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Be able to change Dropbox backup folders names

Be able to change Dropbox backup folders names

rfog
Collaborator | Level 9

Add possibility of rename Backup folders. If you have only one computer, it go fine, but if you have more than one, it ends being very confussing. Due iCloud Drive issues, I've changed all of my Macs "synchronized" Desktop and Documents to Dropbox. However, take a look to the picture: 

 

Captura de pantalla 2020-08-17 a las 9.30.30.png

It is very difficult to guess what is what. With the possibility to rename them, I could have named "My iMac", "My MBP 13", "My MBP 15". Very easy to see what is what.

 

(As a workaround, we can change to detail view, but could be more easy for all of us be able to change the names).

Latest Update
Walter
Dropbox Staff

Hi all, I just wanted to let you know that the team is working on this idea!

 

Some backups and backup folders are currently able to be renamed, and we are working to upgrade all backups to have similar functionality

 

Thanks for sharing your suggestion with us and to everyone for supporting it.

Status changed to: Accepted
83 Comments
mbeijer
Helpful | Level 5

Backed up folders should have the same name as the relevant PC. This would be much better than seeing "PC (2)", "PC (3)" and "PC (4)" in my Dropbox folder.

 

Michael 

Jay
Dropbox Staff

Thank you for your idea, while we can’t take every idea forward we do regularly re-review and will update you if anything changes!

Status changed to: Not for right now
klepp0906
Collaborator | Level 10

upvoted.  my gosh, a year and a half this has been up and its still a thing.  meanwhile I have a single pc that uses the backup feature for dropbox (well would be using it anyways) and its creating a PC3 folder.   god forbid I format again or changeOS again or build a new computer.

before you know it, dropbox is creating a PC12 that I cant change and does nothing to identify which PC it actually is (if I had several which would be the plan if this functionality was fleshed out)

for those of us who make heavy use of scripts and scheduled tasks, needing to update the paths on several or dozens of items every time the aforementioned scenario presents because dropbox appends yet another number to the same pc is exhausting and unreasonable. 

This cant even be reset at current.  I have zero other devices linked to my account at the moment, have signed out and completely deleted any "PC" folders in my dropbox, and come back to PC(X) regardless.

frustration and disappointment dont even cover it. 

what is being used as the identifier?  how can it be purged?  Is it like HWID server side?  or something that can be purged in the registry?

jwong84
New member | Level 2

I got a new macbook because my old one failed on my and now when I sync my Documents/Downloads/Desktop folders, I have to look at `Mac (2)` instead of `Mac` in dropbox navigation. For the love of all that is holy, please let me rename this...it hurts my OCD so bad. I'm seriously considering just not using the service anymore to fix this.

ybh
Explorer | Level 4

It's kind of ridiculous that this should be a feature request. Without even speaking about requiring a high number of upvotes.

 

We should be able to change the names of the folders, or at least tag them so that we could be able to differentiate between the different computers that are being backed up, by something other than a chronological index.

 

In my opinion, it seems to me like something that wasn't caught by the QA & UX team...

ameense
New member | Level 2

I have three Macs connected to my Dropbox. The backups used to be called {User}'s MacBook Pro, {User}'s MacBook Air, and {User}'s Mac Mini.

 

This was fine (although I could have done without the repeated {User}'s), but now that I've replaced one of these Macs with another, my new Mac's backup folder is called "Mac (4)". I followed all the correct steps, deleted and reset the old Mac, removed it from Dropbox backups, changed the name of the new one to {User}'s MacBook Pro, etc., before installing and setting up Dropbox Backup but it's still Mac (4). I've tried the remove, change name (again) and re-add but no luck.

 

This is extremely annoying because I use LaunchBar/Alfred to access folders from the keyboard, which means now I need to search "Mac 4" instead of looking for the computer I know. There has to be a way to change the backup name?

Podtschaske
Explorer | Level 3

So, dear Dropbox,

what do you recommend me to recognize the correct folder where my files are inside?

vumir
Collaborator | Level 9

The correct thing would be to be able to choose the name
or use the name of the computer,
but since there are already several threads indicating, that not for now,
let's see if it would be possible to modify the way PC backups are named

Instead of PC, PC(2), PC(3), PC(4)...
change to PC01, PC02, PC03, PC04

So don't use parentheses or spaces and the path is more short.

ddaymace
New member | Level 2

A short support discussion based on my "miraculous idea"

 

ME

so i'm not sure if you have already heard from customers on this but I would be surprised if this isn't on your roadmap
there seems to be no way to rename the machine backup folders
it's absurd

 

ERIC
Yeah I know that
It is auto generated

 

ME
it auto generated PC, PC(1) and PC(2)

 

ERIC
I am afraid

 

ME
thats garbage

 

ERIC
Yes that is what it does true

 

ME
i cant tell the difference between PC and PC(1) and PC(2)
why couldn't you just use the windows machine name????
thats bonkers
you guys have to add that

 

ERIC
Yeah to be honest I am not sure what is the design behind that but it is actually an idea to put forward
As many people and users now have more than one device

 

ME
can you please communicate that to the development team
i am a dev as well and I am not just making a frivolous request

So it could be a new feature that allows you to rename

 

ERIC
No I know that
And I have 2 machines and the names sometimes I have to look at the device to see what I am looking at

 

ME
i don't know how long the backup feature has been around but I just paid up for the year so it woud be nice

 

ERIC
https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Share-an-idea/ct-p/101002000
Here is a link to add your Ideas

 

ME
well no one will read that
lol

 

ERIC
And many time they are considered were a user will send back saying ithas been added
No they do
Believe me
A user had some pointers on paper and after a few months he sent an email saying it is in the works and he was excited actually
So they do and if it is something needing their attention they do

 

ME
ok I'll try

jmccarley
Helpful | Level 5

@Daphne

How can you justify this needs a bit more support when it was a feature you offered and then removed. I expected my 2 new computers to follow the same naming convention as the 3 other Mac backups. Instead is just say Mac1 & Mac2 with no way to differentiate them. 

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