Deleting files from DropBox

[tlong6217]

I just installed Dropbox on my computer and I guess I clicked a button to sync all my files on my computer hard drive to the Dropbox. This isn't necessarily the end of the world, but I would rather not have all my files on Dropbox. I am scared that if I delete them from Dropbox that they will delete off of my computer and I will never see them again. That cannot happen. Also, it said where Dropbox will begin deleting files from Dropbox if they are not being used within a certain amount of time. Will this also delete my files on my computer? I am just nervous as to what I should do.

[Walter]

Hi @tlong6217; welcome aboard and thanks for using Dropbox!

If you're referring to the computer backup feature, you can find out how to disable it here.

Let me know if that's not the case though. 

[tlong6217]

I just want to be sure that if I were to start deleting files from Dropbox that it will NOT delete those same exact files from my computer simultaneously. Basically, I didn't mean to load on my files onto Dropbox, I clicked the wrong button I guess. If I were to begin removing files from Dropbox that I know I will never need to be in Dropbox, will it start deleting those files from my computer as well? I ask because it talks about "syncing" and all that, I don't want it to start deleting my original files stored on my desktop that I remove from Dropbox. Hope this makes more sense.

[tlong6217]

All the apps and files located on the desktop of my computet are constantly switching from the "loading arrows" to a "green checkmark" to an "X", like it is trying to upload these files continuously to Dropbox? It's rather odd and I wish I didn't share everything on my computer to Dropbox. Is it easy to just delete it and start over? I am scared to delete anything because I don't want to permanently delete everything from my computer.

[Walter]

You haven't clarified if you did actually enable the computer backup feature, but it's most likely what happeed here @tlong6217.

If that's the case indeed, you can find out how to disable it in the Help Center article I linked before. 

Let me know how you get on. 

[tlong6217]

So yes, I did backup everything from Dropbox to my PC.