Unable to set up folders for Desktop and Documents on Mac (iCloud Drive)

[oklahoma9]

Hello, 

'Unable to set up folders' is an error message I'm getting after I try, well, to set up folders on Mac.

Steps to reproduce: Settings – Backups – This Mac Manage backups – Check Documents folder – Continue with Basic (Yes, continue) – x folders with issues.

While I am able to backup folders not synced by iCloud Drive, such as ~/Public or ~/ Downloads (see screenshots below).

'Symbolic links can't be followed' is an error message I'm getting when using ln -s ~/Documents. I may be wrong but this worked some time ago.

Moving Dropbox folder to iCloud Drive location isn't allowed because of Apple ban or some other reason. I've tried creating the folder named differently and it didn't work for me. Source: https://www.cultofmac.com/643192/dropbox-folder-icloud-drive/

Getting documents to be synced by both iCloud Drive and Dropbox is what I am trying to achieve. Full disk access Enabled.  

Thanks in advance and apologies for possibly using the wrong category.

Dropbox v189.4.8427

macOS Sonoma v14.2.1 (23C71)

[Mark]

Hi @oklahoma9 

Simply put you cannot do this. It wont work and will lead to data loss. 

If the directory is in iCloud you cannot sync to Dropbox. If its in Dropbox you cannot sync to iCloud. 

[oklahoma9]

Hi Mark,

Thank you for answering. If so, then what is the point of Dropbox suggesting me to backup Documents, Downloads and other iCloud Drive folders?

[Mark]

I suspect Dropbox cannot see/aware that iCloud already is backing them up, but, it is why its failing.

[oklahoma9]

Is there any way to report this issue to Dropbox? This is on their side.