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Forum Discussion
Dropbox computer backup: how to undo?
I uninstalled and reinstalled Dropbox because of some issues with syncing.
In reinstalling, I thought I clicked on "no, I don't want dropbox to backup my computer" but apparently I clicked wrong be...
Apparently I fixed it with the power of intense fiddling.
Following the steps given on the website here: https://help.dropbox.com/en-en/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/computer-backup
It wouldn't let me unsync everything per se, so I had to sync everything but one folder, go ahead until it let me set up the syncing again and unsync that folder. Weird I know, but it worked in letting me unsync. Anyways.
After doing that, I headed to the Dropbox folder and deleted the "my computer files" file, which is basically linked to the C: module.
If I tried to delete the whole folder it would give me a warning showing me it was deleting loads of files, but deleting just the link went smoothly and I lost no data.
Then I was able to delete the folder "computer backup" without any warnings from my computer, and again I lost no data.
Language may vary as my system isn't in English, but sharing the solution in hopes to help someone else down the line.
Hope this helps!
Daphne
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffHi Caterina1993, thanks for posting!
Can you let me know if you tried the steps outlined towards the bottom of this article, to disable the backup feature, via the desktop app settings?
Also, can you let me know what steps you took to try disable this via the website?
Looking forward to hearing back from you!
Can you let me know if you tried the steps outlined towards the bottom of this article, to disable the backup feature, via the desktop app settings?
Also, can you let me know what steps you took to try disable this via the website?
Looking forward to hearing back from you!
Hi @daphne and thanks for answering!
I did, I checked again just now and it let me sync and unsync again, but unsyncing doesn't seem to eliminate the folder in Dropbox and when I try to move it to the trash it says it's moving 15.000 files or something so it definitely isn't empty...
When I click in, it's like it's not even IN dropbox but instead it brings me to the C: folder so it doesn't look like "Computer > Desktop > Dropbox > My PC > Documents" which is where I am directly before I click on "Computer files" which brings me to "Computer > OS (C:) > Users > Caterina > Documents"
On the website there seems to be no automatic backup settings, is this normal?
I hope this additional information helps!Apparently I fixed it with the power of intense fiddling.
Following the steps given on the website here: https://help.dropbox.com/en-en/installs-integrations/sync-uploads/computer-backup
It wouldn't let me unsync everything per se, so I had to sync everything but one folder, go ahead until it let me set up the syncing again and unsync that folder. Weird I know, but it worked in letting me unsync. Anyways.
After doing that, I headed to the Dropbox folder and deleted the "my computer files" file, which is basically linked to the C: module.
If I tried to delete the whole folder it would give me a warning showing me it was deleting loads of files, but deleting just the link went smoothly and I lost no data.
Then I was able to delete the folder "computer backup" without any warnings from my computer, and again I lost no data.
Language may vary as my system isn't in English, but sharing the solution in hopes to help someone else down the line.
Hope this helps!
well in my case, "BACKUP" deleted everything in my desktop folder, documents, and downloads. on the web, i was able to restore about 18 jpegs, but nothing else.
lost all my PDFs, everything. and now i am screwed....
my options....null, as how ever dropbox did this, file recovery cant even find the files....
I have the same problem trying to stop / pause syncing and then followed your instructions to stop computer back up. However, the Preferences section in my account does not show a Backup tab / option. I also found that the instructions in your Help section on "How to stop and resume file syncing" did not match up with my account / dashboard. Maybe those instructions are outdated, or other issue, but this is very frustrating. Please check to send / post instructions that are current on stop file syncing and stop computer back up. This would be appreciated with many thanks.
After going through the same issue with iCloud I can empathize. Luckily I had a great techie at Apple who walked me through recovering my files. What I learned from the experience was to go back to good old external backup drives and store them off site. The myth of synching all your devices is just that, a myth. Until the user has control I am not being sucked in again.
This is the first message to Dropbox, also the last. Dropbox used to be the best tool for working files sharing, and now the worst. This "backup" function sucks. After long time learning, many times trying, I suddenly find the solution: Bye Bye Dropbox! There plenty tools over somewhere to do things I need.
