I can't back up the Documents folder, if the Dropbox folder is on the D\: drive.

Hi there, Niall D., thanks for taking the time to post to our Community!

What you're describing is actually the expected behavior when it comes to the backup feature.

You can only back up files and folders from the drive with the Dropbox app installed on it (in this case your C: drive).

Also, the folders need to be in their default location for you to back them up, so this is why you're facing these issues.

Regarding your deleted files, can you go to your events page and let me know what you see?

Thanks in advance.

On the events page it shows I deleted the files on 20 March, this would be when I moved Dropbox to D/: and had to disable backups.

I want to keep Dropbox on D/:, does this means I can't make backups?

In this case, I'm afraid not, Niall.

The backup folders need to be on the same drive as the Dropbox application, so you'd need to move the Dropbox folder back to its default location to be able to back your folders up.

I'll make sure to pass your feedback along to our team about this, though and if you have other questions, feel free to let me know.

So the only option for me is to move Dropbox back to C\:?

Why is moving Dropbox to a different drive even an option? 

I totally understand your frustration here, Niall.

The backup feature is just another feature of the Dropbox app, but you don't need it to sync files to your Dropbox account.

The main usability of the Dropbox folder is to sync the files you add in it to your Dropbox account, so if, for example, you have too much data in it, you might want to move the Dropbox folder to a different location that might have more available space.

I hope this clarifies things, but let me know if you still have questions.

The files that Dropbox deleted as a result of me moving to D\:, what happens if I don't restore them?

Are they the original files?

How important is the backup.

If I have a power cut, do I lose everything?

Hi from me, too! I’d like to clarify one thing first; the files that you mentioned having been deleted, were they previously in the Documents folder you had backed up with Dropbox?

Did you follow these steps, in order to disable your Dropbox backup, before moving the Dropbox folder to your D: drive?

As far as I know the deleted files are in the Documents folder ( which is currently in D:\Dropbox\Documents (2026) ), how can I see the total number of files in the folder to see if it matches what's in the original email?

I need a holiday!

I see now I have 2 Document folders in D:\Dropbox\

One I must've made years ago, it doesn't look to have much in it but when I look under Properties it says it's 46.2GB, 38,025 files, 5,230 folders - it certainly doesn't look like there are that many when I open the folder (under Properties it says D:\Dropbox).

For the other Documents folder it's 3.16GB,  8,835 files, 2,120 folders - when I look in the folder I see what I moved from C:\ recently and more than in the other Documents folder (under Properties it says D:\Dropbox).

Both hold more files than what the email said.

This is confusing...

If you go to your Events page here, you should be able to see the specific deletion event and check more details on the files that have been deleted. 

As for the two folders that you mention, can you perhaps send me a screenshot of what you see on your end? Just to have a visual. 

I’d also like a screenshot of your Backups page here.