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Forum Discussion

tgelhaus's avatar
tgelhaus
Explorer | Level 4
4 years ago

Documents, Downloads, and Desktop folders are gone on my MB Pro. Dropbox has folders but no files

Hello there!   So to preface, I'm relatively new to Dropbox, and only got it for a couple work gigs. But the moment it had access to my computer, it started creating a backup I think? Which, with...
Computer Backup
Desktop
Download
Dropbox Basic
Restore
Sync
  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    4 years ago

    Hey tgelhaus, thanks for all the info and the updates!

    I'd also suggest searching for My Mac folder on your Finder. Keep in mind that it could be hidden.

    To show hidden folders/files: Press Command+Shift+Dot (Command + Shift + .)

    Let me know what you find!

Tornaduc's avatar
Tornaduc
Explorer | Level 4

Hi,

 

After using Dropbox yesterday my desktop folder and download folder disappeared from finder on my Macbook Pro.  When I start using Dropbox it started to sync and I stopped it, emptied my trash and deleted the files in the sync folder.  After this my desktop and download folder where gone in Finder.  I searched in hidden files but no desktop of download folders anymore.  When going to dropbox.com I see the folders there and have no idea how to get them back to my HD on my Mac.  Please let me know how to get the folders back on my Mac.  Thank you

Megan's avatar
Megan
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
4 years ago

Hey Tornaduc, thank you for posting here! 

As a first step, can you clarify if you've disabled the feature following the steps shown here? 

Let me know, and we'll take it from there!
 

  • Tornaduc's avatar
    Tornaduc
    Explorer | Level 4
    4 years ago

    Thank you for your reply.

    I deleted all related to Dropbox as I wanted to restore all in finder via back up.  Now I try to install dropbox again but Safari says there is not enough space to download the DMG installer file while I have more then 500GB available on my HD.  As my download folder has disappeared I am not sure how to download the DMG file anymore.  I made a new folder "download" from my back up and copied all the lost files into this new folder but my mac dos not acknowledge this folder so I assume that the refusal of the download has something to do with this.

    • Jay's avatar
      Jay
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
      4 years ago
      Hi Tornaduc, when you disabled the computer backup feature, did you get the option to move the folders back to their default locations?

      Regarding the message you're getting, are you certain it's referring to the space on your hard drive, and not the space in your Dropbox account?
      • Tornaduc's avatar
        Tornaduc
        Explorer | Level 4
        4 years ago
        Hi Jay,

        In the mean time I succeeded in downloading the dropbox app again by changing the settings and I have i stalled the app “dropbox” again. However this does not solve my problem on how to get the download and desktop folder back to my harddisk. When going to “Dropbox.com” I see my missing folders but no option to put them back on my Macbook Pro. I even copied the file and now I have “dekstop 1 and download 1”. I also check how to delete these but do not find a way to do so.

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