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Forum Discussion
How do I select specific folders for automatic backup?
This sounds like such a simple thing but I cannot figure out how to choose specific folders to automatically backup. When I get to the backup folder selection menu in the dropbox app I have half a dozen high level choices like "Desktop", "Downloads", and "Videos" to choose from but I don't want to automatically backup any of those, I want to backup specific folders like "C:\cygwin64\home\foo\bar" - how do I tell the app to do that? I'm on a Windows 11 PC.
EdMorton wrote:
I want to backup specific folders like "C:\cygwin64\home\foo\bar" - how do I tell the app to do that?
You can't. The Backup feature only backs up the key folders of your operating system; Desktop, Documents, Downloads, etc, along with external drives. You can't specify other folders to be backed up. Also keep in mind that Dropbox can only sync files that are located in your Dropbox folder. The backup feature works by MOVING the key folders into your Dropbox folder so they can sync. It doesn't back them up in place.
- Rich
Super User II
EdMorton wrote:
I want to backup specific folders like "C:\cygwin64\home\foo\bar" - how do I tell the app to do that?
You can't. The Backup feature only backs up the key folders of your operating system; Desktop, Documents, Downloads, etc, along with external drives. You can't specify other folders to be backed up. Also keep in mind that Dropbox can only sync files that are located in your Dropbox folder. The backup feature works by MOVING the key folders into your Dropbox folder so they can sync. It doesn't back them up in place.
When do you plan to implement that?
OK, I guess Dropbox isn't for me then. Thanks for the quick response!
>> the key folders of your operating system; Desktop, Documents, Downloads, etc, along with
external drives.
Whoever thought those are the "key folders of my operating system" made a very funny, naive and arrogant assumption.
When are you going to answer our questions?
Hello - I'm trying to set up Dropbox Backup but it won't let me select my own folders to back up. It gives me a list of folders to select from, but I want to incldue other folders (eg parts of Program Files). Is there a way to do this? I can't see a 'browse' option or similar. Many thanks.
- Rich
SalemFisher wrote:
It gives me a list of folders to select from, but I want to incldue other folders (eg parts of Program Files). Is there a way to do this?
The Backup feature only allows you to select folders that exist within your user folder, and even then, not all of them. It's meant to backup the key folders within your user profile (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, etc.).
