Learn how to make the most out of the Dropbox Community here 💙. 

Forum Discussion

timq's avatar
timq
Helpful | Level 5
4 years ago
Solved

How can I cancel my computer backup?

I apparently selected pc backup when I installed Dropbox and naturally I'm out of storage on my Dropbox account now.  I don't want and have no need to have my pc backed up to it.  I have the desktop ...
Computer Backup
Delete
desktop
Space and storage
sync
  • Hannah's avatar
    Hannah
    4 years ago
    Hey timq, welcome aboard our Community!

    Indeed, with computer backup, if you delete your desktop files from Dropbox, they will also be deleted from your computer. 

    If you want to disable the backup feature, you can follow the steps here.

    You'll find the Dropbox app's preferences, if you click on the Dropbox icon in your system tray.

    Let me know if you have any questions.
stuarts14's avatar
stuarts14
Helpful | Level 5
4 years ago

What an absolute fiasco!

 

These instructions are UNCLEAR and AMBIGUOUS.

 

I've wasted my time on this, and now I have NO IDEA if my files are safe from being deleted by drop box.

eschurr's avatar
eschurr
New member | Level 2
4 years ago

i agree!  i'm computer savvy and i have spent a long time trying to figure this out and i'm still baffled.  I vaguely remember being prompted by Dropbox to backup my PC, but the notification was an interruption to what i was doing and i just clicked "OK" to get rid of it....now i regret that. I can not figure out how to simply say "stop backing up everything."  I've gone to the Backups tab in the Preferences setting of the desktop app but there's no obvious way to just turn it all off.  When i open the tab everything is checked.  If i uncheck the choices, the Save button is disabled.  My only option now is to pause syncing, but that pauses everything!  Please help.

  • dreambughell's avatar
    dreambughell
    New member | Level 2
    4 years ago

    I too have activated PC backup.  I do not see a "preferences" tab when I click the upper right icon

  • SkippiJo1's avatar
    SkippiJo1
    New member | Level 2
    3 years ago

    Following

    I have exactly this issue

     

    I didnt realise I was backing up the entire PC, and there is no easy option to turn it off. Three hours spent on this already today. Waste of time and puts me off getting a dropbox account.

    • Megan's avatar
      Megan
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
      3 years ago

      Hi SkippiJo1, I'd be happy to help! 

       

      Have you followed these steps, in order to disable Backup? Do you face any errors, or problems when you try to do so?

       

      Keep me posted! 

      • SkippiJo1's avatar
        SkippiJo1
        New member | Level 2
        3 years ago
        Hello Megan thanks for offering to help.

        yes I did follow Dropbox guidelines but
        "4.Under Adjust settings, click Disable backup."
        Was not available

        The only solution was to move my files out of Dropbox folder on my pc, erase Dropbox app from my PC. then visit Dropbox on the internet and erase all my files

        I will not be using Dropbox again if I can avoid it
        I find it far to buggy and laborious in almost every respect

        I've currently spent two long hours today just trying to upload a tiny pdf to a shared folder (I have editing permission)
  • ES-ish's avatar
    ES-ish
    New member | Level 2
    2 years ago

    Still the same problem

About Delete, edit, and organize

Solve issues with deleting, editing, and organizing files and folders in your Dropbox account with support from the Dropbox Community.

Need more support

If you need more help you can view your support options (expected response time for an email or ticket is 24 hours), or contact us on X or Facebook.

For more info on available support options for your Dropbox plan, see this article.

If you found the answer to your question in this Community thread, please 'like' the post to say thanks and to let us know it was useful!