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SnappingTurtle's avatar
SnappingTurtle
Helpful | Level 5
2 years ago

Why is Dropbox deleting local files after moving to a new computer?

Hello wise Dropbox warriors,   So I recently purchased a Macbook Air to serve as a backup/travel laptop. My main machine is an MBP 16.   I booted up the MBA using a Time Machine backup so tha...
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Jay's avatar
Jay
Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
2 years ago

Hi SnappingTurtle, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

 

In general, restoring from a Time Machine backup isn't recommended for the Dropbox folder, since the files might need to be re-indexed, or redownloaded from scratch, or in this instance, marked as online-only.

 

As you saw in this case, it made the files online-only, which means you'd need to mark them as available offline again for the Dropbox folder.

 

If you have any further queries, feel free to message back.

  • SnappingTurtle's avatar
    SnappingTurtle
    Helpful | Level 5
    2 years ago

    Thanks, Jay. How do you recommend doing the migration — via direct transfer?

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

      If you're migrating to a new machine, the best method to ensure full functionality is to install the Dropbox desktop application and have the program sync the files normally from the site.

       

      You could try copying a version of the old Dropbox folder into the new computer, by pausing the desktop app after it creates the folders and then pasting the files there, but this can still cause some sync and permission issues.

      • SnappingTurtle's avatar
        SnappingTurtle
        Helpful | Level 5
        2 years ago

        With all due respect, that's a ridiculous solution and Dropbox should be embarrassed at making its representatives suggest it. The whole point of modern migration assistants is to move seamlessly from one computer to another without having to manually re-create the first machine. Downloading my Dropbox folder would take days and make my internet unusable for work while I did that.

         

        I've used Dropbox for nearly 20 years. This was not a problem until Dropbox started pushing its customers to store files solely in the cloud rather than on their computers — something that makes no sense for many users, including myself, and has been badly implemented.

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