Dropbox "Backup" is interfering with iCloud

[bigsur2021]

Dropbox "backup" is interfering with iCloud sync. With the latest dropbox app installed, your iCloud Desktop and Documents folders would stop syncing. Solution:

1. Make sure "Desktop & Documents" folder is not backed up through dropbox! By default it will make these two folders backed up by dropbox which will cause problems! The only way to change the setting is to click "set up" and then select a new folder to be backed up by dropbox and de-select "Desktop & Documents" folder. 

2. Deleting dropbox is useless. You must completely delete and disable dropbox sync from your computer. 

This is a bug. Dropbox Team, please fix it!!!

[Rich]

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@bigsur2021 wrote:

Dropbox "backup" is interfering with iCloud sync. With the latest dropbox app installed, your iCloud Desktop and Documents folders would stop syncing. ... This is a bug. Dropbox Team, please fix it!!!

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It's not a bug. The "backup" feature works by MOVING key folders, such as your Desktop and Documents, to the Dropbox folder so they can sync. This is how the feature is designed to work. If you don't want the folders backed up through Dropbox, don't enable the feature for those folders and they'll remain in their original location.

Since the key folders are being moved when using the backup feature, other services such as iCloud or Drive may not be able to access them, and if they can, you should know that it's never a good idea to have two sync services actively syncing the same content. Problems are sure to arise if you do.

[bigsur2021]

How's that not a bug the moment you download dropbox app on your mac your desktop and documents folder no longer syncs with icloud? People lose their documents unawared.

Wouldn't it be obvious that dropbox should at least tell the mac users that they are by default enabling "desktop and documents" sync? This was not the case in the past as users were allowed to choose which folder to sync with dropbox and it did not include the "desktop and documents" folder by default. There are tons of complains online with clueless users stretching their heads and dropbox claims this as a feature? 

[Rich]

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@bigsur2021 wrote:

How's that not a bug the moment you download dropbox app on your mac your desktop and documents folder no longer syncs with icloud?

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While it is a default option during installation, it's not mandatory and you can opt out of the backup feature. It's one of the questions asked during the install. If Dropbox is already installed, the backup feature is not enabled unless you enable it manually.

[piotom]

I see what you are saying. I had the same issue. It seems you have to choose one service to sync your desktop. Either it is dropbox or iCloud.  I had the same issue. You can disable it without uninstalling it all the way. Just change the permissions on the desktop and documents folder to read only (this step may not be necessary, but I did it anyways.) Then in dropbox settings you disable the the backup of those folders. Then enable iCloud backup and iCloud works again as intended.

[adrock8]

This problem messed up my entire Desktop! My Macbook Pro will no longer sync my Desktop and Documents with Icloud!!! The only way to fix it is to completely reinstall my Mac.

Won't be using dropbox anymore. Garbage.