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User134679's avatar
User134679
Helpful | Level 6
5 years ago

I uninstalled the desktop app, but the Dropbox folder is still on my computer. Any help?

Hi!

 

I have problem with uninstalling dropbox from my computer... One day a donwload it because i need sync documents between my devices but in this time i dont need it. So i go to start panel and right click dropbox and click "Uninstall" so dropbox uninstall sucefully but in my computer is styll file "Dropbox" but when I try to delete it, it starts deleting my desktop, documents and a lot of other files so I stop it before it starts deleting it. And so I want to ask is there any way to delete the folder so that all my files do not have Location: "C: Users / user / dropbox / My Pc / ....." so that it is again as before installation (C: Users / user / .....)

I have already uninstalled dropbox and deleted my account, but still the folder is still there, I tried to install dropbox again and then uninstall but still nothing ....

Thank you for your support

 

 

 

  • Thanks for that User134679, and for sticking with me here while we look into this!

     

    Let's try manually resetting the default folder location for the Desktop folder. You can exit out of the desktop app setup by quitting the app before taking these steps.

     

    To do this, please navigate to the Desktop folder in File Explorer (not the folder in Dropbox) and then:

    1. Right click the Desktop folder
    2. Choose "Properties"
    3. Go to the "Locations" tab
    4. Choose to reset to default location.

    This will reset the folder location to ensure that it's in the correct location. Once you've done this, can you let me know if you have the same issue when moving the desktop files from Dropbox to the actual Desktop?

     

    If so, please try the previous suggestion once more to reinstall the desktop app and enable the backup.

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

    Hi there User134679, I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with this!

     

    From what you've mentioned, the computer backup feature was enabled during the initial install of the app.

     

    Since you've uninstalled the app from your computer, it should have now been disabled. Can you try moving the content of the "Dropbox > My PC > Downloads/Desktop/Documents" folders to another location on your computer?

     

    Just to note, when you uninstall the Dropbox app on your computer, the Dropbox folder will remain on your computer but will no longer sync and will just be like any other folder on your computer.

     

    Let me know how it goes!

    • User134679's avatar
      User134679
      Helpful | Level 6

      I thing sync files with dropbox is not disablet because i still have file with name "My files in dropbox" and when i delete one file from it, it delete too in my computer..

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

        Thanks for getting back to me here User134679!

         

        The "My files in Dropbox" should be a shortcut to the files within the Dropbox folder.

         

        Can you let me know if you can move the files from there to another location on your computer, like drag and drop them to your Desktop?

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

    Thanks for that User134679, and for sticking with me here while we look into this!

     

    Let's try manually resetting the default folder location for the Desktop folder. You can exit out of the desktop app setup by quitting the app before taking these steps.

     

    To do this, please navigate to the Desktop folder in File Explorer (not the folder in Dropbox) and then:

    1. Right click the Desktop folder
    2. Choose "Properties"
    3. Go to the "Locations" tab
    4. Choose to reset to default location.

    This will reset the folder location to ensure that it's in the correct location. Once you've done this, can you let me know if you have the same issue when moving the desktop files from Dropbox to the actual Desktop?

     

    If so, please try the previous suggestion once more to reinstall the desktop app and enable the backup.

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

        I'm very glad to hear that User134679!

         

        I'll just be a post away if you have any other questions or issues. 😁

         

        I hope you have a great rest of your week!

    • S_e_hicks's avatar
      S_e_hicks
      New member | Level 2
      Following your exact instructions has left me with no access my desktop (desktop doesn’t exist?????) and I seem to have most very valuable work data.

      So now what??

      Dropbox backup when it takes over your PC is the worst thing and tbh immoral

      I’m screwed
      • Lusil's avatar
        Lusil
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        Hey S_e_hicks, thanks for nudging us here and sorry to hear about this. 

        Do you see the files that you're looking for in your account when you navigate through the desktop app?

        If you don't have the desktop app installed anymore, do you see them via the web?
    • Larsn's avatar
      Larsn
      Helpful | Level 6

      I have exactly the same problem as @User134679. I had Dropbox installed because I had a few files I wanted replicated to another device. Then for some reason, the backup feature got turned on, and when trying to stop this I have the same mess with files in one place and links from another.

      However, I can't find a Locations tab in the Desktop Properties to make the suggested change.

      • Jay's avatar
        Jay
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        Hi Larsn, just to check, is the Dropbox desktop application disabled according to the desktop app?

        Have you already uninstalled the app? Does the device appear on this page?