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Moving files out of Dropbox now defaults to the 'copy' function
Starting sometime this week, whenever I try to move a file out of my Dropbox to another location on the same drive, it will default to 'copy' and leave the original still in Dropbox. This duplication now requires that I manually delete the file from my Dropbox if I want to complete the action of relocating a file.
However, if I drag a file into my Dropbox from anywhere on the same drive, it will behave normally and 'move' the file without duplication. Moving files within folders in Dropbox also retains the default 'move' function.
What is causing this bizarre 'copy' behavior and how do I get rid of it? I want the default drag behavior, within the same drive, to be 'move'.
Hi Everybody,
Thanks for your patience while we looked into this. This change in behavior was the result of a change by Microsoft. Dragging a folder out of a root sync folder now defaults to the copy function on Windows 11. This change is not limited to Dropbox, but any root sync folder.
As a workaround, shift+click and drag will allow the expected cut + paste or "move folder" functionality.
Regards,
Ben
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Hello,
I'm using a Win11 PC. Until a few days ago, when I dragged a file from the Dropbox folder to a different local folder (note that both are on the same drive), it MOVED the file, i.e. it disappeared from the Dropbox folder. Now, when I drag a file from the Dropbox folder to a different local folder, it COPIES the file, and that's annoying for me. Is it possible to come back to the previous drag-and-drop "move" action? How? Many thanks in advance for your help
Same problem as everyone else here. It seems like sometimes the files copy instead of moving, sometimes they move. Feel free to contact me via email. Using Windows 11 Home Version 23H2 OS build 22631.3737.
I'm surprised this hasn't been fixed yet. It seems to be a problem for a lot of people.
This is happening to me as well. I need a fix! Thanks!
Windows 11
Dropbox v203.4.4857
So before on my machine when I went to move a file out of dropbox onto my desktop it would remove it from my dropbox. I liked this to keep my files organized and limit versions, they are mostly unimportant files too. Today I just noticed that selecting and dragging a file onto my desktop just copied it. I don't see a setting to change this. Did this change, can I change it back?
- Rich
Super User II
Yuikol wrote:
... when I went to move a file out of dropbox onto my desktop it would remove it from my dropbox. ... Today ... dragging a file onto my desktop just copied it.
This process is controlled by your operating system; not Dropbox. On your computer, Dropbox is just a folder like any other, and behaves as any other folder.
