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Forum Discussion

AmandaNT's avatar
AmandaNT
New member | Level 2
7 years ago

Move some files from Dropbox to external drive, and then delete those files from my account

I have 140GB of files which I need to pass on to another designer via an external hard drive. How do I take everything off my Dropbox (I won't need them anymore) and put them onto an external drive for them? I then want to unsync all these client files so they are not part of my dropbox anymore. The other designer does not have/need dropbox.

 

Thanks,

Amanda

Delete
Sync
  • Elixir's avatar
    Elixir
    7 years ago

    Hello Amanda,

     

    I imagine you are syncing the files to your computer hard disc. You can copy the files/folders from your computer hard drive to the external hard drive. Dropbox folder is just like any other folder in your computer, whatever you save inside the Dropbox folder, it is replicated in the Dropbox cloud and any other connected devices. If you no longer required those files, you may delete those files from your computer, and it will be deleted from Dropbox cloud, so would not take up space anymore.

     

    However, note that if it is a shared folder with others, the files will also be removed from their Dropbox account/devices. If you do not want that way, please get back to us. There are ways to unshare a folder, and remove the files only from your Dropbox account, but not from other members. 

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

    Hello Amanda,

     

    I imagine you are syncing the files to your computer hard disc. You can copy the files/folders from your computer hard drive to the external hard drive. Dropbox folder is just like any other folder in your computer, whatever you save inside the Dropbox folder, it is replicated in the Dropbox cloud and any other connected devices. If you no longer required those files, you may delete those files from your computer, and it will be deleted from Dropbox cloud, so would not take up space anymore.

     

    However, note that if it is a shared folder with others, the files will also be removed from their Dropbox account/devices. If you do not want that way, please get back to us. There are ways to unshare a folder, and remove the files only from your Dropbox account, but not from other members. 

  • frogtoastie's avatar
    frogtoastie
    New member | Level 2
    7 years ago

    Simply cut and paste the files from your dropbox to the external hard drive.. this will add them all to the drive and remove them from DB at the same time :-) 

    • sigridbwallace's avatar
      sigridbwallace
      New member | Level 2
      7 years ago

      how do you access the cut feature in dropbox? when right cliking a file the cut option is not there

      • Lusil's avatar
        Lusil
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        7 years ago
         
        Are you trying this from the Dropbox folder on your computer? If so, please note that you should be able to do this as you would for any other folder. 
         
        If you’re trying to do have a file that’s on the website available in a folder on your computer, you’d have to download the file/folder in question and save it locally. You can do this by following the steps below:
        1. Sign in via the website. 
        2. Click on Files. 
        3. Hover over a file/folder so as to allow the box on the left-hand side to appear - click on the box to select the file in question. 
        4. Click Download that should appear as an option on the right-hand side of your screen.  
        If this doesn’t resolve your concern, please provide a bit more info on the matter and send a screenshot of the behavior you’re experiencing (omitting personal info) so as to have a better understanding of what you're seeing. 
         
        Thanks in advance! :grin:
    • goldenlightmeg's avatar
      goldenlightmeg
      New member | Level 2
      6 years ago

      This does not work for me, on a mac desktop. Neither does drag and drop?

       

      • Lusil's avatar
        Lusil
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        6 years ago
        Hey goldenlightmeg, since, as mentioned previously, the Dropbox folder is just like any other folder on your computer, copy-pasting or cut-pasting can be carried out as you would in any other folder. 
         
        Having said that, could you please elaborate on what’s not working for you? Are you getting any errors? If so, any screenshots (omitting personal info) would be very helpful. Thanks in advance! :slight_smile:

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