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amberprawn's avatar
amberprawn
New member | Level 2
4 years ago

Lost access to Desktop folder on Mac when I downloaded Dropbox, and now can't access.

I've lost access to the Desktop, Documents and Downloads file on my mac - help?? I just set up a new Dropbox account with a different email. When it asked whether I wanted to sync/back-up Desk...
Computer Backup
desktop
Dropbox Backup
Dropbox Basic
Mac
Setting up the apps
Megan's avatar
Megan
Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
3 years ago

Hm, interesting TexAK! 

 

Do you think you can attach a couple of screenshots of what you see when you access your Backup preferences on your device, and some of what you see when you visit your Backup page online? 

 

Provided that Backup has been disabled, you should be able to move your Desktop content back to their original place. All you'd have to do would be to drag and drop them there. 

TexAK's avatar
TexAK
Explorer | Level 4
3 years ago

When I click on "Manage Backups" on the Dropbox desktop app, this is what it shows.  I have unchecked these boxes and saved them multiple times and it keeps coming up with the boxes checked the next time I go to it.

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    3 years ago

    Hi TexAK, it looks like the Backup has been disabled as that screen is asking you to set it up. 

     

    Are you able to see any backups, or deleted backups on the site on this page?

  • TexAK's avatar
    TexAK
    Explorer | Level 4
    3 years ago

    I don't see any backups on Dropbox and those files remain unchecked.

     

    I copied all the files from Dropbox on to an external drive and I plan to simply disconnect this Mac from my dropbox account.  I still have zero icons on my Desktop and looking in Finder, all the Desktop files are dropbox icons.

  • Hannah's avatar
    Hannah
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    3 years ago

    Hey TexAK, if your desktop files are within your Dropbox folder, are you able to just try and move some of the files back to your Desktop, to see if that helps?

  • TexAK's avatar
    TexAK
    Explorer | Level 4
    3 years ago

    Well, this has been quite a journey!  Apparently, Dropbox took over everything on my Desktop and I did not know it.  So, I eventually disconnected my Laptop from Dropbox, saved all my files from Dropbox onto an external storage stick, and then had to create an entirely new User on my MacBook and move those files into that new Desktop individually.  

    When I tried to move those same files to the old User Desktop, everything still pointed to a Dropbox Folder and my Desktop folder was just an Alias...

     

    So, I've now got all my files residing on my Laptop HD and they are backed up to iCloud Drive -- but the files reside on my Laptop.

    I will be discontinuing Dropbox as soon as I can figure out how to get one other Application to stop backing up there.

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