Remove Link to Local Downloads - Mac

[Joet123]

I installed dropbox on my Mac,

I tried to stop it from taking over from iCloud but i mistakenly gave it permissions to sync my downloads folder.  Now it is asking me to upgrade (my dl folder is large).  I only need to use dropbox for a few documents so don't want to upgrade.

I have signed out and uninstalled locally but i can't get rid of teh link in my account, see below.  Any help would be greatly appreciated here! 

Thanks, 

Joe 

[Hannah · Accepted solution]

Hi @Joet123, thanks for your post and happy Monday!

It looks like you have enabled the computer backup feature on your Dropbox application. 

To disable this, you'll need to reinstall Dropbox, sign back in to your account and then follow the steps here.

Let me know if you need anything else!

[Joet123]

Thanks for the info 

[pszorro]

I have the same issue and the answer given didn't work. I previously paused Dropbox sync because I knew I'd run out of room on the free account. I downloaded Dropbox again and reinstalled and DB still wants to sync and I can't stop it. PLEASE HELP! I don't want all my files on Dropbox!!! Thanks!

[pszorro]

Hi: I am a new dropbox user and after downloading the software app I mistakenly started syncing all files in my "Documents" folder. Now in Finder is see that dropbox has begun syncing my files in my "Documents" folder.  Now I cannot see them in my computer. I have the Basic dropbox storage. I do NOT want all my files in dropbox. I cannot find a way to stop the syncing process. I can no longer see in my computer all those files that the syncing process is still trying to work on as they appear in my Documents folder as "my files in dropbox". Basically all those files have been sort of "held hostage" by the syncing process and I am afraid I will lose them in cyberspace or something if I do something wrong. Can someone please provide instructions on how to stop the initial syncing process (which hasn't completed the initial backup to dropbox) and put back all my files into my "Documents" folder as they were originally before I downloaded dropbox? Appreciate your help!

[Megan]

Hi @pszorro, thanks for posting today! 

Have you tried disabling the Computer Backup feature, using the steps shown here? 

Let me know!

[pszorro]

Hi Lori, Thanks for the quick response! I turned off backup per the instructions in link you referred to. The reply I get is "Syncing is paused". So I have 2 questions: 1) Is backup really off? (doesn't appear to be. Remember, I don't want DB to backup files.) 2) In Finder, all the files that use to show up in my Documents folder are now in a folder named "My Files in Dropbox". (See screenshot) I want those files to appear on my mac and not in DB. How can I get the files that were transferred to DB back on my mac?????

      Thanks!     ....Paul

[Megan]

Hi @pszorro, thanks for writing back! 

Can I ask for a screenshot of what you see when you open your app's Preferences, under Backup?

That way, I'll be able to check if the feature is indeed off. 

When disabling the feature, you should then be able to see two options: 

"Keep content in folders on this Mac/PC," then your files and folders will be available in their respective locations on your Mac.

"Leave content in Dropbox," your files will remain in your Dropbox account. 

[pszorro]

Hi Lori, I'm enclosing 3 screenshots from my preferences on DB under "backups-->manage backups". First one is with "Documents" unselected by me. (It shows Documents selected when I enter this page)

T

The second one is of me selecting files to be on my mac.

The Last shot is showing what happens next after selecting "Stop Backup". It shows that sync has been paused. It has not been STOPPED! That is my problem! I can't get DB to STOP syncing!!!! 

 Why can't I STOP DB from syncing????  

[Megan]

Thank you for all the detailed screenshots @pszorro!

I would like you to locate your Dropbox icon (on your task bar, next to your WiFi) and click there. 

Hover over Syncing paused in the white bar at the bottom of the window that appears. Click Resume syncing.