Desktop, Downloads and Document folders have disappeared on macbook after uninstalling dropbox

[tomikobako]

Hi all, 

I recently moved all my files in Desktop, Downloads and Document folders to iCloud to back them up before uninstalling dropbox. As soon as I uninstalled dropbox, these folders have disappeared on macbook, only their alias exist on the macbook. When I look at the same folders in iCloud, it is empty. Perhaps I didn't unsynch Dropbox from my macbook before uninstalling, and my folders are somehow still in my Dropbox account (which I don't know how to access now)? 

I can see there are similar but not exactly the same queries here. The other queries and their solutions doesn't seem to apply to my sad case. Help and suggestions much appreciated. Thank you. 

[tomikobako]

Hi Hannah,

Thanks - the back ups automatically happened between my Mac and Dropbox after reinstall. I was then able to untick the folders that I wanted back on my Mac and that worked. I can now use my Downloads, Documents and Desktop folders on my Mac and the backups have been disabled.
I guess I’ll just leave Dropbox there… it seems unsafe to delete the app?

[Walter]

If you made sure that the Backup is disabled now, you should be safe to uninstall the desktop app if you like as outlined here.

Let us know if you have any other questions @tomikobako 

[tomikobako]

Hi Walter,

Thanks for the reply, I made sure backups were disabled then “quit” Dropbox from the menu bar. But when I dragged Dropbox from Finder menu to trash, it said it couldn’t because some “extensions are being used”. Every so often Dropbox will reactivate(?) and I notice it because suddenly my Mac goes very very slow. I quit Dropbox again from menu bar and Mac operates at normal speed. ?

[Jay]

Hi @tomikobako, could you try quitting all open applications and anything running in the menu bar, including the Dropbox desktop application, and then try uninstalling the app using the steps my colleague suggested, to ensure no other apps are trying to use the service?