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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 app but am not able to find the preferences section to stop it from backing up. I did try just deleting My PC from Dropbox but a message comes up and says if I delete "My PC" it says it will be removed from my Dropbox and from the computer. If I delete it in Dropbox, does that mean I'll lose everything on my laptop too? Sorry if it sounds like a newbie question but I am. 🙂 Any help stopping the PC backup would be greatly appreciated.
- 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.
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- Rich
Super User II
OVYM wrote:
I have been through all settings online and can not find where to disconnect back-up, yet Dropbox says that my storage is nearly full because of back-up.
It's not the settings online that control this. You need to look in Preferences within the Dropbox application on your computer.
I can't see anything being backed up and yet keep getting messages that my storage is nearly full. Clicking on the Dropbox icon on my computer did not get me to this, but clicking on the link you used took me straight to the Dropbox Backup controls, showed my PC linked, and allowed me to delete the connection. THANK YOU!! After sorting through a maze of links, online chat suggestions, and Community advice, yours is the first that took me straight to what I needed. MUCH APPRECIATED!
I have clicked on my photo/avatar in top right hand corner and it DOES NOT show preferences, only
SO where the hell can somewhere tell me where to find PREFERENCES so I can stop backups happening !!! aarrgghh
- Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey jfo888, sorry to see you're having trouble disabling the backup feature.
You're currently looking at our website, but you actually need the desktop app preferences to do this.
You'll need to click on the Dropbox icon in your system tray/menu bar and then you'll be able to follow the rest of the steps.
Thanks Hannah I've found it.
If I don't want anythin auto backed up is it just that I don't put a tick in the boxes ?
Thanks Hannah.
Hi,
I've recently added my Documents (Windows 11) folder to my Dropbox account. It turns out that this wreaks havoc with a critical piece of software I use in my business. How can I disconnect only the Documents folder from Dropbox, leaving the files in the Documents folder on my local PC, while continuing to back-up my other folders to the cloud?
Thanks!
