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jennikeast's avatar
jennikeast
Explorer | Level 3
7 years ago

How do I unsync Dropbox from Ms Word so documents don't automatically download into Dropbox?

How do I unsync Dropbox from Ms Word so documents don't automatically download into Dropbox? I contacted Dropbox in frustration but they wouldn't help me as they said it was an "MS Word problem." How...
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  • Elixir's avatar
    Elixir
    7 years ago

    Hi jennikeast, It seems to me that you using MS Word on Windows or Mac, and saving the files inside Dropbox folder.  Note that anything you save inside your Dropbox folder will be synced. The default location for Dropbox in windows is C:\Users\UserName\Dropbox. In case you are using a Mac, it is /Users/UserName/Dropbox. If you do not want to sync certain files, you should save them in a different location than the Dropbox location. 

Jane's avatar
Jane
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
Thanks for looping back with us here jennikeast, I hope you’ve had a great Monday so far! 
 
The arrow mentioned above is within Word, though based on a test I run on my end, it’s not necessary to tap it in order to follow the steps listed above. Since the steps I referenced are taken from Microsoft’s site, your view may slightly vary, depending on the your Word version &c. If you run a google-search though, you’ll be able to find the relevant resources, that’ll help you remove Dropbox as a “Save” location. 
 
Anyhow, at this point I’d agree with Elixir’s point, since, based on your description you’ve set the Dropbox folder to be the default “Save as” option within your Word settings, so you’d have to go to the Advanced section & modify the default behavior to your preferred one. 
 
Hopefully if you’ve already checked within Microsoft’s help pages, this should now be resolved, though we’re always here in case you may need more Dropbox tips & tricks. Hope you have a beautiful week ahead! :slight_smile:
jennikeast's avatar
jennikeast
Explorer | Level 3
7 years ago

Thanks for all your input.  I just forwarded this conversation to a friend who might be able to help me find this default setting on MS Office 2011.  Because thus far, I haven't been able to find it.  Googling it hasn't helped either, unless someone here knows where I can find that info (please send link if you can) for the 2011 version of MS Office.

 

If I can't get help with this, I'll have to buy the 2016 MS Office version for Mac just so I can get free tech support for this issue!  I should probably buy a new version anyway since I have had compatibility issues with 2011 and other version of MS Word.

 

Once I find a solution (unless the solution means being forced to buy 2016 MS Office), I'll mark this as RESOLVED on this forum.  :)

  • Jane's avatar
    Jane
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    7 years ago
    Quick tip: Have you tried googling: “How to change Microsoft Office default save locations” by any chance jennikeast? 
     
    Please do let me know if this does the trick for you. Thanks! :slight_smile:
    • jennikeast's avatar
      jennikeast
      Explorer | Level 3
      7 years ago

      Tried it.  But it's not a solution for reasons too complicated to post here. Too much minutiae and I don't have the time. Anyway, I'm done—going to have to just buy the latest version of MS Office and have them help me.  Seems I have no other choice.

       

      So I'm afraid I can't mark any of these posts as "Accept as Solution" only because I didn't find one.  But hey, you all tried. :)

      • Elixir's avatar
        Elixir
        Star | Level 19
        7 years ago

        Hi jennikeast, if you have some more patience, can you please try this? Apology: I do not have a 2011 version of MS Word, and I found these information from the internet. 

         

        Go to Preference menu in Word

         

         

        Then go to File Locations. 

         

         

        There, I think, you shold see Dropbox path in the Location filed corresponding to Documents, chage it to another directory (say, ~/Documents). Hope this helps you. 

         

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