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Forum Discussion

ostbeyer's avatar
ostbeyer
New member | Level 2
3 years ago

How to migrate a Dropbox folder from one PC to another?

Dear all,

 

I have a shared physical Dropbox folder on my old PC with all the "original" data in it, which is synchronized with the Dropbox cloud storage.

Now this PC is broken and I want to physically migrate this shared Dropbox folder to my new PC.

How can I do that?

When I log into Dropbox on  my new PC I can only access the Dropbox cloud storage but the data is not physically on my hard drive (which is what I want).

 

Thank you very much!

 

Kind regards,

ostbeyer

  • Rich's avatar
    Rich
    3 years ago

    ostbeyer wrote:

    But in order to download the files automatically, I first need to designate a location on the hard disk, don't I?

    But where do I do that?


    When you install the Dropbox application it will create a Dropbox folder in your user profile, though you have the option to select a different location during the install process.

  • Rich's avatar
    Rich
    Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II

    ostbeyer wrote:

    ... I want to physically migrate this shared Dropbox folder to my new PC. How can I do that?


    The easy method is to just install the Dropbox application on the PC and sign in to your account. All of your files will sync to your computer automatically.

     

    If you're looking to actually move an existing Dropbox folder from one computer to another it can be done, though it's more technical. If that's what you want to do, let me know, though I suggest you just install the application and let it download your files automatically.

    • ostbeyer's avatar
      ostbeyer
      New member | Level 2

      But in order to download the files automatically, I first need to designate a location on the hard disk, don't I?

      But where do I do that?

      • Rich's avatar
        Rich
        Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II

        ostbeyer wrote:

        But in order to download the files automatically, I first need to designate a location on the hard disk, don't I?

        But where do I do that?


        When you install the Dropbox application it will create a Dropbox folder in your user profile, though you have the option to select a different location during the install process.

  • catstepmum's avatar
    catstepmum
    Explorer | Level 3

    I've got a new MacBookPro, and the migration of everything - even my screen saver - from my old one was surprisingly easy. Except for Dropbox. My Dropbox on the new computer was empty. So I had to save an important folder I'm currently working on onto a hard drive, rename it and transfer into the new Dropbox I was forced to create on the new computer, and ask the co-editors I'd shared it with to share the new folder instead. Now I've been told by Dropbox that it will disappear tomorrow unless I start paying them. I am retired and do this journal editing on a voluntary basis. I'm not keen to have to pay. 

    • Megan's avatar
      Megan
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

      Hi catstepmum, let's jump right into this! 

       

      Is it possible that you're using two different Dropbox accounts: your old one, on the old device and a newly-created one, on the new device? 

       

      What is the app's syncing status right now? You also mentioned something about a message that Dropbox would "disappear" tomorrow, can you let me know more about this message, or notification and even send a screenshot too?

       

      Let me know more!

      • catstepmum's avatar
        catstepmum
        Explorer | Level 3

        Dear Megan,

        Thanks for responding.

        I clearly am using two Dropbox accounts, but I don't know why - why was the Dropbox empty when everything else migrated to my new Mac? I don't know what is meant by syncing status or how I'd find out. I've taken a screenshot of the message about expiration. 

        Yours,

        Ann