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Dropbox Migration to a New Mac With the New Cloud Storage Setup
On my primary computer, I keep all Dropbox files in offline mode. I've updated to the new Dropbox setup that places the Dropbox folder in ~/Library/CloudStorage. I'm wondering what will happe...
Got it! Thanks--that makes sense.
Can I suggest that your development people review this and see if it's possible to update the Dropbox application at some point in the future so these steps are no longer necessary. The way things worked BEFORE the current change was simpler and less time-and-bandwidth consuming: You just had to run the standard Apple migration, and and then connect the new computer to your Dropbox account (no reinstallation necessary). At that point Dropbox would update its indexing without requiring re-download of the Dropbox contents.
I'm hoping to see a response to this here since it's a universal issue that I think will be relevant to others (with the new Dropbox setup, how to migrate to a new Mac without having to give up the standard Apple update program just for the sake of Dropbox). But would it be better if I ask it as a support request instead?
Thanks.
I'm following up on this since there hasn't been a response for a while.
When most Mac users purchase or otherwise switch to a new Mac, they run the standard Apple transfer program to transfer the content from their old Mac. (It can use a Time Machine backup as a source, but more commonly it just migrates content directly from the old Mac to the new Mac.)
With the new Mac setup, is Dropbox still recommending that, after switching to a new Mac and running the standard Apple transfer program, you delete your Dropbox folder and installation and then reinstall fresh? This wasn't required previously, but I gather from what you've said earlier in this thread that that it now is?
Thanks.
- Nancy
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi fssbob! Hope youāre doing well.
In general, when setting up a new device, we recommend a clean install of the Dropbox app on it, so that you may avoid any possible issues that may occur (like permission issues etc).
I understand that--but it doesn't answer my question.
After a Dropbox user purchases or otherwise obtains a new Mac and runs the standard Apple migration program--which almost everyone will do--the existing Dropbox application and folder WILL have been copied to it. You can't "not do" this--it's part of the standard Apple setup.
So given that the Dropbox program and folder will be copied to the new Mac by the standard Apple setup, what do you mean by "do a clean install"? Are you telling Mac users to delete their Dropbox folder and application, and then install again?
- Hannah
Sorry to jump in here, fssbob.
I understand where you're coming from, so a way to avoid this, if you'll no longer be using your old computer, would be the following:
- Before the migration, unlink the old computer from Dropbox. This will disconnect it from your account.
- Delete the Dropbox app and the Dropbox folder from the old computer. You're safe to do this, as long as the computer is unlinked.
- Proceed with the migration
- Install the Dropbox application on the new computer and sign in to your account.
