How to move Dropbox folder back to its default location on a Mac, manually?

Introduction

Dropbox is a popular cloud storage service that lets you sync files across multiple devices. When you install Dropbox on your Mac, it creates a Dropbox folder in your user account's home folder. This serves as the default sync location for Dropbox. However, you may have accidentally moved this folder elsewhere on your Mac. If so, you can easily move it back to its original default location. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to manually move your Dropbox folder back to its default location on a Mac.

Prerequisites

Before moving the Dropbox folder, make sure:

• You have admin access on your Mac as you'll need permissions to move folders in the user account.
• Dropbox app is installed and set up on your Mac.

  

• You know the current location of the Dropbox folder on your Mac.

Step 1: Locate Current Dropbox Folder

To begin, you need to locate your current Dropbox folder on the Mac. Here are a couple ways to do this:

Check Dropbox App

Open the Dropbox app and click on the icon in the menu bar. This will show the current sync location of the Dropbox folder.

Use Finder

Open Finder and hit Command+Shift+G to bring up the 'Go to Folder' dialogue box. Enter the full path to your home folder (usually /Users/your_username) and hit Go. Browse this location to see if you can spot the Dropbox folder.

Once you've located the current Dropbox folder, take note of its full path. We'll need this later.

Step 2: Move Dropbox Folder to New Location

Now that you've found your Dropbox folder, we need to move it to the new default location. Here are the steps:

1. Quit the Dropbox app by right clicking its menu bar icon and selecting Quit. This ensures no syncing happens during the folder move process.
2. Navigate to the current Dropbox folder location in Finder.
3. Drag and drop the folder to move it to the new location in your home folder. For example, /Users/your_username/Dropbox.
4. Authenticate with administrator credentials if prompted.

The Dropbox folder will now be moved to the new location.

Step 3: Point Dropbox App to New Location

Once the Dropbox folder is moved, launch the Dropbox app again. It will show an error about the sync folder missing.

To point Dropbox to the new folder location:

1. In the Dropbox app, go to Preferences > Account.
2. Click 'Choose' under the Sync section.
3. Navigate to and choose the new Dropbox folder location.
4. Click Open.

This will link the Dropbox app back to the new sync folder location. After a few minutes, syncing will resume normally.

Step 4: Test and Verify

To confirm everything is working properly:

• Add a test file to Dropbox on your Mac and make sure it syncs to the linked devices.
• Add a test file on a linked device and verify it syncs to your Mac's new Dropbox location.
• Check the app menu bar icon to confirm the correct new folder location.

If syncing is working in both directions, then you've successfully moved the Dropbox folder back to the default location!

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to ever lose them to hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts. 

Simply Download PicBackMan (it's free!), register your account, connect to your online store and tell PicBackMan where your videos are - PicBackMan does the rest, automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and uploads those too. You don't have to ever touch it.

FAQs

Below are some common questions about moving the Dropbox folder on a Mac:

What is the default Dropbox folder location on a Mac?

The default location is a subfolder called Dropbox inside your user account's home folder. For example, /Users/your_username/Dropbox.

Can I choose a custom Dropbox folder location?

Yes, when initially setting up Dropbox you can choose a custom sync folder location. But the default home folder location is recommended.

What happens if I delete the old Dropbox folder after moving it?

Nothing, as long as you've pointed the Dropbox app to the new location it will keep syncing files seamlessly. The old folder can be safely deleted.

Will all my synced files and data move with the folder?

Yes, all synced files and data will remain intact when you move the Dropbox folder to the new location. Nothing gets deleted or lost.

Can I move the Dropbox folder while it is syncing files?

No, it's best to quit the Dropbox app first before moving the folder. This avoids potential sync conflicts or data loss.

How can I troubleshoot issues if Dropbox stops syncing after the move?

• First restart your Mac and Dropbox app. Then recheck the sync.
• Make sure Dropbox is pointing to the correct new folder location in Preferences.
• Contact Dropbox support if sync doesn't resume after moving the folder.

What if I don't have admin access on my work computer?

You won't be able to move the Dropbox folder on a Mac where you don't have admin access. Contact your IT team for assistance.

Conclusion

Moving the Dropbox folder on Mac back to its default location is straightforward. Just locate the current folder, move it to the new home folder path, point the Dropbox app to this new location, verify syncing works, and you're all set. Taking the time to manually relocate the Dropbox folder can help avoid potential issues down the line and keep your files neatly organized.