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Can we have more folder options like custom folders or sub-folders to add to Computer Backup?

Can we have more folder options like custom folders or sub-folders to add to Computer Backup?

helenavelikaja
New member | Level 2

Right now, the automated backup option in Dropbox allows me to sync my Documents, Desktop and Downloads folders. By far the biggest - and most important - folder on my computer is the Music folder though. I can imagine for other people it's Pictures. Could we have a way to automatically backup those folders too?


To be really ambitious: would we be able to clone our computer on Dropbox? I used to have an Apple Time Machine that allowed you to do just that. If your computer broke down or was stolen, you could buy a new one, let it download the clone, including not just your documents but your applications and presets too, and you'd be good to go!

Please let Dropbox be the new Time Machine.

Latest Update
Emmet
Community Manager

This idea is currently being worked on by our internal team, and is already available for external drive backups. External Drive Backups are available to all of our users. You can find out more about computer backups in our Help Centre.

 

Screen Shot 2021-12-07 at 9.01.21 PM.png

 

Computer backup is currently being worked on by our teams. If you are interested in participating in beta testing new features to our backup solutions, you can find out how to opt in here

 
Status changed to: Accepted
148 Comments
knudkp
Helpful | Level 5

Especially becasue they are fast when they want our money for the subscription, but not when they need to develop

DraGonDuck
New member | Level 2

It's baffling that this extremely basic feature is not supported by DropBox until today.

wooper
Helpful | Level 5

The current status of this feature is that you can now backup external drives as well as any arbitrary folders within your own user folder. I would prefer to be able to select any folder within the C drive, since I do place some documents at the top of my C drive, though I am probably just weird. This feature is in a much better place than when this idea was posted over 2 years ago, but maybe the developers can be convinced to remove this one last restriction? 🙂

Pirx
Helpful | Level 6

Actually, no, there has been no meaningful progress of any kind at all. This is for how many years now?

And, no, if you happen to have your Documents, Pictures, etc., folders in anything but the default location, you will not be able to backup anything whatsoever. Nothing. Zip. Nada. Dropbox will ask you to move these folders to their default location, which is rank idiocy, and simply impossible for anyone who had a good reason to move those folders in the first place.

Walter
Dropbox Staff

Hi all, I just wanted to let you know that the Dropbox Backup public beta is open and you can find more information here.

 

Cheers!

lprzenioslo
Explorer | Level 3

A bit difficult to say whether I am on Backup Beta or not... Either way, if I understood correctly, and its not easy, I sort of need to first enable any backup in order to turn the Beta version on? Well thats difficult, because my Dropbox folder is not on the C drive, thus, it seems this is a closed circle.

 

Untitled.png

When I click to look for more folders, there is no "Browse" dialog or anything- just a list of random folders from the User folder.

Was stupid of me to get my hopes up for this feature after getting the email lol. 

Bosseau
New member | Level 2

I wholeheartedly support this request.

I have created a large number of distinct, separate folders of Digital data from A-D (analogue to digital devices) which are located in the root of my C:\ drive.

I need to be able to back them up in DropBox without having to move them to DeskTop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, , etc.

Pirx
Helpful | Level 6

I had opted in for the beta, and at first I was able to select any folder, which I did for one particular folder. However, while the folder I selected is still being backed up, now the interface does not allow me to select, or unselect arbitrary folders anymore. So, in other words, this worked for a bit, and now it doesn't anymore. I contacted Support, and I received an answer along the lines of "Well, it's a beta, so stuff should be expected to break randomly".

 

Oh, and before I forget, if I try to select one of the standard folders, I get the "spinning wheel" forever, and it never ends spinning. In other words, at this point there is nothing I can back up, at all. So not only can I not backup non-standard folders, I cannot back up anything at all.

 

Oh well, perhaps in another couple of years they will get their **bleep** together to the point of actually being able to offer the feature in a useful form. Let's just not hold our breaths, lest we suffocate...

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