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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:

  • move my dropbox folder to the external hard drive
  • change smart sync settings to all local
  • move my dropbox folder back to the computer hard drive
  • adjust all smart sync settings

According to support there is no way to just download the entire dropbox to an external hard drive. Additionally "there's a small—but real—chance that the app will start deleting files". So that is obviously not an option.

Question: How do I backup my dropbox?

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! 

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  • michelemx's avatar
    michelemx
    New member | Level 2
    6 years ago

    HI Jane,

    Ive read your suggestions re backing up Dropbox but have some further questions.

    My current Dropbox is approximately 450gb (out of 2 TB).  I recently bought a new laptop with 500 gb hard drive.  On my new laptop I have installed Dropbox but all files are set to online as I dont want to fill up my new laptop. I have a 5TB external hard drive that I would like to use to back up my Dropbox files. I also would like to synch my drop box with the HDD as I work.

    Is this possible? 

    all the best,

    Michele

  • Etienne2's avatar
    Etienne2
    Helpful | Level 6
    6 years ago
    Hello,
    You Said you can « move » your Dropbox to an external Hard Drive.
    But can you just « copy » it to an external hard drive, to do a complete backup for exemple?
    Thank’s for your help.
  • Fiona's avatar
    Fiona
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    6 years ago

    Yes you can. Go for it! :slight_smile:

  • Etienne2's avatar
    Etienne2
    Helpful | Level 6
    6 years ago

    I just tried... but I realized we are not talking about the same thing.

    I would like to do a complete backup of my Dropbox account from the ONLINE version.

    I don't have all the files on my computer because it takes way too much spaces with all my pictures and videos.

    Is there a simple solution to make a complete backup from ALL my files directly from the ONLINE Dropbox site to an external disk?

    I'm sure that a lot of people would like to make such an "easy" backup from all their files that are online on their account to an external disk (like a removal disk for exemple).

    Thank you for your help. I appreciate it.

  • michelemx's avatar
    michelemx
    New member | Level 2
    6 years ago

    Hi Etienne,

    I would like to do this too! What I gather is that Drop box will only download to a hard drive that is connected to your computer's operating system. My question is whether it is ok to remove the hard drive once your computer is turned off or if there is a danger that files will disappear?

    At the moment I am working with image files from online versions which is very slow going as I have to download each one. I would love to be able to use my external hard drive to speed things along.

    all the best,

    Michele

  • Hsd's avatar
    Hsd
    New member | Level 2
    6 years ago

    Use a program like SynkBackPro or Beyond Compare. They can connect to DropBox like any other drive and allow you to synchronize/backup data between locations. SynkBackPro is Windows only. Beyond Compare is available for Windows and Mac OS X.

    With this you can copy all data from the cloud to an USB disk.

  • Etienne2's avatar
    Etienne2
    Helpful | Level 6
    6 years ago
    Thank’s!
    That’s exactly what I would like to do.
    I’ll check and try.
  • Fiona's avatar
    Fiona
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    6 years ago

    Hi everyone! 

    Etienne2 I am glad you found a third party solution to back up the online version of Dropbox directly from the web. :nerd:

    Hsd I wanna welcome you to the Community and say I am glad to have a new user posting solutions. :white_check_mark: folded handsmichelemx If you need to unplug the external hard drive, you need to unlink the Dropbox desktop app from the Dropbox folder on your external drive. This way, when you turn on your computer again, the app will no longer be connected with the folder and you will not get any error or deletions.

    Starting the Dropbox app after unlinking, will prompt you to insert your credentials and will create a new Dropbox folder on your C drive that will no longer sync with the external back up. 

    I'd be happy to talk about this more if you have more questions. 

    Cheers! 

  • Julietjuliet's avatar
    Julietjuliet
    Explorer | Level 4
    6 years ago

    I would like a way to make an occasional backup of dropbox from the cloud, onto an external hard drive.  I have read this thread and am reluctant to pay an extra $60 to do this by buying 3rd party software. Could dropbox make this facility available please?


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