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Forum Discussion
Documents, Downloads, and Desktop folders are gone on my MB Pro. Dropbox has folders but no files
Hello there!
So to preface, I'm relatively new to Dropbox, and only got it for a couple work gigs. But the moment it had access to my computer, it started creating a backup I think? Which, with only 2 GB of Dropbox Basic storage, there was no way it could do that with the 200+GB of stuff on my computer. So naturally it filled up pretty quickly, and I paused the sync.
At this point I try to free up some space, so I go to the dropbox folder in my Mac, select the attempted backup of my computer, and delete it. I think it was then that the folders disappeared, but I didn't notice until I was in the Dropbox system preferences trying to make it stop creating automatic backups...tried to deselect the Desktop, Downloads, and Documents folders and save, but then a message popped up saying the folders couldn't be located...
So now this morning comes around, and the folders(Desktop, Downloads, Documents) are back on my computer, along with all my personal folders inside them, but all of my actual DOCUMENTS...all my pdfs of taxes, all pictures, work documents.. are just GONE. Can anyone help me out? where did all my actual files go and how do I get them back??
Many thanks in advance
- Megan
Dropbox Staff
Hey tgelhaus, and welcome to our Community!
It seems you're referring to our Computer Backup feature.
Have you tried checking your account's Deleted files page here? If none of your content is visible there for you to restore, then I'd suggest looking into your device's trash, to see if you can locate it there.
Keep me posted on what you find, and we'll take it from there!Hi Lori!
First off, thank you so much for helping out! None of the files were in the Deleted files page, and I found a zip file of my downloads folder in the trash, ...moved it to my desktop, but opening it revealed it to be a copy of what I found on my computer this morning...all the folders, but all of them are empty. I put some screenshots here with different folders selected as examples..no files in any of them..in fact aside from a couple screenshots I took earlier today. This is how all the folders in my Documents and Desktop tabs look as well..empty!
Update: I found a handful of folders in my Desktop folder that still have files! It's very strange tho..it's as if everything that hadn't synced with Dropbox yet by the time I messed with it got deleted, but whatever small amount of files HAD synced got saved...
I have exactly the same problem after using dropbox today. My desktop folder and download folder are gone and I see them on dropbox.com but not in finder anymore. This is quite annoying.
Any suggestion please let me know. Thank you
Hi,
After using Dropbox yesterday my desktop folder and download folder disappeared from finder on my Macbook Pro. When I start using Dropbox it started to sync and I stopped it, emptied my trash and deleted the files in the sync folder. After this my desktop and download folder where gone in Finder. I searched in hidden files but no desktop of download folders anymore. When going to dropbox.com I see the folders there and have no idea how to get them back to my HD on my Mac. Please let me know how to get the folders back on my Mac. Thank you
unfortunately I have emptied my trash and I do see the maps desktop and download on dropbox.com but have no idea how to put them back as I need them on my Macbook Pro...
Hey I had exactly the same problem. Initiated a sync on Dropbox helpful suggestion and my desktop disappeared. I followed another comment on this thread and tried to get into Finder. Couldn't find it. Eventually I got into finder, and clicked Desktop. All the files were there and they magically reappeared on my desktop. Thanks Dropbox..... not. I have the 2 TB account so maybe that helped.
The exact same thing happened to me! Everything is gone!!!!!!!! I cant find it in trash, deleted items... nothing. Its like as soon as dropbox downloaded it erased EVERYTHING. Hours and hours of work and school just gone...
- Walter
Hey ryanjenks, sorry to hear about this.
Can you please let us know some additional information about the issue you're facing? Did you enable the computer backup feature when you installed the desktop app on your computer, perhaps?
Do you see any of the missing files on our website, be it in the deleted files page or the events page?- Hello,
Thanks for such a quick reply! In regards to the computer back up I don’t believe I did. Also I did not see the missing files in either of those categories.
It’s very weird. My files were all there and then Dropbox downloaded and everything is just vanished. I got my desktop and documents back but they are empty all my stuff is gone. As for my downloads folder, that is just completely gone. I reached out to Apple support and they weren’t able to help me and we’re confused by the situation as well.
I really hope the files are not just gone. I have worked really hard on the contents in those files.
