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Forum Discussion
I'd like to sync my Dropbox files both on an internal and external drive.
Hello,
Feature: the ability to sync Dropbox folders to two separate locations on the same device. Here’s my use case:
The Problem
I work on a laptop with limited internal storage, which makes it impossible to sync all my Dropbox files locally. I do use Selective Sync to only download the folders I need. However, I often find myself needing access to unsynced files. This creates a workflow which is fairly tedious:
- I have to search for the file via the Dropbox web interface, which neither quick or the easiest to navigate, especially when multiple versions of a file exist, and there's no previews.
- After downloading the file, I extract what I need (I’m works as a graphic designer, so this often means copying a single element).
- I then delete the file.
This happens often enough, and it's not only tedious, but time-consuming too.
What I’d love is the ability to sync Dropbox to two locations on the same device:
- Location 1: My laptop’s internal hard drive, with Selective Sync enabled.
- Location 2: An external hard drive that syncs all (or most) of my Dropbox content, acting as a complete backup.
This would allow me to:
- Use my laptop’s internal drive for day-to-day work with the files I access frequently.
- Quickly retrieve any unsynced files from the external drive without needing to download them manually from the web interface.
- Avoid having to carry the external drive around all the time. I could keep it connected at home, and use the laptop’s synced folder when working elsewhere.
I’ve tried to come up with alternatives to this to mimic it, like:
- Move the Dropbox folder entirely to an external drive. This frees up space on the laptop, but makes the external drive essential for any file access.
- Use two Dropbox accounts. One account could sync to my external drive, and another to my laptop. However, keeping them in sync requires additional tools or manual effort, which complicates things, and I'm not even sure it's possible either.
- Manually copy files between devices. This is, again, tedious and error-prone, especially for large or folders I work in often.
Am I missing something obvious here, or is there a third-party tool or workaround that could achieve this setup or something close enough?
