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I only want to manually back up static folders to Dropbox, without the app syncing all the time.
Device: Macbook Air
Operating System/Browser (if using the web): Sonoma 14.6.1
Syncing Status: paused indefinitely
Question or Issue: I want to use Dropbox as a backup for folders, manually uploaded by me intermittently. I do not want it to be syncing with my computer. When I installed the app it began trying to sync with folders on the computer, which is not what I want. But when I tried to upload via the chrome browser it kept failing for large folders. (This is rather absurd. If the browser version can't handle it large folders then the app should be able to.)
I just want to be able to back up (e.g.) my Documents folder or some subset of it, from time to time, with a date on it, as a static backup. I don't want to work from dropbox, I don't want it to be syncing constantly with my computer. How do I do this?
I don't need "why are you doing this, why not just sync?" I don't want to. I don't trust such syncs. I don't want a problem with dropbox to possibly propagate downward into my local files. (You can say this is unlikely -- I don't care, I want it impossible.)
Thanks.
2 Replies
- Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey DavidLNeel!
Hope things are going smoothly! Just wanted to check if you still need a hand. If all's well, feel free to share what did the trick.
- Megan
Hey DavidLNeel, let's jump right into this!
I apologize for my lengthy reply, I just want to make sure that I cover everything.
When you download and install the Dropbox desktop app, a relevant Dropbox folder with all of your content is created in your Finder. That folder acts like a mirror between your account online, and vice versa.
Based on the info you mentioned it sounds like you were prompted to use our Backup feature. This feature allows you to back up key folders, such as “Desktop”, “Documents” and “Downloads” to Dropbox. However it's important to add that you don't have to use the feature if you don't want to.
If you choose not to enable it then you could simply copy your Documents, and then paste the current contents to Dropbox at any given time and use it as a "static backup".
However, there's one thing I need to point out. Your Dropbox folder will need to sync in order for the app to work properly. You can always choose to pause the syncing process temporarily but when you resume syncing then the changes you made to your files online will sync to your device, and the other way around. Is this something you'd want?
If not, then I suggest uninstalling the app entirely and using our website instead. If you have larger folders that you need to upload to your account but you can't due to the upload limit, then you could simply try smaller batches to achieve that.
If you need something else, please let me know and I will be more than happy to help every step of the way.
