Why can I only back up specific folders?

[tescobedo8]

I just started using the back up feature in Dropbox but it seems to only back up 3 folders: DOWNLOADS, DESKTOP & DOCUMENTS. I don't keep important stuff in any of these.  How do I select my 2 most important folders?  It doesn't seem to let me choose.

[Rich]

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@tescobedo8 wrote:

I just started using the back up feature in Dropbox but it seems to only back up 3 folders: DOWNLOADS, DESKTOP & DOCUMENTS. I don't keep important stuff in any of these.  How do I select my 2 most important folders?  It doesn't seem to let me choose.

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You can't just select any folder. The backup feature only works with the key folders in your profile, such as Desktop, Documents and Downloads. It can't be used to backup just any folder from your computer. If you want other folders to sync, you'll need to move them into your Dropbox folder.

• https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/desktop/how-to-use-dropbox-backup

[DavidAshcroft]

I have the same issue.  If thats the only folders that DROPBOX can backup then its useless to me.  I send a request to DROPBOX support and the only answer was to put everything in the six assigned DROPBOX folders.  This product should allow us to pick any folders.  DROPBOX should support our way of work not make the world conform to their limited contraints.  No other software package I use hasany such restrictions.  

[Clayton K.1]

Also just learned that folders have to be in their default locations. Not cool. My OS drive is 500GB; my data drive is 3TB. All my profile folders (Documents, music, etc.) are on my larger drive, but DB won't back them up because they're not in the \users\xxxxx folder. Really disappointing.

[William W.39]

I concur Dropbox backup is useless, I want to backup the folders I choose not what they choose!

[Megan]

Hi @William W.39, sorry to hear about that!

Would you be able to give us some additional details about your case? What has happened exactly?

Let me know more, and we'll take it from there!

[mhromalik]

Can I backup my local folders archive of my email? I want to be able to backup a folder that is changing all the time but not just Documents or Downloads. Is that possible?

[Rich]

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@mhromalik wrote:

Can I backup my local folders archive of my email? I want to be able to backup a folder that is changing all the time but not just Documents or Downloads. Is that possible?

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It hasn't changed. The backup feature can only back up key folders within your user profile, such as Desktop, Documents and Downloads, etc. If you want other folders to sync, you'll need to move them into your Dropbox folder.

[www . c.]

This is overlimited. 
Why is Dropbox not user friendly? 
Please provide a contact, I would be happy to work with your team to help make dropbox much more user-friendly.

[aprilramone]

 This is a bizarre limitation on the usability of dropbox. I have to store everything in my Documents folder or one of the other 12 folders dropbox can see??? Why can't I just select the location where all my files are, or just back up my whole C drive? Also if I right-click another folder that's not in the generic list it has the option to "send to dropbox"? So I have to go through and manually select each folder? This is messed up.