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Forum Discussion
Missing desktop files after deleting dropbox
Hi
a while ago (6 months ago) I downloaded DropBox app and checked syncing with my personal Desktop files (although I think I disabled that immediately). It synced, but because I was using free version, only 2GB from my 60GB desktop were stored, the rest was not. Some time ago i uninstalled Dropbox (but now I am confused if i really did) and everything was fine. I kept on living like that since then, no issues, but today when I found I still have some remaining of files with 'Dropbox' in their names, I deleted them and all my Desktop files are now gone + I cannot save anything on my Desktop as it is just gone
also, when I check what is my Desktop is pointing to it says "Desktop -> /Users/chopchop/Dropbox/My Mac (iMac (Chop))/Desktop"
So I assume I just deleted my Dropbox directory today, and by deleting it, I deleted my desktop files which were not stored in Dropbox unfortunatelly.
Should I just reinstall dropbox? When I try, it says that original dropbox directory is missing or relocated. Should i just create new directory and move app there?
do u have any idea how to resolve lack of Desktop + this referencing, or do u recommend any files-recovery software which could help?
Hi chopchop, sorry to hear about this.
It sounds like you enabled the computer backup feature at some point.
If that's the case, you can find the steps to disable it here.
As per your missing files, do you see any signs of them in your deleted files page or the events page?
If not, they never made it to our servers, so you may need to be looking for them locally on your device, be it in their original locations or your trash can. You could also try enabling hidden files to show in Finder to see if you can find any of them that way.
Keep me posted anyhow!Mod note: updated links in post [last update 2023]
- Walter
Dropbox Staff
Hi chopchop, sorry to hear about this.
It sounds like you enabled the computer backup feature at some point.
If that's the case, you can find the steps to disable it here.
As per your missing files, do you see any signs of them in your deleted files page or the events page?
If not, they never made it to our servers, so you may need to be looking for them locally on your device, be it in their original locations or your trash can. You could also try enabling hidden files to show in Finder to see if you can find any of them that way.
Keep me posted anyhow!Mod note: updated links in post [last update 2023]
Hello, thank you for your interest
So yeah, I enabled backup of my Desktop at the time of installing the app and forgot to turn it off before uninstalling the Dropbox directory from my home directory (Although, I remember being confused about the option that appear after you click on "Manage backup" - "Keep content in folders on this PC/Mac" (cause I thought deleting files from Dropbox will delete files from my computer anyway) and instead of checking it, I just left backup turned on 😕 ).So my Desktop since then was inside a Dropbox directory, and by deleting Dropbox directory, I deleted my Desktop content
By reinstalling dropbox in original location, the link to desktop was also restored and my files from Dropbox appeared on my Desktop, although it wasn't up-to-date cause my backup was old and not completed fully.
And yeah, unfortunately I empty my trash immediately after deleting the stuff so it is gone but at least it helped me recover from being too attached to all clutter that I collected so far. And I saved some space now.
I deleted files similar to Chop Chop but I was able to restore from my recycle bin. How to I delete the backup folder on Dropbox without deleting files on my computer. Thanks!
Somehow drop box is backing up in real-time everything I do on both computer and iphone.
How do I stop all this activity, and safely delete unwanted files/folders from drop box WHITHOUT deleting them from my computer.
Should I choose to delete from my computer, will the files be then deleted from drop box?
Should I choose to delete from drop box, will the files be then deleted from my computer?
Will drop box delete from 'ONE-DRIVE' AND 'SUGAR SYNCH????
- HannahHey DonaldLiberatore, thanks for commenting here.
It sounds like you've enabled computer backup on your Dropbox application.
At this point, any file you delete from Dropbox, will be deleted from your computer and vice versa.
You can disable it and move your files back to their original locations, by following the steps here.
Please may someone help me, I tried to delete my dropbox so I could redo the settings as it had connected to all my desktop folders,
now that I have deleted it all my desktop folders have disappeared from my computer,
I need urgent assistance please
I accidentally deleted the whole dropbox app. Now, I cannot access my desktop and I cannot restore my desktop's files. How to solve this problem?
- Megan
Hi CarrieZhou, welcome to our Community!
It sounds like you enabled the computer backup feature. Have you tried re-installing the app ever since?
Also, are you able to see your Desktop files when visiting your Dropbox account online?
Let me know, and we'll take it from there!
- I am in the same situation. When I open up Dropbox I see a fold that says MAC and can see everything that was on my desktop before removing/deleting Dropbox. My desktop is hidden in finder and I believe that is causing all of my music projects to be corrupted at the moment. What do I need to do to fix the desktop being hidden ?
Hi, friends. I mistakenly deleted a folder entitled Dropbox as large as more than 53G. I only know that almost all my documents in the MacBook Air are in this Dropbox folder after the deletion. My Mac needs upgrading the system without sufficient storage, and that Dropbox occupied the second largest storage in my Mac. Since I have not used the Dropbox for a long time, I thought I would not need it any more. SO I moved it into the trashbox without a second thought. The moment I deleted it , my computer desktop with my documents and books immediately disappear. Then I found the rest of the computer space for documents strorage also blank. Could they be stored in the iCloud of the Dropbox? How could I recover all the documents which I have written and collected fro years? Thank you.
- Hannah
Hey Weifang5, thanks for joining us!
It sounds like before you deleted Dropbox, you had enabled our backup feature on your Dropbox application.
Do you see your desktop files in your deleted files page or your events page?
Thank you, Hannah, for your reply. The Dropbox folder is neither in my deleted files page, nor in in the events page. I saw that folder in the Mac storage list, for I have to delete documents to have some extra space for my computer system upgrade . Actually that is the first time I saw a folder with the Dropbox name. That is why I deleted it without the second thought, for I have not used Dropbox for years, I thought the 50G contents it holds are the outdated documents.
I suppose Dropbox software has an invisible super-folder that absorbs all the documents of my Mac into it without my knowing it. How can find the super-folder back?
Looking forward to your further help, Hannah.
I experienced this problem and resolved it by going to Macintosh/users/"username" where "username" is the account name you are logged in under.
There is a Desktop shortcut which points to the missing Desktop. Delete this file. Empty the trash. Your Desktop folder should be recreated.i was cleaning up my mac, i saw a folder with the title "dropbox" which had 30GB so i deleted it from disk utility, i went ahead with my day and later found out that my DESKTOP,DOCUMENT AND DOWNLOAD folders were missing from my mac. i cant dowmnload things anymore because the dowmloads directory doesn't exist anymore, i suspect its from the dropbox folder i deleted, and i cant restore it from the Trash, it doesnt give an option for " thank you.
- Hannah
Sorry to hear about this, cento.
It sounds like you had enabled the Dropbox backup feature on your computer, before deleting the Dropbox folder.
Is the Dropbox application still installed on your computer?
Are you able to see your desktop folders here?
