I needed to turn off this "Back-up" feature of Dropbox. I am now proceeding in the same way you are, hoping that Dropbox doesn't completely RUIN twenty years of Music entering and editing.
Anyway, I guess I really am THAT person because I now am telling everyone I know not to use Dropbox. EVER! Most everyone I know, uses Google for FTP, anyway. Sorry for your problems. I chose to follow this thread because it is listed the problem as "solved." NOT!!! Casper's solution sounds like "take arsenic! you really will feel better!"
Janthyer - does Carbonite work like dropbox? I like dropboxes ability to upload my photos straight from my phone - BUT - it will only upload them to my computer after I refresh on the phone and also reinstall dropbox on my computer so it is very annoying but I have lost a lot of photos in the past so I am coping with it for now until I find something else that will work for me.
I shall research Carbonite.
thanks
Gaye
Hi Gayent, I don't understand HOW Dropbox works at all so unfortunately I can't answer your question. I have used Carbonite for years to back up my computers, not my phone. I never intended to have Dropbox back up my computer but when it did, my files disappeared from my hard drive! Carbonite helped me recreate those folders in a different NON-DROPBOX location on my hard drive. Now I need to extricate myself from the Dropbox back-up process but I have been unable to do that because all of the suggestions I have gotten from Dropbox employees or community users have been unimplementable similar to the problem the other user I have replied to was having. Sorry you are having difficulties, too. Carbonite even gave me the number for an auxiliary support system they have to try to help me get out of this mess! Good luck!
cant find my picture on the drop box ap or preferences! not even sure i have an app now, doesn't look like an app, just a file.. I need help.
- Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey rhondaredcat, I hope you're doing great this Friday!
Can I ask for some more info in regards to the issue you're experiencing?
Do you have issues with our Computer Backup feature?
Keep me posted! - I deleted it all, gave up! what happened i think that dropbox got my desktop, documents and downloads, then I was over my limit and couldnt figure how to get those things out so i could use it, Thanks for trying to help me Maybe ill eventually get up the courage to try again
Thanks for this solution.
Seems the only viable solution so far.
Thanks so much dude. This solution calmed my anger and restored my photoshop from being torn to pieces by dropbox, and the rest of my desktop seems recovered as well
Thank you!!This solution is great, though it is obvious to me that Dropbox DOESN'T want you to do that.They designed this 'feature' as a slippery way to get your data there. I hate that way it works. I wish I was never in my dropbox. I have other programs for backup NOT Dropbox. dropbox is a way to transfer files, not backup my data.
Sorry you experienced this. I hope Dropbox is listening. I will no longer pay for dropbox as long as they annoying "feature" is in it. It is invasive in my opinion.
Boominski you are a genius!! It has taken me all day to figure out why suddenly my dropbox is full and remains that way despite moving everything out if it! So annoying to see it continue to upload files as I remove others. I never asked Dropbox to start backing up my Mac nor did I want it to. I have other ways of backing it up.
A major fail on Dropbox's part.
Thanks again Boominski!! you save my sanity!
Dude, you saved us with this fix. Thank you so much. We have been a week trying to get this rectify on our computer. If we had money you would get it.
Thanks,
Christopher & Brett
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