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Forum Discussion
Auto-upload of files from SD card I link to my computer.
When I put my SD card into my computer, Dropbox automatically uploads the files onto the computer. How do I stop this from happening? I want to determine whether or not the files will be uploaded.
In addition, when Dropbox uploads the photo files to the computer, it changes the name of the file from IMG_xxxx to the date and time the photo was taken. This is totally unacceptable in my opinion.
1. How do I prevent this from happening in the first place?
2. How do I change the file names back to what they were originally??
Thanks in advance for any assistance. I am ready to delete the program!
Hey there Digitalscrapper - sorry to hear you're having issues with our automatic camera uploads feature.
At first, you can disable the camera uploads feature by following the steps outlined in this Help Center article: https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/photos/camera-uploads-overview
As for the renaming of your files, you'll need to do it manually at this point as there's no way for us to rename your files in bulk for you and the format of the filanames you mentioned is the default one when utilizing our camera uploads feature. To preserve their filenames you'd need to import them to your computer first and then manually upload them to your Dropbox account (by moving or copying them inside your Dropbox Folder).
I hope this clears things up and I'm always a post away should you have any more questions.
- Walter
Dropbox Staff
Hey there Digitalscrapper - sorry to hear you're having issues with our automatic camera uploads feature.
At first, you can disable the camera uploads feature by following the steps outlined in this Help Center article: https://help.dropbox.com/installs-integrations/photos/camera-uploads-overview
As for the renaming of your files, you'll need to do it manually at this point as there's no way for us to rename your files in bulk for you and the format of the filanames you mentioned is the default one when utilizing our camera uploads feature. To preserve their filenames you'd need to import them to your computer first and then manually upload them to your Dropbox account (by moving or copying them inside your Dropbox Folder).
I hope this clears things up and I'm always a post away should you have any more questions.
When I insert my SD card into my computer, the image files automatically upload to Dropbox. I have not found anywhere that I can prevent this from happening automatically. I want to determine where the files go. I saw something in the community that you can shut this off but have not yet found this option when I sign into Dropbox.
Also, when the image files are uploaded, the file names are changed from IMG_xxxx to the date and time the photo was taken. This is totally unacceptable to me!!!! I track my photos by the IMG_xxxx names. How can I change the names back to the original file name? It makes no sense to me that Dropbox would change the file names. I am truly ready to delete Dropbox and select another app due to this.
- Walter
Hey there Digitalscrapper - how are you today?
I've just moved your post under your original inquiry to keep things neat around our Community and have all the relevant information under the same place.
Have you been able to check any of my suggestions (posted above)?
Let me know here when you get the chance and we'll take it from there.
Thanks in advance and have a lovely weekend until we speak again.
Hello Walter,
Thank you for your response. I was finally able to find the place to set my preferences and have them now set so auto-upload does not occur.
Disappointed/frustrated that I will need to rename all of my files. It will be time-consuming but will do so. I would strongly encourage you to not change the file names. Maybe this could be a preference setting where we could choose if we want to leave them as is or have them changed.
Another suggestion is that when an SD card is inserted or a phone is attached, the default action is to ask where the files are to be uploaded rather than automatically uploading them to Dropbox.
I do want to make sure I understand one of your comments. You said to preserve the file names, the files would need to be uploaded to the computer then uploaded to Dropbox. The was not possible with the preferences that are preset when you download the app. I presume that now that my preferences have been set, the autoloading will no longer occur.
My 3rd suggestion is that there are better instructions when the app is downloaded. Maybe before the app can be used, the individual would need to set their preferences first.
Thanks again for your prompt reply.
