You might see that the Dropbox Community team have been busy working on some major updates to the Community itself! So, here is some info on what’s changed, what’s staying the same and what you can expect from the Dropbox Community overall.

Forum Discussion

ECB's avatar
ECB
Explorer | Level 3
2 years ago

Dropbox folders appearing on desktop

Hi, I have a new laptop and I set up the drop box to sync files. On my new computer all the folders and files in my drop box are appearing on my desktop.  In file explorer, I click on Drop box icon...
Account Settings
Desktop
Hannah's avatar
Hannah
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

Hey ECB, thanks for writing to our Community!

 

You mentioned that you don't want your Dropbox files and folders to be cluttering your desktop, but that you want to click the Dropbox icon to access them in your file explorer.

 

Do you mean that you'd like to see their names, but you don't want them to take up space on your computer?

 

If so, are you on a paid Dropbox subscription? If you are, you can use the steps here, to make your files online-only, to stop them from taking up your space.

 

Let me know if I misunderstood your request, or if you have any questions.

ECB's avatar
ECB
Explorer | Level 3
2 years ago

Hi @Hannah 

I am currently a Basic User. On my old laptop I think the Dropbox folder was under MyDocuments.

I think you've understood what I'm talking about. On my old laptop, when logged in as a basic user, I have a dropbox icon on the desktop > I click on this and it takes me into the folders and files I have on drop box. 

I seem on my new laptop to have both - a dropbox icon on my desktop > I click on this and it takes me to the folders and files I have on drop box. 

I also seem to have the same on C:\Users\***\Dropbox. i wonder if I've duplicated it some how? 

I'm worried if I delete one of them, it will delete it in both locations

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    2 years ago

    Hey ECB, would you be able to send me a couple of screenshots of the icons and paths, in order for me to have a full visual? 

     

    Having your Dropbox icon on your desktop is expected. You mentioned that on your new laptop you seem to have both, can you let me know what you're referring to? 

     

    Is it possible that you're referring to the path of your Dropbox folder? 

    • ECB's avatar
      ECB
      Explorer | Level 3
      2 years ago

      Megan Thank you for the offer. Here are the screen shots of my old laptop and my new laoptop. 

      Is this what you were asking for? Many thanks!

      New laptop New laptop desktop with dropbox icon AND files foldersnew laptop explorer view with drop boxnew laptop dropbox properties location tabold laptop dropbox properties location tabold laptop explorer view with dropbox iconold laptop desktop with drop box icon

       

      • Hannah's avatar
        Hannah
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        2 years ago

        Thanks for these screenshots, ECB!

         

        From what I can understand from them, it seems that on your new computer, you've enabled our backup feature, which backs up your desktop files to Dropbox.

         

        Is this something you intended to do, when you installed Dropbox on your new computer?

About Settings and Preferences

The Dropbox Community is here to help if you have questions about your account settings and preferences. Learn and share advice with 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!