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Forum Discussion
Uninstall Dropbox App from PC and start over
I recently bought a new Windows 11 desktop. At the same time I upgraded Dropbox to 2T so I could offload some files from the PC. I oved about 250GB to an external SSD. I installed the dropbox app and it suggested setting up a backup. I did that and and identified the folders I set up on the SSD and uploaded the files. At the same time it created a copy of them all on my PC C: drive - exactly what I didn't want to do. When I click the Dropbox app icon I simply end up in the Windows file manager looking at the Drobox folder. I can't find settings, nothing.
The critical part is that when I deleted the files on my PC they were deleted on Dropbox and had to be restored. I restored everything I could find but a critical subdirectory did not return. I am in the process of uploading it but I doubt it will be in the backup list after I do.
I really need to start over from scratch. If I can get the critical files uploaded for safekeeping can I just uninstall the Desktop app without that blowing everything away on Dropbox?
I think I have solved this problem. We can close this exchange and I will start another conversation if needed. It looks like my problems came about because I couldn't access the Dropbox app. I would follow the instruction to click on the Dropbox symbol but every time I did, no matter where I found the symbol, I ended up in file manager. I finally found another Dropbox symbol in the hidden icons section of the task bar and was able to get at the settings. I moved the Dropbox folder off my PC and on to my removable drive. And I set it to keep my large backups offline only. That seems to have worked. My space is available on C; and Dropbox is only taking up minimal space on my external drive. I may eventually move the Dropbox folder back to C if behaves well and seems likely to remain more accessible on C:
- Jay
Dropbox Staff
IIRC, I initially clicked on backup the PC documents. After getting a message from Dropbox about potential conflicts with One Drive, I realized was a mistake and unsynched it. The window you directed me to shows New Volume > status done, 258GB; and PC > status unlinked. That seemes right to me.
Unfortunately, the new volume backup is also download to my PC in the dropbox folder. That is what I would like to clear out.
- Jay
The external drive backup shouldn't appear in the Dropbox folder on your machine. If it does, it would only be a shortcut to the backup visible on the site.
Could you attach a screenshot showing the external drive backup taking up space on your machine?
