Establish same dropbox folders on two computers

[norm3]

My wife has two computers.

One has been using Dropbox. The other didn't but I just added the Dropbox app and selected the main folders to sync via Dropbox.

But now I realize that those folders I selected are not exactly the same as on her "main" computer and the ones that are the same are starting with different files. Did I screw up?

How do I get the two computers matched up with the same folders syncing through Dropbox?

Thank you.

[Hannah]

Hey @norm3, thanks for reaching out!

Is it possible that on the second computer you signed in using a different Dropbox account's credentials? Try checking the 'account' tab in the Dropbox application's preferences, to make sure.

Also, did you maybe enable the computer backup feature on the second computer, which backs up the Documents, Desktop and Downloads folder of the computer to Dropbox?

Is there a 'My PC/My Mac (computer name)' folder in her Dropbox folder now?

Let me know what you find!

[norm3]

Thank you for helping.

The user is correct but yes I did set up the new computer with the computer backup feature. On her main computer, there is now a folder in the Dropbox folder with the travel computer name and those 3 folders within.

[Hannah]

OK, no worries, if you don't want these desktop folders to be backed up to Dropbox, you can disable computer backup and move those files back to their original locations.

Are the rest of the files (not the desktop ones) the same on both computers?

[norm3]

But if I'd like them backed up on both computers, how would I do that?

And is there a way so they don't show as folders withing a folder as currently on her main Mac. Right now they show within the Dropbox folders and within a folder titled "On My Mac" plus I believe the name of that computer.

I'm not sure what you mean by "are the rest of the files the same....". Do you mean overall or withing the Dropbox folders on both?

Thanks much for this assistance. Really appreciate..... And my wife does too. 😉 LOL

[Hannah · Accepted solution]

Happy to help you both, and thanks for the update on this!

When using the computer backup feature, the structure of the backed up folders can't change, I'm afraid, they need to be in the Dropbox folder in the "My Mac/My PC" folders.

And if you have two connected computers and enable computer backup on one of them, the files will also appear in the Dropbox folder of the other connected computer. 

As for the rest of the files, I mean within the Dropbox folders on both!

[norm3]

Thank you.

In order for those three backed up folders to sync, always be the same, on the two computers, do I select the computer backup feature on both computers?

And is there an easy way to make sure the two computers are "Connected computers"?

Yes, within the Dropbox folders all the data appears to be identical.

Thanks again.

[Hannah]

No worries!

That's true, if you want the Desktop, Documents and Downloads folders of both computers to sync to your Dropbox account, the computer backup feature needs to be enabled on both computers. 

You can check the devices that are connected to your Dropbox account, in the security tab of your account settings.