You might see that the Dropbox Community team have been busy working on some major updates to the Community itself! So, here is some info on what’s changed, what’s staying the same and what you can expect from the Dropbox Community overall.

Dropbox Backup

1028 Topics

Can we have more folder options like custom folders or sub-folders to add to Computer Backup?
Right now, the automated backup option in Dropbox allows me to sync my Documents, Desktop and Downloads folders. By far the biggest - and most important - folder on my computer is the Music folder though. I can imagine for other people it's Pictures. Could we have a way to automatically backup those folders too? To be really ambitious: would we be able to clone our computer on Dropbox? I used to have an Apple Time Machine that allowed you to do just that. If your computer broke down or was stolen, you could buy a new one, let it download the clone, including not just your documents but your applications and presets too, and you'd be good to go! Please let Dropbox be the new Time Machine.
helenavelikaja
2 days ago Place Ideas
74KViews
237likes
159Comments
New Computer - all Word Docs Corrupt
I have set up a new computer. Downloaded the Dropbox desktop app, same as previous computer. I am running Office365. Now all Word documents that are stored in DP are showing corrupted. I can login to DP directly and open the document but when I try to open through my DP shortcut on file explorer. Word docs will not open directly. The solution has been to open the document from DP and then re-save it on the computer in DP. So I still have access to the docs but it's very inconvenient. Is there a solution that would allow my documents to all update at once and be available again from the file explorer shortcut?
sts0111
3 days ago Place Delete, edit, and organize
10Views
0likes
1Comment
I can't see the folders I want to back up with Dropbox Backup
I can't see my computer directories just the preselected ones like "desktop" The animated logo is confusion and seems to show you can select files - I can't even see the directories. I see that this is a common problem in the forum and I saw the instructions to get the latest version of the backup. No change!
TerryMcC
4 days ago Place Apps and Installations
22Views
0likes
3Comments
Dropbox Backup says syncing 75,000 files but i don't have that many, constantly going up
Hi i'm trying to backup my external hard drive to dropbox backup. It's constantly going up and the time doesn't change. I've reinstalled & relinked, deleted old backups. But nothing has seemed to help with the issue. The file count just keeps going up
Kalide
4 days ago Place Create, upload, and share
18Views
1like
1Comment
Feedback on my interaction with Support for a desktop issue on a Mac
Dropping this here to state my feelings about Dropbox technical support. I had an issue that began about September 24th (hung up / frozen synch'ing "2 files"), which I researched myself, through every single forum post that exists in the legit/official Dropbox community. I found numerous instances of my same problem (I followed every suggestion provided; similar to most OPs, none worked), and in every case, the last message on the thread involved somebody from Dropbox stating, "Okay, perhaps it's best to open a support ticket." Meaning no solution was ever presented in the giant thread(s); it was all failed troubleshooting attempts. Since I had no answer, I had to take my issue to Dropbox technical support (did so on SEPT 28). Let the burning of the clock commence! In almost every case, if I rec'd a question from the individual appointed to me, I would write back within 10 minutes. But I wouldn't hear back from them for 24 hours. This went on and on from September 28th to YESTERDAY, October 25th, obviously with weekends being "no help." With this "person," I routinely provided brief, bulleted BITS OF EXTRA INFO (***see below)--things that most likely related to my (I'm guessing uncommon) issue. These would go completely unacknowledged. Screenshots I sent would go unacknowledged. Then *I* would be asked for a screenshot, 24 hours later--requesting the same thing I'd already sent. This cycle continued for almost 30 days. ALSO, almost never did the terminology used by this "person" match what was showing on MY screen (I also asked for--and never rec'd--screenshots); it's as if they were operating on some computer variety that doesn't exist, or not realizing I was using a MAC (even though this was clarified, from the get-go). I would attach a screenshot to show this type of discrepancy (with what this technical support "person" was saying), daily... That'd (usually) be ignored, and another 24-hours would elapse. ***IF CURIOUS, some of the MAJOR DETAILS of my issue, which were never acknowledged: • I'm trying to back up a COPY of a giant (135GB) project file, that's synch'd through Perforce/p4v, to a cloud server. The COPY (which I'm trying to back up) of this giant project file is on a completely unrelated (NOT SHARED) drive, which happens to be the same drive I've always had my (PRE-Perforce) Dropbox backup sitting on. Perhaps one of these "2 files" that won't synch, relates to my backup being a Perforce shared file? (This concern was not acknowledged, in any way.) • Also, my repeated mentions of "DS_Store" (a semi-common "hidden" file in MACS) MAYBE being one of the two files HANGING THINGS UP (generated from MAC/Perforce interfacing?), locked in an endless synch loop... Never acknowledged. I know that file is problematic--from what I've read, in Dropbox's list of official "synch incompatibilities." • Also the fact that, the moment this particular project file began being synch'd through Perforce/p4v, and I tried synch'ing its backup (again, on a separate drive, me trying to update it in typical fashion through the Dropbox "Backup" APP)... At the time this problem arose, something seemed to generate a "clone" version of my iMac (with an alternate name, and "-Lan" at the end of its name), listed where "backups" reside (in "https://www.dropbox.com/account/security"). Brought this up. Not once was this acknowledged. I could go on. In the end, yesterday (which was a Friday; I no longer can survive in my "job" without a cloud backup... and it was the weekend, again), after a month of absolute wheel-spinning with this "person," I tore everything down and started over from scratch, for the umpteenth time--this time removing any trace of my computer's existence on the cloud version of the Dropbox backup app. So basically anything that I'd synch'd to prior, was gone. This is, of course, after deleting every single Dropbox related file or folder in my system. Reinstall, etc. Again, for the umpteenth time. NOW, it seems I have no choice but to maintain a cycle where I create a NEW backup, upload the whole thing (135GB), then whenever I need to UPDATE this backup, I have to DELETE it (Dropbox's targeted backup file), and repeat the process over again (otherwise if I try to synch to it, it still hangs on "2 files"). Pathetic. But works--yet throws the TIME SAVING aspect of SYNCH-ING into the trash. Luckily my connection is fast--the polar opposite of Dropbox technical support! OH YEAH! Why do I have "person," in quotes, above? The numerous times I mentioned "We've--yet again--wasted 24 hours" (I was patient for a while; this is after TWO of the FOUR WEEKS)... one would think a suggestion would be made (by them) for me to "take it to some kind of real-time chat," or something--to expedite the process. Any complaint I had about how the progress--or complete lack thereof--was destroying me (work-wise), would go 100% unacknowledged. No apology; no alternate means of resolving anything was ever presented/proposed. With apologies to this "person" (if real), I'm now of the belief I was (MAYBE?) typing to an "AI Chatbot" the entire time? I GENUINELY am unable to tell, at this point. (And again, apologies if I'm wrong...) My frustration could not have been more obvious. An actual person would have at least presented an opportunity for an alternate means of "real time" resolution. I've used Dropbox for WELL OVER A DECADE. Initially just uploading direct to the cloud, with the FREE storage, but then, as my needs changed, PAYING for a plan that allowed 2TB. Then, as I required even larger space for the massive audio projects I'm involved with (with a giant team of people around the globe), I PAID MORE to add another 1TB. Routinely on different online forums (including Facebook composer forums, composer groups, etc.), people often ask the question, "Who should I turn to for online storage that synch's files directly with my local?" For YEARS I recommended Dropbox. Ignoring the people that would then jump into the conversation saying "No, Dropbox is horrible, you should use 'blankety blank' instead." Well guess what? I'm now of the opinion that Dropbox is, sadly [*choose your own derogatory term*], and wish I'd heeded the words of my massive list of peers in the audio / entertainment world.
Solved
GoodNewsBears
4 days ago Place Apps and Installations
583Views
0likes
6Comments
Can you schedule Dropbox backups from the web to local Mac (maxing processor and energy levels)
Can you schedule Dropbox back ups from web to local Mac (maxing processor and energy levels), can I schedule the back ups over time (say a week?) Hello, I have added a new Macbook Pro (used) and begun to sync it with the folders my other Macs and iPad utilize. However it has taken DAYS (and still not 50% done) and taking up 3 times the hard disk space as the actual backup/sync. I have paused it to give the processor and fan a rest. Is there a way to schedule these transfers so I can batch them over several days or a week? My poor Mac is sounding tired! Thanks, Aaron
Solved
aaronbrashear
7 days ago Place View, download, and export
172Views
0likes
4Comments
Differences & benefits of syncing the Desktop folder vs backing it up?
I just saw and turned on the backup option... I've had the primary my pc/desktop folders UNSYNCED because it seemed redundant from all my primary files/folders I keep within dropbox already but.. The backup I noticed has a rewind feature which may be enough of a benefit, if im understanding it correctly to keep this enabled...ie if i screw something up on the fly while working...i can go in there and rewind whatever file/folder to recover the mistake? That said, is there a separate reason to keep the pc/desktop folder syncing as well? Heres screenshots of both settings for reference: https://ibb.co/8YLy9pJ https://ibb.co/9rBtKy2 Thanks
justin h.2
7 days ago Place Create, upload, and share
37Views
0likes
1Comment
I got notice that my account has been deleted, but I didn't do this.
I am getting the notice that my account was deleted, but I did not delete it and no one else has access to my computer. Can this be restored? This just happened yesterday and the account was synced to my computer and now all my files are gone.
andreakeener
7 days ago Place Security and Permissions
25Views
0likes
1Comment
Dropbox Backup: end-to-end encryption for smaller plans?
I only discovered this feature tonight. It doesn't seem to be available for free. Fine, Dropbox Plus up to 2TB for $119.88. That's competitive with others I'm considering. Eight months ago it was still Beta. Is it a decent alternative to Backblaze or Carbonite? I'm not so sure. For one, thing, I don't see support for zero-knowledge backups. Thoughts, folks?
tbc
8 days ago Place Apps and Installations
32Views
1like
1Comment
Backup folder name change
Hello! I have 2 macs, one personal and one for work. Both had backup enabled and when I went online, I saw both computers' backup directories. The directories were both in the format of "My Mac (computername)" However, recently I disabled the Dropbox backup on my work laptop because I didn't think it would be wise to backup my work stuff to Dropbox. But I was subsequently told it was OK, so I re-enabled the backup. While everything was uploaded to Dropbox just fine, the name of the work laptop backup directory is now simply "Mac (2)". I would like to rename the folder to the "My Mac" format I previously had, but it is not letting me rename the folder. Any assistance would be great. Thanks in advance.
Solved
the_ood
9 days ago Place Create, upload, and share
9.2KViews
12likes
43Comments