We're making changes to the Community, so you may have received some notifications - thanks for your patience and welcome back. Learn more here.

Forum Discussion

TimP's avatar
TimP
Helpful | Level 5
6 years ago

What's the best way to back up the Dropbox folder if I don't have enough space to sync all files?

Hello, I'm using Dropbox Business with Smart Sync. I would like to brckup my entire dropbox to an external hardware (alternative ideas welcome). According to Dropbox support I would have to: ...
Desktop
dropbox business
Security
Team admin
  • Jane's avatar
    Jane
    6 years ago
    I appreciate it that you circled back to us here Tim (TimP), let me clarify matters in a bit more detail for you below!
     
    I simply don't have enough space. I was hoping there is a way to download the entire content from the website.
     
    Please bear in mind that by suggesting the Dropbox folder move to your external hard drive, I meant the remaining folder after unlinking (which is just a simple folder as any other on your OS). This essentially implies that if you had chosen to exclude any of your content from syncing to your desktop, this will also be eliminated when you move files/ folder from your internal to your external drive. If you decide to follow my advice, it will be the same as if you downloaded your content in smaller chunks (i.e. via the website). 
     
    In other words, you can sync your files to your desktop utilizing Selective Sync; once you get all folder structures you’d need to backup fully synced, you can unlink & then safely move the folders to your external hard drive to back them up. 
     
    From there, you can re-install the desktop application anew changing the Selective Sync settings in order to get going with the second backup batch &c. 
     
    I hope that this illustrates my point a bit more clearly; please let me know if you have any follow-up questions! 
TimP's avatar
TimP
Helpful | Level 5

Thanks Jane,
I use the dropbox on my desktop (not in browser). I use smart sync, so it's not all stored locally. However, I do work with my files locally as you described (I guess that is the point of dropbox). I would like to add an extra level of security and backup my files to an external hardware once a week. I do not want to run dropbox from an external hard drive.

I use Mac w/ macOS Mojave Version 10.14.3.

Thanks!

 

Rich's avatar
Rich
Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
6 years ago

There's no need to change the location of your Dropbox folder if all you're doing is backing up your Dropbox. You would only do that if your intent was to move the Dropbox folder to a new location permanently.

You do, however, need to have all your files local before you could copy them to another location for backup. There's really no other alternative. If your files aren't local, they don't exist on teh computer to be backed up. The only other thing you could do is download them from the website, but you'd have to do that in batches, and it would be a manual process.

  • TimP's avatar
    TimP
    Helpful | Level 5
    6 years ago

    Thanks for your reply.

    Yes I understand that in order to copy them to another drive they would have to be local. I simply don't have enough space. I was hoping there is a way to download the entire content from the website. I'm not sure why that doesn't work and would have to be in badges.

    At this point I guess there is no (safe) way to backup the dropbox. If anyone has ever backed up their dropbox and / or if there is a feature  / way that is designed to do so (could be another software solution) please let me know.

    • Etienne2's avatar
      Etienne2
      Helpful | Level 6
      6 years ago

      I would like to to exacty like you:

      I would like to download the entire content from the webiste directly.

      I don't understand why we can't do that.

      • Jane's avatar
        Jane
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        6 years ago
        Hey Etienne2, while you should be able to download a folder (or more) using our website as long as the content is less than 20 GB in total size & it contains less than 10,000 total files, I’m wondering if you’ve enabled Smart Sync for some files or you’ve already synced your content to your device; please let me know in your next message if possible. If the latter is happening Etienne, then you should be able to move a copy of your Dropbox folder as you would do with any other local file. 
         
        Additionally, if you don’t mind me asking, can you clarify how many files you’ve currently stored on your Dropbox account online? 
         
        Please have a look at my recommendations at your earliest convenience & let me know how you get on with my advice or if I’ve misunderstood your inquiry in any way in your next reply here. Thanks & enjoy the rest of your day! 
    • Jane's avatar
      Jane
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
      6 years ago
      I appreciate it that you circled back to us here Tim (TimP), let me clarify matters in a bit more detail for you below!
       
      I simply don't have enough space. I was hoping there is a way to download the entire content from the website.
       
      Please bear in mind that by suggesting the Dropbox folder move to your external hard drive, I meant the remaining folder after unlinking (which is just a simple folder as any other on your OS). This essentially implies that if you had chosen to exclude any of your content from syncing to your desktop, this will also be eliminated when you move files/ folder from your internal to your external drive. If you decide to follow my advice, it will be the same as if you downloaded your content in smaller chunks (i.e. via the website). 
       
      In other words, you can sync your files to your desktop utilizing Selective Sync; once you get all folder structures you’d need to backup fully synced, you can unlink & then safely move the folders to your external hard drive to back them up. 
       
      From there, you can re-install the desktop application anew changing the Selective Sync settings in order to get going with the second backup batch &c. 
       
      I hope that this illustrates my point a bit more clearly; please let me know if you have any follow-up questions! 
      • michelemx's avatar
        michelemx
        New member | Level 2
        5 years ago

        HI Jane,

        Ive read your suggestions re backing up Dropbox but have some further questions.

        My current Dropbox is approximately 450gb (out of 2 TB).  I recently bought a new laptop with 500 gb hard drive.  On my new laptop I have installed Dropbox but all files are set to online as I dont want to fill up my new laptop. I have a 5TB external hard drive that I would like to use to back up my Dropbox files. I also would like to synch my drop box with the HDD as I work.

        Is this possible? 

        all the best,

        Michele

About Storage Space

Looking for help with managing the storage space in your Dropbox account? Talk to the Dropbox Community and get advice from members.

Need more support

If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X or Facebook.

For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.

If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!