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TimP's avatar
TimP
Helpful | Level 5
7 years ago
Solved

What's the best way to back up the Dropbox folder if I don't have enough space to sync all files?

Hello, I'm using Dropbox Business with Smart Sync. I would like to brckup my entire dropbox to an external hardware (alternative ideas welcome). According to Dropbox support I would have to: ...
desktop
  • Jane's avatar
    Jane
    7 years ago
    I appreciate it that you circled back to us here Tim (TimP), let me clarify matters in a bit more detail for you below!
     
    I simply don't have enough space. I was hoping there is a way to download the entire content from the website.
     
    Please bear in mind that by suggesting the Dropbox folder move to your external hard drive, I meant the remaining folder after unlinking (which is just a simple folder as any other on your OS). This essentially implies that if you had chosen to exclude any of your content from syncing to your desktop, this will also be eliminated when you move files/ folder from your internal to your external drive. If you decide to follow my advice, it will be the same as if you downloaded your content in smaller chunks (i.e. via the website). 
     
    In other words, you can sync your files to your desktop utilizing Selective Sync; once you get all folder structures you’d need to backup fully synced, you can unlink & then safely move the folders to your external hard drive to back them up. 
     
    From there, you can re-install the desktop application anew changing the Selective Sync settings in order to get going with the second backup batch &c. 
     
    I hope that this illustrates my point a bit more clearly; please let me know if you have any follow-up questions! 
TSD2's avatar
TSD2
Helpful | Level 6
7 years ago

Hi Jane,

Yes, I understand about the place holder being local and the real file on the dropbox cloud.

SyncBackPro logs on to dropbox cloud ( once it has permission) and can perform its backup function between dropbox cloud and an external hard drive. 

I assume that many dropbox smart sync uses rely completely on dropbox for their smartsynced file security. I am sure dropbox does a great job of backing up the system, but **bleep** happens. I have recently had to retrieve files from 14 years ago that relates to a problem worth $1.4 M. I could do that because I have good backups. It would be great if dropbox provided this functionally to its customers.

I love Dropbox though and am pleased to have found a way to continue using it.

Jane's avatar
Jane
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
7 years ago
I see now TSD2 & thanks for explaining matters in such detail for me; that’s some great feedback for our team devs & I’ve made sure to include your request in my report internally for future iterations of the Dropbox desktop app.
 
It’s very constructive to follow your train of thought for a while & see how you’re using Dropbox in your workflow; now that you’ve put me in the picture, I can also make sure that your post here is submitted for review to the right pair of eyes. 
 
Last but not least, it always makes us equally happy to read your đŸ’™ positive comments. Happy Dropboxing ahead & please feel free to ping us here for more #DropboxTips&Tricks or just in case you have any observations in the future & it’ll be a pleasure to work with you again. Take care until then!

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