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Forum Discussion
How can I stop Dropbox from deleting my files?
How can I stop dropbox from
- Deleting files from my PC
- Deleting files in backup?
Dropbox keeps deleting files from my laptop & in the back up . I dont want ANY files deleted on my PC I want to keep them on laptop and just backed up I certainly dont want any deleted ? What setting do I need for this?
It makes me feel sick to think what's been deleted Accounts, Important documents, Photos, treasured memories
- Walter
Dropbox Staff
Hi there JaneUp2nowt - sorry to hear about this.
Could you please let us know your computer's OS version and the version and status of the Dropbox desktop app as shown in your system tray?
When it comes to the deletions you mentioned, can you have a look at your events page and let us know how they're logged there?
Any additional information or even screenshots are more than welcome!
Hi
Thanks for reply
The question was how do I STOP dropbox deleting files from my laptop. I just want dropbox to back up files not delete them from my laptop? Its deleted files like business/bank accounts files etc? Plus its removed files from my laptop and backed them up to dropbox ...several spreadsheets etc have been wiped from laptop & Dropbox . (Sole director of former micro business here... )
It looks like I've lost many important files ... or would you have a way of retrieving files ... I hate to see the 'where are my files' link feels like dropbox has wiped them from my laptop ? Dropbox should gove different options of how documents are backed up?
I have an HP Envy Laptop Windows 11 Home- Mark
Super User II
Dropbox cannot delete files unless its told to do so. It simply isn't possible.
Theres a few things that could be the issue here.
Firstly remember Dropbox is a syncing tool. So what you do to the files in Dropbox replicate everywhere to all other connected computers and devices. That means if you edit files on machine A it will update them to B and C etc. Same if you delete - if you delete from C it will also delete from A and B.
Secondly Dropbox only works on files inside of its own directory. So if you copy/paste things in to Dropbox it will ONLY update files inside that directory - it has no link or connection to those in other places. Hence if you change files in My Documents it wont change it in Dropbox (or vice-versa) if you have previously copied over.
Thirdly if you set up Dropbox Backups it moves things around on your machine BUT creates links back to where they were. Have a look at https://help.dropbox.com/organize/dropbox-backup-overview for more info on that one.
You can also restore things deleted via https://help.dropbox.com/delete-restore/recover-deleted-files-folders
