Need to see if your shared folder is taking up space on your dropbox 👨💻? Find out how to check here.
Forum Discussion
Solved
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
47 Replies
Replies have been turned off for this discussion
Downloads folder, documents folder, etc. are acting correctly. They move the file, not copy it. Only Dropbox is acting differently now. I'm not finding any settings related to this when I look in the Windows Setting app or in the file explorer options.
Just seeing this now. I can "move" a file into Dropbox without copying it, but taking it out makes a copy.
I've noticed in the past week that whenever I move a file into or out of Dropbox, it leaves a copy on my computer or in Dropbox. It used to just move the file, not copy it. I have to manually remove the copied file so that I don't have to worry about version control. Anyone else having this issue and/or know how to turn it off?
BenDBXCommunity Manager
Hi Everybody,
I wanted to let everyone know that we are still actively investigating. I have no news at the moment, but we're still looking into it, and I'll provide an update here when I have more information to share!
Thanks,
Ben
I'm having the same issue. Moving from desktop to other folders on the same drive results in a copy. Original file remains on the desktop.
Same for me. Windows 11 23H2, Dropbox 205.4.5765
Status update on this? Dropbox has to realize this is a real issue by now???
Hello, same issue and it has been happening recently. It makes a whole process really inconvenient. I open Dropbox folder (via app) on my laptop and drag files to the desktop folder - it makes copies and saves originals in Dropbox Camera Uploads. Windows 11 Home. THANK YOU!
Any update on this? - It is such a pain!
- BenDBX
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
- So this is it? That is such a pain. I think I'm going to look into other options if there's no other solution.
