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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 point to a 'manage backups' or 'import' tab, which I don't have. I've upgraded to the latest Beta (Win 10), uninstalled, reinstalled, rebooted several times and nothing. I've just set Dropbox up again and I have unchecked the 'MY PC' box. But Dropbox is just merrily syncing all my stuff again. It's insane that Dropbox would enable this feature and not give users a simple way to turn the thing off. Does anyone know how I can do it?
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.
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My nr is
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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