I can't access my backup files, after Dropbox asked for a backup update

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.

I also can't get my backup files through my iPad app anymore since allowing the new "upgrade". I guess I will have to use the Dropbox web interface through Safari on the iPad?  Too bad, I had a nice workflow that I used daily to transfer images from my scanner and iMac to my iPad. My entire workflow has been destroyed by this change and I haven't been able to use Dropbox since. I trust Dropbox less now and did a quick manual backup to One Drive in case everything breaks down even worse. It was nice before and I enjoyed it, and didn't realize the plan was to eliminate access to backed-up files from other devices. 

This was a HORRIBLE "update." I DO NOT want this! I want it back the other way. I cannot access my files and folders from my iPhone and iPad now. That is the ENTIRE point of having dropbox for me. This was a bad business decision and should not have been labelled as an upgrade. Please let me know how I can revert or fix this.

It's annoying, but go to Dropbox dot com on your iPad or iPhone in Safari, go to the grid button to open the menu, and under Explore more go to Backup. There you can browse to the documents that have been moved. If they're graphics pay attention to the scale percentage and get them to 100% before copying them to the Photos app or they will be pixelated preview images. Having the files only available through Safari renders the Dropbox app pretty much useless and everything is less efficient than it used to be, but at least you can find the files. I agree and wish I hadn't clicked OK on this upgrade that is more of a total alteration. I don't think the AI chatbot that appears in the web version is consolation for losing the functional Dropbox app. I moved the Dropbox app off my main page so I would stop going to it out of habit. I plan to keep the app around for a while to see if I use it, but I will delete it if I can only use Safari to get my files.

Last week I thought Dropbox was updating but it was changing over to Dropbox Backup (I didn't understand there were differences). Now my laptop is backed up on Dropbox Backup and not to regular Dropbox so I cannot not access my files on other devices. How can I get my files back to regular Dropbox. I'd like to get rid of Dropbox Backup too. Is that possible. I have Plus level account.

correction: I cannot access my files on other devices.

Thank you, Jay. When I move the files to the Dropbox folder, I can access them from other devices. phew! However, they are not on my laptop any more. Yes, they are available offline line on Dropbox, but something has changed. I used to be able to have them on my laptop AND they would be synced on Dropbox. I would like to be able to keep my files on my own laptop and have Dropbox sync for back up (with access to all devices). Is this possible? If not, why not? What are the other options? Thanks again for your help! 🙂

It's confusing. I see two Dropbox files in my File Explorer. One has a green circle with a check mark on the blue DB icon (in the folder that is the name of my computer) and the other DB folder is at the top and doesn't have a green circle (it's in the Desktop folder). They both have the same few files in them. Which one do I put the files in that I what to sync. 
I also see my Documents folders in the same two folders (Desktop and the name of my laptop). So which Documents folder do I move to which Dropbox folder?

I have similar issues. My family was using mobiles to access what they have on the computers, now it is gone. Working with Backups is no-go, and I didn't find an option to move Downloads and other folders from MAC to Dropbox to sync them - Mac keeps overriding them. This would be a great workaround - backup is backup, sync is sync. 

Mark me for the same feedback as _voy_.

Thanks for your time, Walter.

Walter Here is the screenshot you requested. Please help me (and others) resolve these issues of not being able to store our files on our laptop AND sync to Dropbox AND access from other devices as we previously were able to do. Dropbox has a full-year's fee for services that were changed.

Hi Hannah 
It takes me to the first Dropbox folder (4 down in the Desktop folder). What's the purpose of the other Dropbox folder (in NomadGirl22 folder--also in Desktop folder)?

Hannah Which Dropbox folder do I put my files in to sync with other devices? Can I get rid of the other one?
and the big question....how do I keep a copy of my files on my laptop(local drive) while having the ability to sync my files with other devices?

Jay Walter Hannah 
Thank you all for your time in responding, but I'm still at the same point as I began. Dropbox Backup has changed your services in an undesirable way. I want to be able to sync my LOCALLY STORED files with Dropbox AND access them from my other devices. This is what Dropbox previously provided. Is it really good business practice to take away services from your customers, especially when a year's subscription has already been paid? Please respond directly to this issue. If my former services are no longer available, what are my options for possibly canceling my subscription for a prorated refund.

Rich but when you move them to DB folder, you are taking them out of your local drive. I think many people (including me) want to continue having them on our own drive. 

I am still in exactly the same position. I originally posted on this two weeks ago. Since then, dropbox has received many other questions and complaints from people experiencing the exact same after pressing the upgrade button to the new back up service. Dropbox is answering all of these queries but does not seem to realise that they are all complaints and questions about exactly the same issue – this ‘upgraded’ version of Dropbox doesn’t give us the functionality we had previously. If I had known that clicking on the upgrade link would have got rid of the syncing functionality I had previously, I would never have upgraded. Dropbox is very much diminished value for me now. Dropbox says we can still get access to files if we drag them into the dropbox folder from our main device. But that is useless to me because I want the entirety of all my files and folders being synced all the time because I never know what I might need to get access to and I don’t have time to laboriously drag different folders into dropbox. It used to just mirror across all my devices and that is the functionality that I found so valuable and would like to get back. Dropbox, please would you reverse the upgrade because it has caused a huge amount of problems for many people – surely you can see this now? If this doesn’t happen, I will need to look elsewhere for an alternative to dropbox.