What is happening with my files? . . Where should Dropbox be placed in File Explorer?


M1000

Member
Member
Local time
10:28 AM
Posts
24
OS
Windows 11 Home 64-bit
Hello

1. What is happening with my files?



2. In File Explorer, where is Dropbox?


In this example below, the person is named Bill and his files are in a folder titled 'My Files'. (Every file he has is within 1 folder)


Bill's File Explorer looks like this . .


C:\Users\'Bill'\'My Files'


In File Explorer, the desktop icon, represented by C, is at the top of the directory tree.


Dropbox is located in a sub folder of C.


This means Bill's files are in a subfolder (Dropbox) of the subfolder ('C')


Is this correct?

Thank you
 
Windows Build/Version
Win 11, Vers 25H2

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-N305
    Motherboard
    LENOVO LNVNB161216 (U3E1)
    Memory
    Size 7886 MBytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Generic PnP Monitor on Intel UHD Graphics

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2x1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+2tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.8457
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.8457

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-N305
    Motherboard
    LENOVO LNVNB161216 (U3E1)
    Memory
    Size 7886 MBytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Generic PnP Monitor on Intel UHD Graphics
see the corrected post
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2x1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+2tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.8457
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.8457
Thank you for the effort.

The link wouldnt work for me. Maybe it is my browser. I tried Brave but it didnt work. I know who you mean.


I found the link to his video, but he doesnt say where Dropbox goes in File Explorer. There is a moment where his hard drive shown BUT he never mentions the issue I'm trying to get an answer too.

When I have googled, it is about where to find Dropbox if it is missing. It is not about the placement of DB in relation to the tree directory
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-N305
    Motherboard
    LENOVO LNVNB161216 (U3E1)
    Memory
    Size 7886 MBytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Generic PnP Monitor on Intel UHD Graphics
This means Bill's files are in a subfolder (Dropbox) of the subfolder ('C')

Is this correct?
No.

Default Dropbox data folder location is '$HOME' which translates to the path C:\Users\[USERNAME]\Dropbox

In your example this would be: C:\Users\Bill\Dropbox
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8457 / Linux Mint 22.3
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo A485
    CPU
    Ryzen 7 2700U Pro
    Motherboard
    Lenovo (WiFi/BT module upgraded to Intel Wireless-AC-9260)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    iGPU Vega 10
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" FHD (built-in) + 14" Lenovo Thinkvision M14t (touch+pen) + 32" Asus PB328
    Screen Resolution
    FHD + FHD + 1440p
    Hard Drives
    Intel 660p m.2 nVME PCIe3.0 x2 512GB
    PSU
    125W(Dock)/65W(Travel Adapter)
    Keyboard
    Thinkpad / Logitech MX Keys
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 2S
    Internet Speed
    1/1Gbit
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    SecureBoot: Enabled
    TPM2.0: Enabled
    AMD-V: Enabled
  • Operating System
    Win 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8521(RP)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    i7-7700k @4.8GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus PRIME Z270-A
    Memory
    32GB 2x16GB 2133MHz CL15
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GTX1080Ti FTW 11GB
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32" 10-bit Asus PB328Q
    Screen Resolution
    WQHD 2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    512GB ADATA SX8000NP NVMe PCIe Gen 3 x4
    PSU
    850W
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX Keys
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 2S
    Internet Speed
    1/1Gbit
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    AC WiFi Card
Thank you for the reply. You are right ;-)

That is the path . . .

C:\Users\[USERNAME]\Dropbox


Bill's files are within Dropbox; and Dropbox is within the username [USERNAME], and that is within the C Drive.


I recently learned something I had not known about dropbox. The drop box icon needs to be in the system tray. Files are synced to the cloud.

If the Dropbox icon is not in the system tray, files will not be synced to the cloud. (make sure to look at the hidden menu in the system tray, It is the arrow pointing up. the drop box icon could be within the hidden menu.

If that is the case, Dropbox is within the hidden menu , your files will be synced to the cloud.

(why don't we name this cloud? How about Arnie? You wouldn't want to go by the name 'Person')
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-N305
    Motherboard
    LENOVO LNVNB161216 (U3E1)
    Memory
    Size 7886 MBytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Generic PnP Monitor on Intel UHD Graphics
I recently learned something I had not known about dropbox. The drop box icon needs to be in the system tray. Files are synced to the cloud.

If the Dropbox icon is not in the system tray, files will not be synced to the cloud. (make sure to look at the hidden menu in the system tray, It is the arrow pointing up. the drop box icon could be within the hidden menu.
You can put the DROPBOX folder anywhere you like. AFAIK, you can't run the Dropbox app on the machine without the icon appearing in the system tray. I don't see any option to remove it. If Dropbox isn't running, clearly it won't sync, that's the only way I see of removing the icon from the system tray.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8524
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 45" Ultragear, Acer 24" 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440, 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD (O/S)
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD (backup)
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND (2nd backup)
    Seagate 4TB Ironwolf, rotating HDD archive files
    External off-line backup Drives: 2 NVMe 4TB drives in external enclosures
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security
  • Operating System
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8524
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek Embedded
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" HP 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 eD NAND PCIe SSD
    Samsung EVO 990 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
    Samsung 2TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W
    Case
    Okinos Micro ATX Case
    Cooling
    Fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security
You can put the DROPBOX folder anywhere you like
Yes, during installation. If you can do it after installation, I don't know how that would be done. I don't think you could just cut and paste to another location . . . or rather you shouldn't be able to.

My follow up question:
- I have 4 folder on my desktop (titled A - F; G - L; M - R; S - Z)

[While taking the screenshot, I had an 'a ha' moment, or did I?] . . .

desktop blurred.webp

Can I save files to the 4 folders, that are on my desktop (because it is within Dropbox). Or do I need to make 4 shortcuts to those folders?

Thank you
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-N305
    Motherboard
    LENOVO LNVNB161216 (U3E1)
    Memory
    Size 7886 MBytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Generic PnP Monitor on Intel UHD Graphics
You can change the Dropbox folder location anytime, it's trivial. Click on your account in the Windows ap and select Preferences. Click on Sync and use the Change location button.

1767314641144.webp
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8524
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 45" Ultragear, Acer 24" 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440, 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD (O/S)
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD (backup)
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND (2nd backup)
    Seagate 4TB Ironwolf, rotating HDD archive files
    External off-line backup Drives: 2 NVMe 4TB drives in external enclosures
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security
  • Operating System
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8524
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek Embedded
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" HP 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 eD NAND PCIe SSD
    Samsung EVO 990 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
    Samsung 2TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W
    Case
    Okinos Micro ATX Case
    Cooling
    Fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security
I have a 7 hub USB adapter connected to my laptop, with 2 X 1 TB USB thumb drives and Dropbox could be on a USB thumb drive? (It's taking up 164 GB of my C drive).

It hadn't occurred to me I could do that. Thank you. I just had an a-ha moment
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-N305
    Motherboard
    LENOVO LNVNB161216 (U3E1)
    Memory
    Size 7886 MBytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Generic PnP Monitor on Intel UHD Graphics
Back
Top Bottom