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MacOS: desktop folders are now aliases - How can I switch back?
So my Desktop, Documents, and Downloads folders are no longer folders, but rather aliases to these folders within the dropbox folder.
I understand that this is because at some point they were set to be backed up by dropbox. Unfortunately this is completely breaking when I try to use migration assistant to move to a new machine. Not everything is copied over - a bunch of these folders are missing - and the aliases themselves are broken.
I want to go back to these folders being real folders and no longer aliases so that I can do the migration. Is it as simple as turning off backups in Dropbox? Will it then move these folders back to where they are supposed to be? Will that delete the backed up files on Dropbox because they have now been removed from the backups? I've read this: "https://help.dropbox.com/organize/delete-dropbox-backup" but it just talks about deleting a backup. I don't want my files deleted. I just want them back to where they belong.
I will be doing a time-machine backup before I make any changes to make sure I get everything. But I would also love it if the migration assistant just worked out of the box.
Bonus question: I have been reading that Dropbox is changing how it works on MacOS... that there is a "new way" of managing files that would change the above behavior. It would be storing data in ~/Library/CloudStorage. Is this something I should change to be using? If so, how? And what are the consequences of making this change? I've read this: "https://help.dropbox.com/installs/dropbox-for-macos-support" but it is very technical and does not really tell me what the difference is for an end user - i.e. where will my files be stored? How is it different than the way Dropbox worked before from an end user perspective.
Thanks!
Welcome to the Dropbox Community, bvz.
You did in fact locate the correct steps to disable backup, which are the ones to delete it. You can also manage your backups and disable the feature by following the steps here.
As for the Dropbox for macOS experience, it basically depends on whether you're using the File Provider API on your computer.
If you are, as long as you're already eligible, you should be able to also update your Dropbox app.
It's not mandatory to use the File Provider version of the Dropbox app, however, it helps in the sense that the app will integrate more deeply with macOS and fix issues related to opening online-only files in third-party applications.
You can read all the expected changes that come with the update here.
Let me know if you have questions!
3 Replies
I meant to post back here earlier, but I am not on the ball all the time.
In any event, that was the solution. Thanks! Once I removed those three folders from the backup, they were returned to their original locations. It does take a while so it is probably best that your system is plugged in (if it is not a desktop and plugged in already), and don't interrupt it. I also backed up everything with time-machine first just to be extra cautions. But it all worked exactly as described (though the concept of "deleting" backups on a system that is actually a syncing service is a little scary - but the dialog box does assure you that your local files will not be deleted).Thanks again.
- Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
Welcome to the Dropbox Community, bvz.
You did in fact locate the correct steps to disable backup, which are the ones to delete it. You can also manage your backups and disable the feature by following the steps here.
As for the Dropbox for macOS experience, it basically depends on whether you're using the File Provider API on your computer.
If you are, as long as you're already eligible, you should be able to also update your Dropbox app.
It's not mandatory to use the File Provider version of the Dropbox app, however, it helps in the sense that the app will integrate more deeply with macOS and fix issues related to opening online-only files in third-party applications.
You can read all the expected changes that come with the update here.
Let me know if you have questions!
