I want to stop backing up my desktop on Dropbox.

I have exactly the same problems. It keeps backing up my private files to my business DB. I've uninstalled the app and reinstalled. Nothing works. Already lost documents. And what it's supposed to do sync my business files it doesn't do. The reason why I uninstalled and reinstalled in the first place. 

What a **bleep** feature. I would like a clear explanation as how to stop this and prevent it from happening ever again!

Hi RIC4life, just for clarification, have you disabled the computer backup from the Dropbox desktop application?

Which folders in particular are syncing to the site? Regarding the business files that aren't syncing, are those visible on the Dropbox site?

At the moment I am just trying to do one thing and that is trying to get back as many documents as possible. Complete folders are empty, documents nowhere to be found. And to top it all off I have a back up from when this was all going on, so the folders are empty there to. Files that are on my hard drive all have that **bleep**ty DB sign. 

I deleted the DB app, because I could make nothing work. I couldn't stop the stupid back up function. Instructions that were referred to didn't work. Total nightmare and a days work lost too.

Nowhere to be found!!!!! That made me delete the whole app. And the **bleep** just got bigger.

What option did you see when you viewed the desktop app preferences? 

Are you able to locate the missing files on the Dropbox site directly on the Backups page?

No nothing there. And they are also not under the deleted files. Well, the empty folders are there too 😞

And I don't know exactly what I saw, just not what I was supposed to. Like I said it's been hours ago. 

Each time I reinstall the app, after deleting all  Dropbox folders completely of my laptop, it start the back up. I am unable to choose not now. I took the arrow out of all options, but still it keeps doing it. It drives me completely nuts. I don't want Dropbox to back up my private folders!

SAME EXACT ISSUE I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT SINCE MAY 

If the missing files weren’t syncing to your account, then it wouldn’t be possible to recover them from the site. 

However, it might be possible to recover the files from the local machine from the recycle bin, or using a third party app or service to do so.

Checked there day 1. not in recycle bin 

How long has it been since your files went missing? Was it over 30 days ago? What plan are you on currently?

I believe it was May 6th. The insane thing is that I am on a free plan. I had removed and reinstalled drop box because it was not working right.  The moment I reinstalled it went crazy.  I was told it would only grab our files in a paid account, but that is incorrect. I kept getting messages that dropbox was full and I needed to upgrade. I feel like it was done to force my company to buy a plan.  (Which they are too cheap to do) I didn't want my files on there except the ones the company posted for our sales team. Suddenly all my files are stuck to dropbox including my personal files. I did not approve anything.  And many have just disappeared. It says they are in dropbox. The folders are but they are empty. I reached out that day but since it is a free account I was just pretty much dismissed after being told I'm pretty much clueless. Been using DB for a few years. Never had this happen until recently. It also loaded a virus on my pc. I had to set a malware program on it but it still did a lot of damage.  I have not recovered 75% of my recent files. 

If the files were synced to the site and then were deleted, since it's been longer than 30 days, it wouldn't be possible to recover them from Dropbox, unfortunately. 

Regarding the virus/malware, provided you installed the official app from the Dropbox site, it isn't possible for the app itself to install anything like that. 

However, if there was a file in your Dropbox account, either in a private or shared folder, which was infected, then it would be possible from there.

I think I finally disabled it. Some of my private files are lost. It is what it is. 

When my American collegues go back to work I know if other stuff works. My collegue here says the app still says it's synchronizing and he doesn't see the filenames as they are in Dropbox itself. So it doesn't work. With me that part is fine now it seems, although the files are not locally anymore like they were.

It deleted them immediately, not 30 days later. But at this point I Guess it doesn't matter. The files are gone!  Since I realized I was screwed and had to find a way to stop DB from interfering, I make sure all new files are marked to keep only on my computer. Otherwise Dropbox immediately snags them.