Setting up external drive with APFS Format to sync with Dropbox

[Jurij-MacBook2022]

What is the best practice to setting up certain folders within my external APFS hard drive and have them sync with my DropBox? 

This drive is connected to my MacBook Pro M1 processor

[Walter]

Hi there @Jurij-MacBook2022 - thanks for dropping by our Community! 

Could you please clarify if you're already installed the Dropbox desktop app or if you're now setting it up for the first time on this computer?

If it's the former, can you take a look at the app's preferences and let us know the location of your Dropbox folder? 

I'm only asking because if you're using the desktop app for Mac OS on File Provider, I'm afraid moving your Dropbox folder to an external drive isn't supported.

Since you mentioned certain folders, have you considered backing them up to Dropbox instead?

Let us know more and  we'll take it from there, Jurij. 

[Jurij-MacBook2022]

Many thanks for your quick response!

I am using the Dropbox Desktop and I have it installed on my ipad and iPhone. And I can log into my account on any computer to see mostly my pictures and videos.

For example the attachment shows the synch conflict error and I have tried to simply delete that folder on either the MacBook, iPad or iPhone and shortly after I delete it it reappears. 

I have been using dropbox for the past 7 or 8 years and I first started on a Windows PC and then later on an Apple Desktop. It was simple because I synced everything with my computer, iPad and iPhone nicely. 

I know have a 2 year old MacBook and a 5TB external HD and I would like only certain folders to synch. 

[Megan]

Hi from me too @Jurij-MacBook2022!

Did you have the chance to review the document, my colleague @Walter provided about Dropbox Backup, and if that would work for you? 

As for the folder and files you attached here: did you use your mobile or desktop app to delete them, or did you use your account online on the web? 

[Jurij-MacBook2022]

Hi Walter,

Af few days ago I unfortunately erased my external drive and thankfully I have a "carbon copy" app backup from Nov 2023.

In order to retrieve files from my dropbix, how can I tell it to download from dropbox back to my external drive?

And should I be doing this via the Dropbox website?

[Megan]

Hello @Jurij-MacBook2022!

When you say "retrieve" files from your Dropbox to your external drive, do you wish to copy or download some content that you now have inside your Dropbox account, to the drive? 

If so, then you can either use the website in order to download the files to the drive directly. Or if you use the desktop app, you can copy the content from within your Dropbox folder, and paste it into your external drive.

[Jurij-MacBook2022]

Many thanks for your response.

I would simply like to synchronise certain folders from my external drive with Dropbox. Where are the settings for this? And I find that when I delete a file on my external drive it does not delete in the same area of my Dropbox. For my external drive folders I would like to see both an online and offline copy synchronizing. But for my ipad and iPhone can I simply see them online?

[Megan]

In order to sync certain folders from your external drive with Dropbox, you can use these steps. 

If the drive isn't syncing with Dropbox, then it wouldn't delete the file within your Dropbox folder, since they are two different, individual paths and files/folders. 

When you use your iPad, or iPhone, the content isn't stored locally on the device, so technically the content will always be online.