Change Dropbox Folder Location

Relocating Your Dropbox Folder

Typically, your Dropbox folder resides within your Users folder, specifically at C:\Users\ on Windows systems, or your Home folder on OS X and Linux. However, relocating it is a straightforward process if desired.

The reasons for moving your Dropbox folder are varied and depend on individual system configurations. You might have a smaller drive dedicated to your operating system, such as an SSD, and a larger secondary drive for general storage. Alternatively, you may simply prefer a different organizational structure, like direct placement within your Documents folder.

Important Considerations

Before changing the location, several points should be considered:

Removable Drives are Not Supported: Dropbox necessitates a consistent connection to the folder for proper synchronization. Removable drives, even those constantly connected, are susceptible to disconnections or power loss.
Network Shares are Incompatible: Dropbox relies on drive update events from physically connected drives to detect file changes. Network drives do not transmit these events, preventing proper syncing.
Use the Dropbox App for Relocation: Avoid manually moving the folder. Doing so will force Dropbox to recreate it and initiate a full resynchronization.

To initiate the move, locate the Dropbox icon in your system tray (or menu bar on OS X). Click this icon, then select the Settings option, and finally choose Preferences.

Within the Dropbox Preferences window, navigate to the Account tab. Adjacent to the displayed current folder location, you will find a "Move" button – click it.

A file browser window will appear, allowing you to select the desired new location. A folder named "Dropbox" will automatically be created within your chosen directory. Therefore, avoid manually creating a folder named "Dropbox"; simply select the parent folder.

Confirm your selection by clicking "OK".

A confirmation prompt will appear. Click "OK" again to authorize Dropbox to proceed with the relocation.

Dropbox will then transfer your files to the new location. Once completed, you can continue using Dropbox without interruption. The process is now finalized.