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Rich1985's avatar
Rich1985
New member | Level 2
3 years ago
Solved

Syncing my desktop using Dropbox Backup has changed, why?

Hi

 

I'm a Mac user and I need to sync the files on my desktop so that I can access them using the dropbox app from other devices.

 

- Previously achieved this using symlinks, until that stopped working.

 - Most recently, I've been using the Dropbox Backup feature to achieve this (even though it caused lots of other issues to do with permissions.)

 

But now, this has stopped working in the way it used to - desktop 'backups' are only available to view from the website and don't sync to the app in the way they used to.  This has changed in the last few days

 

Can anyone suggest a solution to achieve what I (and looking the forums, others too) am trying to achieve?

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    3 years ago

    When you say 'on my desktop', do you mean files that are not located in the Dropbox folder?

     

    Currently, only files and folders that are physically located in the Dropbox folder (aside from the Dropbox Backup folders) would sync to other devices.

4 Replies

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

    Hi Rich1985, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

     

    The Dropbox Backup feature changed a while ago, so that the backup is only visible on the Dropbox site directly, and not in the Dropbox folder of other devices.

     

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

  • Rich1985's avatar
    Rich1985
    New member | Level 2
    3 years ago

    Hi Jay,

     

    Thanks for clarifying. 

     

    So is there a solution that would allow me to sync files on my desktop to dropbox and access them from the app on other devices? It's something I really need Dropbox to be able to do.

     

    Thanks 

     

    Rich 

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

    When you say 'on my desktop', do you mean files that are not located in the Dropbox folder?

     

    Currently, only files and folders that are physically located in the Dropbox folder (aside from the Dropbox Backup folders) would sync to other devices.

  • Rich1985's avatar
    Rich1985
    New member | Level 2
    3 years ago

    Yes, I mean the desktop which is outside of the Dropbox. I understand that this isn't currently an option.

     

    A shame though, it's a real part of my workflow  - I used to have symlink to the desktop inside the Dropbox folder but I know that doesn't work any more. 

     

    Ah well, thanks for clarifying everything - hopefully there will be a workaround at some point. 

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