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Forum Discussion
Backup error "Make sure Dropbox and your documents folder are in the default location and try again"
I’m trying to set up my computer to back up to Dropbox, but it won’t back up my documents because it says “Make sure Dropbox and your documents folder are in the default location and try again.”
When I click “more info” I get an article on how to move the Dropbox folder. But I can’t move the Dropbox app (Is the Dropbox folder, the same thing as the Dropbox app?) into my C Drive (it gives me a “Windows can’t create a shortcut here” error) and I can’t move my documents folder into the Dropbox app. So how do I get them both onto the same drive? The Dropbox app is now on my desktop.
- Hannah
Dropbox Staff
Hey VeganD, thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Can you let us know what is the location of the Dropbox folder at the moment?
You can see that in the 'sync' tab of the Dropbox preferences.
Also, what's the location of the Documents folder? Is it currently in the C drive?
Let me know and we'll go from there.
I've got a new MacBook, I migrated from the previous one with which I had no problems with the backup. As I now am trying to select the folders to be backed up, desktop seems to be fine, but when I select the Documents folder I get an error message stating that the Documents folder is not in its default location. I disagree with this, as I have not touched the locations of the macOS defaults in any way shape or form. I recently upgraded to Sonoma, but I had the same problem before that, so doesn't seem to be related to the OS version, or at least the most recent upgrade.
How do I convince Dropbox of the fact that the Documents folder is very much in its default location?
- Megan
Hey eolennes, thanks for reaching out to the Dropbox Community.
What is currently the location of both the 'Documents' and the Dropbox folder? Can you send us a screenshot of the folder paths?
According to Finder, when you right click the Documents folder, and then choose 'Get info', where is the exact location of these folders?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Megan,
thanks for the reply and sorry for the delay in mine. I went and got the location info and realized – and am now feeling pretty stupid – that my Documents folder is already syncing into the Dropbox cloud. Ie. its location is already in my Dropbox folder. I had forgotten this.
Thus, the backup is not necessary, as the contents are actually already stored in my Dropbox, right?
However, can you quickly remind me about where I can possibly change these sync settings and return the Documents folder to its default location on my Mac SSD?
