I see duplicate Dropbox folders on Windows, after reinstalling the desktop app, and they both sync

[Xariel]

Hi there

I had a problem where I noticed one day about a month or so ago that my backup of my current computer had disappeared so couldnt access any files from my computer on my phone. The only way I could see to fix it was to reinstall dropbox on my computer which it fix the backup problem. However I now have a problem on my computer where my windows explorer shows two indentical dropbox folders. How do I remove of them without losing any files? Anything I do to one of the folders affects the other, they both have the same files and both sync. Thanks in advance.

[Nancy]

Hi @Xariel, welcome to our Community!

What you mention is quite odd indeed. 

Can you send me a screenshot showing the two Dropbox folders you see with their syncing icons? 

What’s their filepath on your computer? 

I’d also like to know the syncing status and app version of the Dropbox app there.

Keep me posted.

[Xariel]

Hi Nancy

Here is screenshot.

They both have the filepath C:\Users\dream - they both look the same as the one shown in the screenshot

I think the version on my computer is v199.4.6287 

[Megan]

Hey @Xariel, thanks for the screenshot! 

Would you be able to also check the app's preferences, and more specifically your Sync tab to check if the Dropbox folder path is the same one as the one you see on your screenshot?

[Xariel]

Hi Megan

Here is the screenshot.

Thank you

[Hannah]

Hey @Xariel, thanks for the screenshot.

Is the path of the other Dropbox folder exactly the same?

If you click on the Dropbox icon in your system tray and then on the folder icon next to your avatar, the app should open your actual syncing Dropbox folder.

Also, I want to point out that the sync icons on the files in your first screenshot don't look like Dropbox icons, but OneDrive ones.

Can you disable OneDrive and let me know if the Dropbox icons come back?

[Xariel]

Hi Hannah

Yes both folders have the same filepath. When I click on the dropbox icon in the system tray the folder directs me to the bottom folder. In this screenshot.

My Onedrive wasnt connected to any account but ive uninstalled it anyway. Doesnt look like anything changed. The screenshot above was after I uninstalled onedrive.

Thank you

[Hannah]

Thanks for checking, @Xariel.

Another issue is that the icon of the Dropbox folder should be a Dropbox icon, not a blank white page icon.

If you add a file or make any change to the bottom Dropbox folder, does this change sync to your account on dropbox.com as well?

[Xariel]

Yes Ive seen that both folders are just blank white page icons but not sure why. I added a blank new text doc to the bottom folder and it appeared in both folders and on the dropbox.com

[Nancy]

Hey again, @Xariel! Can you right click on each of these folders, go to their Properties and send me a screenshot of what you see?

Before reinstalling Dropbox on your device, did you completely remove the app from your computer? If yes, did you also delete the local Dropbox folder after that?