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Forum Discussion

fenway's avatar
fenway
Explorer | Level 4
2 years ago
Solved

Desktop and Download folders not available on new MacBook

Since setting up my new MacBook, I have been unable to download anything or access Desktop files.   The Downloads folder shows as a ? in the dock, and when I attempt to drag a file from Dropbox t...
Delete
Dropbox Backup
  • Hannah's avatar
    Hannah
    2 years ago

    I see, thanks for confirming, fenway.

     

    In this case, the folders might not be linked properly, so can you please follow the steps here to reset the folder locations manually, in order to correct them?

     

    You'll likely need to migrate the files from the "Desktop", "docs" etc. folders from Dropbox to the new folders and then enable backup anew on this device.

Hannah's avatar
Hannah
Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
2 years ago

Hey fenway, sorry to jump in here.

 

Would you mind clarifying the situation a little bit?

 

If you never set up backup on your new laptop, how are you accessing the backup files of the old laptop from the new one?

 

Any additional info on the setup of the new laptop, would be really helpful.

 

Thanks!

fenway's avatar
fenway
Explorer | Level 4
2 years ago

I'm not. I'm working on a 9-year-old laptop while my new one sits idle because I can't do anything until this Dropbox/Desktop/Downloads issue is resolved.

Clarification: I still have my Documents in Dropbox and can view and open them from the Dropbox app on the new laptop. But I can't move them out of Dropbox to the new computer.

  • Hannah's avatar
    Hannah
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    2 years ago

    Thanks, fenway, for this info.

     

    I'm still not clear on how Dropbox might be interfering with your Desktop and Downloads folders on the new laptop, when backup wasn't enabled on this computer in the first place.

     

    Also, did you use the Migration Assistant to move to the new laptop, which also included the Dropbox folder?

    • fenway's avatar
      fenway
      Explorer | Level 4
      2 years ago
      Yes, I used the Migration Assistant.

      Dropbox on the new laptop offers the option to set up Backup, which means that it’s not set up on that device, right?
      • Hannah's avatar
        Hannah
        Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
        2 years ago

        I see, thanks for confirming, fenway.

         

        In this case, the folders might not be linked properly, so can you please follow the steps here to reset the folder locations manually, in order to correct them?

         

        You'll likely need to migrate the files from the "Desktop", "docs" etc. folders from Dropbox to the new folders and then enable backup anew on this device.

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