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Forum Discussion
Turning on dropbox backup but folder name is weird
I had tested the Dropbox Backup feature in the past so I know that when turned on my Computers should be added as My Mac (Unique Mac Name). I decided to turn it back on again when setting up two new ...
OK, they are finally rolling up a Beta update for Dropbox Backup that will let you rename and I was able to do it! You can do go through Dropbox Backup in the app, disable the backups on all the computers there, and then restart them. Then, re-enable backups and it should move you over to beta so you can now rename things!
After I reinstalled my pc, it create a new folder named PC2, and the previous folder PC I can't change its name, nor I can delete it. Does anyone have a solution?
Hi, I am trying this new Dropbox Backup feature, and I'm noticing that a directory was created with a name I didn't choose, namely:
My Mac (123.dhcp.myisp.com).
I would like this to be something like My Mac (laptop), instead of the default name.
I noticed that my Desktop folder was moved in there and the actual Desktop folder is now a symlink pointing to Desktop in My Mac (123.dhcp.mysip.com), and while I could rename it and fix the symlink, it seems like this may cause issues with Dropbox looking at the wrong places in the future, e.g. when adding/removing backup folders at the very least.
Is there a way to rename this without causing issues?
Thanks.
I have a few question about Dropbox.
First, how can I rename "My Mac (xy)" featured Folders, because I had two Mac folders, a MacBook Pro, and an Air, so I want to change it to: My Mac ( Pro) and My Mac ( Air). (because its looks like cool)
Thanks for help!
I'm having this issue as well. Tried all these steps and still it's naming it "Andys-MacBook-2" because previously there was another "Andys-MacBook" on the network. I've since renamed the second computer and removed the 2 but Dropbox is still naming the backup folder with it. Can't figure out a solution.
- Lusil
Dropbox Staff
Hey marioshadj, let's see what we can do on this.
Since the computer backup feature creates a folder named after your device's name, you can try the following steps to see if they do the trick:
- Turn off the computer backup feature.
- Unlink the device from your Security tab.
- Rename your computer to what you want it to be called.
- Sign in again with your account.
- Make sure that the computer backup feature is enabled.
Let me know how it goes, thanks!
PS. I
Hi Lusil,
Thank you for the suggestion.
I had renamed my computer and restarted dropbox initially to try it out but that did not work, and it looks like it only looks at the name of the computer when I linked dropbox.
I assumed that what you suggested could work, though that would mean I have to set-up all the specific folders I want to sync on my laptop all over again, which is a bit of an overkill for such a simple rename :(
I understand that this is a "beta" feature, would it make sense to have an option to rename a device in the preferences?
Ugh, same problem. its pegging my main PC as PC2 after a format/upgrade to windows 11. unlinked everythign from my dropbox account, restarted and tried to set it up again.
guess i wont be using that.
can win with cloud services. tried putting libraries in onedrive but stuff just gets perpetually stuck on sync so figured id shift gears and come to dropbox. nope, dropbox has to sequester things off in their own "PC" folder and on top of that they have to append numbers and you cant change whatever it decides.
good times. local backups it is.so is a plan in the works to address this behavior? what happens when i format again? PC3? then i build a new pc to replace this one, PC4?
Its kind of important to address this. some people have a whole slew of scripts that run based on paths and locations and once youre entrenched having crazy names appended to the same environment that are unchangeable and unremovable is absurd at best. I was able to swallow the murder of symlinks but this one is preventing me from using it altogether.Just posting as it's October 2022 now and Dropbox STILL hasn't even bothered to touch this issue. Setup DB from scratch, added backup for my mac (which is called MikeMBP), and I get a backup named "Mac". Helpful...
- HannahHey SNANA51832, thanks for letting us know about this.
The 'PC' and 'PC(2)' folders mean that you have enabled the computer backup feature on two connected PCs, but the backup folder name cannot be changed.
Can you clarify what you mean when you say that you reinstalled your PC?
Did you update your operating system or did you just reinstall Dropbox on it?
And, are you seeing two backup folders for the same PC or do these two folders contain different desktop files?
Keep me posted.I reinstalled my operating system a few days ago and these two folders are not visible to me and show up on the new one as the PC folder. You can see the picture here.https://imgur.com/gallery/mGhrwen
But in dropbox, it will show this.https://imgur.com/5XcXvfi
After I reinstalled my operating system, I move all my desktop files from PC to PC2.So the PC folder is empty.And I can't delete it nor can i rename the PC2 folder.
And the dropbox desktop software will contain a PC2 folder.https://imgur.com/ka8UPxN
Look forward to your favourable reply.
- JayThanks for the info, SNANA51832, this is related to the computer backup feature.
Could you check if the old computer has been removed from the list of devices on this page?
