My Desktop has been moved into Dropbox, what can I do to remove it?

[Alexesg]

I did an update for dropbox and it wanted to merge folders with my desktop. Didn't read much into it and now I wiped my laptop. I had very important work on it too. Please help 😕

[Megan]

Hey @Alexesg, let's see what we can find on this! 

I believe you must be referring to our Computer backup, right? Here are the steps if you want to disable it, and move your content back. 

If you have more questions, let me know. 

[yasminwest]

I have uninstalled Dropbox from my Mac as I no longer use it. In doing so, I no longer have access to my desktop, documents and downloads file and an error message pops up very time I try to open them. I have spoken with Apple support and they do not have the resources to help me and have said this is something that needs to be resolved on Dropboxes side. They have informed me that this is called a broken dropbox symlink or symbolic link. I have restarted and reinstalled my Mac software and this is something that needs to be resolved on Dropboxes side.

[soonerjaj]

I received a forced update a few days ago and afterward, my photo library on my desktop has disappeared and I'm not sure how to proceed and I can't get a response from tech support.  Any help would be appreciated.

[Megan]

Hi @yasminwest & @soonerjaj, welcome to our Community!

Could you check to see if you are currently using the Dropbox Backup feature? It seems you might have accidentally enabled it.

Your Backup page should give you a hint on this. 

This will help me to assist further!

[soonerjaj]

Thank you for the quick response.  I was using Backup with no issues until this latest update.  I checked my Backup page and it shows current but some of the files moved from "Finder" on my Mac and as preciously mentioned, I have no photo library now.

[Hannah]

Hey @soonerjaj, was this a Dropbox update?

Did you receive a notification on your Dropbox icon asking you to update your Dropbox to Dropbox for macOS?

[soonerjaj]

Yes I did.  And after the update, my photo library disappeared (or was moved and I can't find it)

[Hannah]

I see. Was your photos library backed up to Dropbox?

If so, with this version of the app, the photos library isn't supported, as Apple no longer allows it to be stored over cloud-storage services.

The library should still be on your computer, but you can also contact Apple to see what needs to happen in this case.

[soonerjaj]

Thank you for the reply.

It would have been nice to know that the photos library wouldn't be supported before the update was forced on me by DropBox.  I shouldn't have to contact Apple for a problem created by DropBox.  After 10 years of being a loyal, PAYING, customer, maybe it's time to find a new provider.