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ColinD's avatar
ColinD
Helpful | Level 5
3 years ago

Remove Dropbox completely from my computer

Removing Dropbox from my computer is proving to be a nightmare. My computer Operating system is Windows 10.

I have managed to un sync from my account and deleted all the folders concerned in my Dropbox account. 

On my computer the Dropbox folder is located C:\Users\dough\Dropbox and it contains a "PC" folder in which contains Desktop, Documents, and Downloads. 

Whenever I uninstall or delete the Dropbox folder I lose all the content from those folders Desktop, Documents, and Downloads. 

I have no need for Dropbox and wish to remove it completely from my computer, would you please explain to me how to do this.

I would appreciate it very much. Thank you.  

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    3 years ago
    Okay, so it looks like you've already disabled the computer backup. Could you follow these steps to restore the default location of the folders?
  • coronado3779's avatar
    coronado3779
    New member | Level 2

    I have the same problem.  If I delete dropbox I lose all the files.  This is unacceptable. 

     

     

    • Nancy's avatar
      Nancy
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

      Hi coronado3779, I hope you’re well. 

       

      Just to make sure we’re on the same page, can you clarify if you’ve also enabled computer backup on your device and if you’ve taken any steps to turn the feature off? 

       

      I’d like to see what you’ve tried so far, so that we can check this further. 

       

      Keep me posted!

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    Hi ColinD, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

    It sounds like you enabled the automatic computer backup feature in the Dropbox desktop application. Could you first try disabling the computer backup from Dropbox using the steps in the above article to see if this helps?

    Afterwards, you'll get the option to move the folders and files back to their previous locations, which will also delete them from the Dropbox account online.

    Keep me updated with any progress!
    • ColinD's avatar
      ColinD
      Helpful | Level 5

      Thank you for replying.

       

      To turn off computer backup:

      I have got as far as the Backup Tab but I can't see any option for  "Manage Backups" so that's where I am at. see screen shot.

       

       

      • Jay's avatar
        Jay
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        Okay, so it looks like you've already disabled the computer backup. Could you follow these steps to restore the default location of the folders?
    • Thomas Kalasz's avatar
      Thomas Kalasz
      Explorer | Level 3

      I HAVE THIS PROBLEM TOO, tried following the directions on your link, In "backups" section of the preferences on my desktop app there is no "manage folders option".

       

      this is insane, I've been battling this a long time

      • Walter's avatar
        Walter
        Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
        Hey Thomas Kalasz - sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

        Could you send us a screenshot of what's shown in your backups tab in the app's preferences so that we can have a visual too?
    • EdNewbold's avatar
      EdNewbold
      Explorer | Level 4

      HOW does one "...first try disabling the computer backup from Dropbox."   I have yet to find this information here or elsewhere.  When I uninstall Dropbox, it automatically removes my Downloads folder!   Not good at all!

       

      Thank you.

      Ed Newbold

       

      • ColinD's avatar
        ColinD
        Helpful | Level 5

        I suggest you go to the top of this post and read all of Jays replies.

  • Janinec's avatar
    Janinec
    Explorer | Level 4
    Yes the same thing happened to me when I remove dropbox I lost all my folders desktop and documents and they’re in dropbox now and I can’t get them. He tells me the hover over the folder and then do”…” eclipse … which I don’t know what it is I googled it but I couldn’t get a straight meaning on how to do that function. I do have a feeling that dropbox just want to own all our data it’s really hard to get anything back, my files all got sucked up into dropbox in the first place without me even knowing what was happening and I couldn’t get them back.
    • Megan's avatar
      Megan
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

      Hi Janinec, thanks for posting here!

       

      Do you have an open ticket with our Support team about this? If so, can you send it to me here so I can locate it on our system? 

       

      Let me know more!

      • Janinec's avatar
        Janinec
        Explorer | Level 4
        Hi Megan,
        I have emailed for support but no answers. Someone told me I can search for a file and download it…. But seeing there are 4000 and I want them all back that’s gonna take a very long time and I did read on one help page that you can just get them back when a time. I don’t understand I saw rewind app that I had to pay for which is unfair. I got an email telling me that they were gonna delete it after a certain time which isn’t very far away all my data.I feel there is something very wrong with this situation I would like my data to all be given back to me…. Which I never knowingly asked to have it taken, no no support tokens offered to me. Janine

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