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Forum Discussion
I can't access my backup files, after Dropbox asked for a backup update
Since clicking on the file backup link that Dropbox sent me today, Dropbox is not featuring any of the files that I have on my PC. I use my Dropbox account on my PC, my iphone and my ipad. This one a...
Thank you, Hannah.
I have clicked on the back ups page link that you’ve given me and I can see my files there.
Thank goodness.
However, can I check please: does this mean that I can just work on the documents that I’ve saved to my computer and they will automatically update in the dropbox backup?
And one more thing: it seems that with this new version, I can no longer easily access my backed up files on my iPhone or iPad because the dropbox app does not allow this? The old version was useful because I could just go into the app on my iPhone when away from my computer and I could see immediately the files and documents I had been working on.
But with this new version is that option now disabled? If so, how do I get access to my files from my iPhone and iPad? Do I need to log into the Web portal and locate my backed up files that way? (If so, I may as well delete the apps on iphone and ipad as they are not serving any purpose?)
I have clicked on the back ups page link that you’ve given me and I can see my files there.
Thank goodness.
However, can I check please: does this mean that I can just work on the documents that I’ve saved to my computer and they will automatically update in the dropbox backup?
And one more thing: it seems that with this new version, I can no longer easily access my backed up files on my iPhone or iPad because the dropbox app does not allow this? The old version was useful because I could just go into the app on my iPhone when away from my computer and I could see immediately the files and documents I had been working on.
But with this new version is that option now disabled? If so, how do I get access to my files from my iPhone and iPad? Do I need to log into the Web portal and locate my backed up files that way? (If so, I may as well delete the apps on iphone and ipad as they are not serving any purpose?)
Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
Dropbox Community ModeratorI'm glad you were able to locate your backup files on the backups page, Lorraine!
Indeed, if you go through the Dropbox application preferences, in the Backups tab and see that the folders in question are selected to be backed up, any changes you make to the original folders, should reflect in your backups page on dropbox.com.
I'd suggest testing this, to confirm this on your end as well. You can add a test file to one of the folders and then check if you can find it on the backups page.
As for the mobile app, you're right that with the new backup version, the backups won't be accessible there and you'll need to access them from the website.
But the app will continue to contain any other files you've added to your Dropbox, besides your backup files.
Hi, I am having a similar issue as Lorraine. I do work across multiple computers and need to be able to access and work on files from all of my different computers. Is there no longer a way to access and work on documents with a 2 way sync using DropBox? If I have a file in the documents folder of my PC and want to work on it from my laptop, how should I go about doing this now that my backups don't show up in the file explorer. This is a very big issue for me as this is what I use DB for and without this functionality, DB is all but useless to me.
Sorry to hear you are suffering the same issues Columbusboo1. DB have told me there is no way to go back to the old system. This makes life harder because we can no longer get easy access to our backed up files because they do not appear on the DB app. This so-called 'upgrade' is a retrograde step in my view. I have found that I can still locate my files by logging into the DB website and going to the backup area. But then you need to download them there to work on, and then load them back up to DB if you want them to be backed up. This is so laborious compared to the previous version of DB. PLEASE DB can you fix this - or do another upgrade that gives the functionality we had before this latest upgrade. I wish I had never clicked on the upgrade link but DB never explained that we would lose functionality - if they had, I would not have accepted the link they sent me. In the meantime, I am looking for alternative platforms to see if there is another brand that could give me the backup I need as well as the accessibility across all devices - I loved this service from DB and I cannot understand why they have removed it.
I agree @Lorraine66, this is an incredibly stupid decision that has me actively looking to switch away from Dropbox. One thing that was recommended to me that might help is Boxifier. It is a 3rd party app that essentially adds this functionality back into DB. Unfortunately, its $50/year or $300 for a lifetime license that you need to pay on top of what DB costs. It's a shame having to pay just to get back the features that were already there.
