Be able to change Dropbox backup folders names

[rfog]

Add possibility of rename Backup folders. If you have only one computer, it go fine, but if you have more than one, it ends being very confussing. Due iCloud Drive issues, I've changed all of my Macs "synchronized" Desktop and Documents to Dropbox. However, take a look to the picture: 

It is very difficult to guess what is what. With the possibility to rename them, I could have named "My iMac", "My MBP 13", "My MBP 15". Very easy to see what is what.

(As a workaround, we can change to detail view, but could be more easy for all of us be able to change the names).

[Walter]

Hi all, I just wanted to let you know that the team is working on this idea!

Some backups and backup folders are currently able to be renamed, and we are working to upgrade all backups to have similar functionality

Thanks for sharing your suggestion with us and to everyone for supporting it.

[DarrelFrancis]

Even if it turns out to be impossible to allow renaming for technical reasons, perhaps you could allow us to give "nicknames" to each backup, shown alongside the main "Mac (x)" name? That would solve most of the frustration, without needing to resolve name collisions etc, which I assume is the holdup on your side. What I mean is, if a user gives two computers the same nickname, that is their fault, and it is reversible by them, since you are still using your "Mac (x)" as the main name.

[olarra]

https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Create-upload-and-share/Help-renaming-the-My-Mac-computer-name-local...

[mismamari]

Hi Dropbox Team,

Thank you so much for working on this improvement so we can all finally rename our Dropbox Backup folders.

All the best,

Mari

[andrumatt]

Some people in the chain seem to have this ability activated already. I still do not see any way for me to change the backup names. Is there a how-to available?

Thank you!

[chuckwi11]

As a long time user... It has taken far too long to give back something that was taken away!

[mismamari]

Hi @andrumatt and fellow Dropbox Backup users!

Prior to renaming, I removed Dropbox from my old MacBook, stopped syncing on my new MacBook Air, and closed the Dropbox app.

Then, I found the Backup "Rename" feature by clicking:

• Dropbox Desktop menu bar icon
• Profile photo
• Preference
• Backups
• Manage backups
• Rename (under Manage Backups)

Lastly, I deleted my old backup "Mac (2)" and that seemed to be the end of it for now.

Note: I noticed the "Dropbox Backup Beta" label on the top left, so maybe this is rolling out in waves if you're not seeing it right now.

—Mari

[klepp0906]

is there no way to force access to this feature?  I tried enabling/disabling the backup option as the article about it suggests, but all that resulted in was me having to uninstall/reinstall dropbox and muck around in my registry to fix the mess it created of the user shell folders.   that and now wait a zillion years for the files to re-index. 

upon reinstalling i enabled early-access features in my account and downloaded the newest offline beta version installer.   still no dropbox backup beta. 

really eager to finally, for once and for all move my libraries out of the dropbox folder, fix all my file pathings that point there, and back up proper; with a proper pc name to boot.  it'll be great!

I assume the rollout isnt like.. mac only right? o.O

[andrumatt]

Thanks, @mismamari ! I followed your instructions and was able to get both my computers backing up with the rename feature available.

The essential step was shutting DropBox down completely and relaunching. Without that step it wouldn't work on either machine. Even after stopping backups on both machines and getting Rename working on one, it was not available on the other until I shut down and relaunched the DropBox app.

[mismamari]

You're welcome @andrumatt! Glad I could help. 🙌🏻

[seattle-beth]

It's been 3 months since we heard from Dropbox that they're considering implementing this feature - can we get a status update? I'd love to have a less confusing list of backups . . . . the autonaming setup is not great. Thank you!