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Forum Discussion

timq's avatar
timq
Helpful | Level 5
5 years ago
Solved

How can I cancel my computer backup?

I apparently selected pc backup when I installed Dropbox and naturally I'm out of storage on my Dropbox account now.  I don't want and have no need to have my pc backed up to it.  I have the desktop ...
Computer Backup
Delete
desktop
Space and storage
sync
  • Hannah's avatar
    Hannah
    5 years ago
    Hey timq, welcome aboard our Community!

    Indeed, with computer backup, if you delete your desktop files from Dropbox, they will also be deleted from your computer. 

    If you want to disable the backup feature, you can follow the steps here.

    You'll find the Dropbox app's preferences, if you click on the Dropbox icon in your system tray.

    Let me know if you have any questions.
solargirl's avatar
solargirl
Explorer | Level 4
4 years ago

I too have been trying to figure out how to know if my files are safe. They were automatically backed up without my asking for that and now (of course) Dropbox is telling me that I'm at my limit and need to pay for more storage. My files on my computer did not need to be backed up and now I cannot figure out how to un-back them up. This is so f*%$ed up!

Walter's avatar
Walter
Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
4 years ago

Hey solargirl, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

 

It sounds like you enabled the computer backup feature upon installing the desktop app on your computer.

 

Have you tried following the steps outlined in this Help Center article to disable it yet? 

  • joanne l.3's avatar
    joanne l.3
    Explorer | Level 3
    4 years ago

    I tried to disable my pc backup, however, when I go into my Preferences, then to the Backups tab where I click Manage backups and it only allows me to Set up the folders.  I click on the Set up and it does not complete after hours of waiting.  I've tried several times.  Please let me know how to disable the PC back up.  

    • Nancy's avatar
      Nancy
      Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
      4 years ago

      Hey joanne l.3!

       

      If you’re only seeing an option to set up your backup, then it sounds like it’s already disabled for your Dropbox account. However, you can definitely send over a screenshot of what you see on your end, so that I can double check this for you. 

       

      Besides that, can you clarify if you’re still seeing your Documents/Desktop/Downloads folders on your Dropbox account?

      • joanne l.3's avatar
        joanne l.3
        Explorer | Level 3
        4 years ago

        Hi Nancy,

        The process continues for hours without completion and cannot be canceled.

         

        The backup appears to be completed in the dropbox folder with my files.  However, almost all my folders, files, and shortcuts are missing from the desktop except for a few.

         

        Thanks for your help.  

        Joanne

         

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