How to set up Dropbox Backup

Updated Aug 30, 2024
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This article describes a feature available to customers on all Dropbox plans.

Dropbox Backup allows you to automatically back up files and folders from your computer and external drives to Dropbox, ensuring they’re safely stored in the cloud and easily accessible from anywhere.

Before setting up a backup, make sure to:

  • Check your available storage and that you’re within your plan’s limits.
  • Close all open files and applications on your computer.
  • Install the Dropbox desktop app, if you haven’t already.
  • Connect to the internet.
  • While the updated Dropbox Backup can back up files and folders that are also backed up with other providers, like iCloud, Google Drive, and OneDrive, we recommend you disable those backups before using Dropbox Backup to prevent conflicts between backups.
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Note: If you’re on the legacy version of Dropbox Backup, you must disable your other backups before using Dropbox Backup. Learn how to disable iCloudGoogle Drive, and OneDrive.

To set up a backup:

  1. Click the Dropbox icon in your taskbar (Windows), or menu bar (Mac).
  2. Click your avatar or initials in the upper right.
  3. Click Preferences.
  4. Click the Backups tab.
  5. Click Manage backups.
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Note: If you’re using the updated Dropbox Backup, you can click Modify folder selection to add any other folder from your device that isn’t listed.

  1. Under Add a backup, select the computer or external hard drive you’d like to back up.
  2. Click Let’s get started (computer) or Back up [drive name] (external hard drive).
  3. Check the boxes next to the folders you’d like to back up.
  4. Click Set up or Back up.
  5. If you’re on a Mac, click OK when prompted to give Dropbox permission to access your folders.

You can use your computer normally while the back up is in progress. 

 

If any files or folders fail to back up, they’ll appear in your sync error queue. To view those files:

  1. Click the Dropbox icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).
  2. Click your avatar or initials in the upper right.
  3. Click View sync issues.

 

Learn more about troubleshooting sync issues.

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