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Forum Discussion
Unable to stop or turn off desktop backup [SOLVED]
A while ago I turned on the new 'backup desktop/documents/downloads' feature. Now I want to turn it off, but I can't. There's no obvious 'turn this feature off' button. All the instructions I've seen...
So, for anybody who happens to stumble upon this - here is how you can solve it.
1. Move your Dropbox folder - I found this solution accidentally, because my PC was getting full and I decided to move my Dropbox folder to another partition, but you could move it anywhere. Go into the Dropbox app, click on the picture of you, select 'preferences' , then 'sync' and then select the option to move your Dropbox folder. Just put it in a different location. Doing this will nuke your desktop. But do not panic. You will not lose any data.
2. Re-create your Desktop - i.e. make a folder called 'Desktop', in C:\Users\YourName\'.
3. Copy or move all your old desktop files from the Dropbox folder called 'My PC blah blah whatever \ Desktop' to your actual Desktop. This will get your desktop back, and Dropbox will no longer sync it, because it will be looking at the 'My PC' files.
4. Do steps 2-3 for the Downloads and Documents folders.
5. Get coffee.
For extra info: I've now tried unlinking / re-linking and un/re-installing to set up Dropbox from scratch, but it keeps syncing my desktop (downloads etc) even when I tell it not to.
Hi there
Take a look at the post here: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-files-folders/How-can-I-turn-off-the-automatic-computer-back-up-feature/td-p/404895
To turn off this setting, please follow the steps below:
- Click the Dropbox icon in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).
- Click your profile picture or initials.
- Click Preferences.
- Click the Import tab.
- Click Manage backup.
- Uncheck the folders you'd like to remove from Dropbox or toggle all files to Off.
Hope it helps!
Regards
Casper
This deos not seem to work. After unchecking the boxes, the Submit button is grayed out and will not allow me to proceed without at least 1 item checked. So annoying.
I dont have a preferences option on my initial. Now what?
- Walter
Dropbox Staff
Hi there MAYA77; I'm sorry to jump in here, but are you sure you're accessing the app's preferences through the system tray/menu bar?
Hi Caspar,
Like I said in my post, I do not see an 'import' tab. I have also just un/re-linked and un/re-installed for a second time, and it is still doing it, even when I explicitly uncheck that option in the setup. Do you know any other way to do it?
This is all I see.
OK.
Click on Preferences, Backups, Manage backup, and you should be able to untick the folders you do not want to have backed up. Then click Save.
Take a look at this too: https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/computer-backup
Hope it helps.
Regards
Casper
Thanks Casper
I just tried this and I think it has worked for me and all my stuff is where it was before I went into the rabbit hole that is Dropbox.
