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Macbook Pro Update Moved My Files and now I can't locate my Documents.
Hello,
I recently updated Dropbox on my MacBook Pro and instantly regretted it. For whatever reason, Dropbox decided all of my files needed to be moved upon the newest update. Unfortunately, no...
Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
Dropbox Community ModeratorThanks for the update and the screenshots, Brandonrowe14.
Syncing files in the Dropbox folder and using Dropbox backup, are indeed different from one another.
When syncing files in the Dropbox folder, you need to manually add them in, for them to sync.
With Dropbox backup, the backup is automatic, without manually adding the files in the Dropbox folder.
Have you been using Dropbox backup for the documents folder as well, like with the downloads and desktop folders?
If you manually search for a file that's in your documents folder through Finder, are you able to locate it?
And can you see the folder path for that file?
Hi Hannah,
Yes, before this update, I'd been using all three folders with the backup turned on. Here are four screenshots that I think will explain the issue pretty clearly. All file paths to documents within the Documents folder that I can locate in terminal look like this: ~/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox/My Mac (Computer Name.local)/Documents/FileName.ext. However, none of those files/folders created before the update are actually visible in the finder window in that folder.For example, in the below screenshot, you'll see what the Documents folder in the backup looks like in Finder. With the exception of "Test Folder," which I just created, nothing is visible.
However, when I go to this same view in Terminal (or in Dropbox in the browser), all of my files/folders are visible. I'll attach a mostly blurred screenshot below to show this. This is the exact same folder within the backup as shown in the Finder screenshot above. You can see one of my old folder names above "Test Folder," which again is the same folder I just made and is also present on the Finder view above.
Here's the strange thing. Finder doesn't seem to know the file path for that Test Folder, which is located in ~/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox/My Mac (Computer Name.local)/Documents/. "Where" is totally blank. See below:
Additionally, if I try to drag and drop a file into the top level of the Documents folder, it will not allow me to do so. However, if I attempt to drag and drop a file into Documents/Test Folder, I am prompted with the below message.- Hannah
Thanks for the update, Brandon.
There might be something that went wrong, when backup was set up for the documents folder.
Would you mind going to your Dropbox folder and then taking a look into the "My Mac" folder, to see if you can locate all your documents folders and subfolders there?
And also, can you check your backups page online, to see if the files are there as well?
Hannah The files/folders created in "My Mac/Documents" before the update are visible on Dropbox Backups in the browser and via Terminal, at the filepath I mentioned above. They are not viewable in Finder.
I have the same issue with updated Dropbox, its annoying and I would love old backup folders back.
Now it seems the only way to reach your backup folders (Desktop/Documents/Downloads) is in Dropbox website.It was very convenient to reach backup folders (Desktop/Documents/Downloads) on other devices mobile or PC, share documents and so on, but now its gone..
I have even tried uninstalling Dropbox and installing older version, but it didn't help.- Jay
Hi Kristojanis, could you clarify the issue exactly? Are you not able to access the folders locally? Do you get an error when trying to view them?
Or, are you referring to accessing the backup specifically, while on local devices?
