- Dropbox will then give you the opportunity to sign into your Dropbox account again or exit if it can’t find your Dropbox folder. If the external drive is disconnected from the computer while Dropbox is running, there's a small—but real—chance that the app will start deleting files before realizing that the entire drive has been removed.
- Downloading Dropbox. Your Dropbox download should automatically start within seconds. Once the download finishes, click Run to start installing Dropbox.
You can move your Dropbox folder to any location on your hard drive or an external hard drive using the Dropbox desktop app.
Save a file to the Dropbox folder on your computer, and it will synchronize automatically to your mobile device. Cloud file sync is available on multiple devices and platforms, from Windows and Mac to mobile devices like iPhone, iPad and Android via the Dropbox mobile app.
Where Is Dropbox Folder Mac
Notes before you get started
- Use the same hard drive: If you decide to move the folder, choose a location on the same hard drive as your operating system. Dropbox won't work correctly if the Dropbox folder becomes inaccessible, which can happen if it's located on an external drive that gets disconnected.
- Use a supported file system: Moving the Dropbox folder to a drive with a non-supported file system for the operating system will generate an error message. Please review the system requirements for supported file systems for your operating system.
- Avoid network file systems: Dropbox isn’t compatible with network file systems, since they don’t send messages when files change. When Dropbox first starts it does a deep file scan, detects changes, and syncs them. However, Dropbox usually waits for 'file update events,' which are only sent by physically connected drives.
- Issues with external drives: If you’re moving the Dropbox folder to an external drive, the Dropbox folder must be available when your computer boots and before the Dropbox desktop app starts. If the Dropbox desktop app starts before such a drive mounts and gets recognized by your computer, you'll see an error. Dropbox will then give you the opportunity to sign into your Dropbox account again or exit if it can’t find your Dropbox folder.
- If the external drive is disconnected from the computer while Dropbox is running, there's a small—but real—chance that the app will start deleting files before realizing that the entire drive has been removed.
- Removable media: SD cards, or any device considered 'Removable media' by your operating system, are not supported locations for the Dropbox folder. Dropbox works best when hosted on your computer's main internal drive, or on a physically connected external hard drive. Dropbox can only provide direct support when the folder is hosted on your computer's main internal drive.
Take these potential issues into consideration when choosing a new location for Dropbox. Consult resources for your operating system if you have further questions.
How to move your Dropbox folder
- Click the Sync tab.
- Click Move… (Linux and Windows), or Dropbox location (macOS).
- Select the new location for your Dropbox folder.
- Let Dropbox move your folder and its contents to the new location.
If you’ve linked your Dropbox accounts, you'll see both of your Dropbox accounts listed. Select the correct tab before moving the Dropbox folder location.
Your Dropbox folder will keep the same name as before, and can't be renamed during the move process. Dropbox will not sync your folder if it has been manually renamed or moved through your operating system. If Dropbox loses track of your folder, it will attempt to re-sync the folder in its entirety using its last known location.
macOS: Manually move the Dropbox folder back to its default location
- Click the Sync tab.
- Click the dropdown beside Dropbox location.
- Select Other…
- Open the Applications list.
- Click the Applications dropdown, and select your hard drive.
- Open the Users folder.
- Select your computer username (it will likely have a 'home' icon beside it).
- Click Select.
- Confirm the move by clicking Move.
Move Dropbox Folder Mac
Windows: Manually move the Dropbox folder back to its default location
- Click the Sync tab.
- Under Dropbox Folder Location, click Move.
- In the text box next to Folder:, type “$Home”.
- Click OK.
- You will be asked to confirm if you wish to move your Dropbox folder location. Click OK.
I can’t move the Dropbox folder to a new location—what should I do?
If you're moving your Dropbox folder to a new location, you may see errors if any of the following are true:
The new location is on removable media
If you're moving your Dropbox folder, and the selected destination is on removable media (such as a removable USB drive or memory card), Dropbox may not be able to create the Dropbox folder.
We strongly recommend choosing a location on an internal drive. If the Dropbox folder is located on removable media, and this media becomes unavailable, you may see problems including:
- Unwanted deletions
- Poor syncing performance
- Issues with extended attributes
- File system incompatibilities
There are files or folders in use
Dropbox can’t move some files to a new location if they’re currently being used by other applications. To resolve this issue, close any applications that are accessing files in your Dropbox folder before attempting to create the Dropbox folder in a new location.
Problem with the configuration settings
You can rebuild your configuration settings by signing out and then back in to the Dropbox account on the Dropbox desktop application. This will restore any settings which may have been changed without affecting or removing your files.
Your hard drive, or the destination for the Dropbox folder, is low on space
Dropbox Folder On Mac Not Syncing
If you weren’t able to move the Dropbox folder to a new location, it's possible that the external drive doesn’t have enough space for all of the data stored in your Dropbox folder. To check whether this is true for you, view your available hard drive space. If your hard drive is very low on disk space, you'll need to make space available in order to properly move the contents of your Dropbox folder to the new location.
Password Protect Dropbox Folder Mac
You're using symlinks or referenced files
We strongly recommend against methods that add referenced files (symlinks, junction points, or networked folders) to the Dropbox folder. In addition to interfering with creating the Dropbox folder in a new location, reference files can cause high CPU usage, poor syncing performance, permissions issues, and space usage discrepancies.
There are incorrect folder permissions
If you weren’t able to move the Dropbox folder to a new location, you may be encountering a permissions issue. Specifically:
- Folders in your Dropbox don't have correct permissions
- The destination where you're attempting to move your Dropbox folder doesn't have correct permissions
Dropbox Mac App
If either of these are true for you, follow the steps below to troubleshoot file permissions. If these steps don’t work, contact the maker of the software you’re using on your computer or external hard drive to troubleshoot further.
Dropbox Download
Click your operating system below to see instructions: