Backing Up Dropbox Files

Summary:

The Dropbox folder is located in the C:\Users\ folder by default and will be selected for backup automatically with Carbonite's default selections. If you are unsure whether these files have been selected for backup, you can navigate to them within Windows File Explorer to check. The Dropbox folder is located in the following location:

• C:\Users\[User_Name]\Dropbox\

This article applies to:

Solution:

Please refer to the sections below for more information on Dropbox's sync settings, which can impact Carbonite's ability to back up your Dropbox folder and its contents.

Selective Sync and Smart Sync

To back up files in your Dropbox folder, the files will need to be synced to your computer. Dropbox's Selective Sync and Smart Sync features are methods of saving local hard drive space. Both allow you to store some or all of your files online-only, but there are differences in how they behave and interact with Carbonite.

Depending on your Dropbox plan, you can first configure Selective Sync and Smart Sync during the installation process. If you have already installed Dropbox or would like more information on configuring these options, please refer to Dropbox's Help Center articles on Selective Sync and Smart Sync. The screenshot below shows the Advanced Settings screen available upon the completion of the Dropbox installation.

Selective Sync and Carbonite

Selective Sync allows you to manually choose folders to remove from your computer and archive online with Dropbox. These folders cannot be backed up by Carbonite.

If you change your Selective Sync settings in Dropbox and a file Carbonite backed up is removed from your computer, Carbonite will see it as having been deleted. Deleted files will be removed from your backup after 30 or 60 days, depending on your Carbonite plan.

Smart Sync and Carbonite

Smart Sync allows Dropbox to manage disk usage automatically. Users can elect to always keep all files downloaded locally, store all files online-only, or a mix of the two where some files are downloaded locally and others are online-only. Files stored online-only will be downloaded only when needed.

Files in Dropbox that are selected to be kept downloaded locally can be selected for backup with Carbonite and will back up automatically. For files that are primarily stored online, however, when the files are out of use, Dropbox will only store placeholder files in their place. These placeholders will be seen by Carbonite, but since their data does not exist on your computer, cannot be backed up by Carbonite.

If a file Carbonite backed up is removed from your computer through Dropbox’s Smart Sync feature, Carbonite will see it as having been deleted. Deleted files will be removed from your backup after 30 or 60 days, depending on your Carbonite plan.

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