How can I safely uninstall and reinstall the desktop app without losing files?

Hey Bewildered_Bobby, thanks for reaching out to us.

You're actually very safe to uninstall the Dropbox app from your computer and then reinstalling.

Uninstalling the app, doesn't remove the Dropbox folder or your files.

If you want to install the Dropbox app with admin privileges, you can follow the steps here.

Let me know how it goes!

I'm still running old but venerable Win 7 on the desktop. Dropbox "basic" desktop has been installed and reinstalled but possibly not as ADMIN (no specific request for admin password). The instructions provided for uninstall & reinstall do not appear to pertain specifically to either Win 7 users or the version of Dropbox for Desktop that is currently installed.  After apparently successful reinstall clicking on the Dropbox entry in start menu fails to run it as expected.  Otherwise Dropbox runs OK but I am curious if more options will be avail if it had been installed specifically as admin. How can I confirm that what is installed is appropriate for Win 7 and associated Dropbox version ?   Thanx.

Bewildered Bob

Bewildered_Bobby, if you weren’t asked for an admin password while reinstalling the Dropbox app, you don’t need to worry; this means you’re already an admin on your computer and the Dropbox app was automatically installed with admin rights, so this is expected behavior. 

To make sure everything’s running properly though, I’d like you to open your local Dropbox folder and right click on your files/folders; do you see any Dropbox options if you do this? 

Can you see syncing icons next to your files, too?

Hi Nancy: You wrote - "To make sure everything’s running properly though, I’d like you to open your local Dropbox folder and right click on your files/folders; do you see any Dropbox options if you do this? Can you see syncing icons next to your files, too?

On the local HD under PROGRAM FILES (X86) there is a fldr DROPBOX with 2 fldrs underneath - CLIENT and UPDATE.  Underneath each of these 2 fldrs are other NUMBERED fldrs but nothing recognizable. Plz advise what is wrong. Thanx.

Still Bewildered Bob

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Bewildered_Bobby wrote:

On the local HD under PROGRAM FILES (X86) there is a fldr DROPBOX ...

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That's the Dropbox program folder. Nancy was referring to the Dropbox folder where your files are stored. This is, by default, C:\Users\[your_username]\Dropbox.

Rick: right-clicking on one of the fldrs shown shows  a dropdown menu with several Dropbox specific entries: "copy Dropbox link", "view on Dropbox.com", "don't sync to Dropbox.com".

Does this mean that it has been installed correctly assuming that I have admin credentials even 'tho there was no request for admin password ?  Thanx.

Hey Bewildered_Bobby, it sounds the app is indeed installed to your device, yes. 

If you don't face any palpable issues, then it means it's already installed with admin privileges. 

Hi Megan: Thanx for the quick reply. But Nancy also wrote - "Can you see syncing icons next to your files, too?"  Since syncing icons are NOT visible can I assume that "syncing" is optional which may explain absence of syncing icons since my desktop is only device in use ?

Hey Bewildered_Bobby, could you send us a screenshot of how your files inside your Dropbox folder look like at the moment including the app's status as shown in your system tray? 

Hi Walter: icon in system tray is a red square with white '1'.

Requested screen show shd be below (hopefully large enuff to be understood). If too small how can i make it larger ?

Bewildered Bob