Mass deleting files - How do I

[MaryBC]

I am over my dropbox limit and I want to 1) delete files and 2) change the way I interact with Dropbox so it doesn't save every download.  How do I select dozens of files at once to delete (I am not going to delete my files one by one!) and how do I change how I set Dropbox up to work on my new computer?

[Walter]

Hi @MaryBC, thanks for using Dropbox and welcome to our Community.

It sounds like you may have enabled the computer backup feature.

If that's so, you can disable it by following these steps (under the "turn off computer backup" banner).

Let me know if this helps, Mary. 

[Vicker]

Hi, @MaryBC ,

If you want to select multiple items to delete them, you may either try to sync them to your local computer first, then use Windows Explorer and macOS Finder to drag-select them. Note that you may also do a drag-select on the Dropbox website. Here are some screenshots that may help to understand.

On the other hand, the configuration to control uploading the "Downloads" folder or not is inside the Dropbox app preferences. The official document below should help.

How to use computer backup

https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/computer-backup

Cheers

Vicker

[MaryBC]

I went into preferences and to manage backups, I unchecked "downloads" and saved, but it says in red "Couldn't stop backup."  I just have documents checked now and it says 1/6 folders with issues. 

[Megan]

Hi @MaryBC, I hope you're doing well!

Can you let me know the syncing status and the version of your Dropbox desktop application? 

Feel free to send us a screenshot of the "couldn't stop backup" message you receive on your end. 

Let me know.

[MaryBC]

It says syncing 3,941 files. 

[Megan]

Hi @MaryBC! 

Would you mind if I sent you an email so we could have a look at this internally?

[MaryBC]

That's fine.

[Megan]

I just sent you an email, @MaryBC! 

Have a lovely weekend ahead. Enjoy!