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Dropbox Backup Not Working? Solved with 9 Solutions

Are you in trouble with Dropbox not syncing on Mac or Windows? Do you want to fix it quickly? Check the 10 easy solutions here! The post will gather some common solutions to inspire you to address the problem. Besides, it will tell you the best way to backup files from another cloud to Dropbox automatically.

April 8, 2024

Does Dropbox Backup Work?

Dropbox Backup Not Working

Yes, Dropbox definitely offers its backup solution which has basic file backup capabilities like file versioning, deleted file recovery, and selective sync. File versioning retains a record of all file modifications during the last 30 days (free users) or more (paid users). With this feature, you can recover previous versions of files. Deleted file recovery helps restore the files that were deleted within 30 days. Besides, Dropbox Selective Sync means you can choose your preferred files and folders to backup, not all the files.

However, Dropbox Backup also has some limitations. For example, it is not suitable for long-term archives since it can only save your old file versions or deleted files for a specific period. Moreover, Dropbox Backup cannot backup the entire computer system, including system files and applications.

When you are using Dropbox Backup and encounter problems like “Why are my files not saving to Dropbox”, you can try the 9 effective solutions in the following part.

How to Fix Dropbox Backup Not Working Issue – 9 Solutions

If you have an error backing up Dropbox folders or files, there are 9 easy solutions that you can take to troubleshoot your problem.

Solution 1: Check Internet Connection

When you want to take advantage of Dropbox Backup to upload files from your computer to Dropbox, you have to make sure that your device is connected to a stable network. Dropbox Backup cannot work in the no network connection situation and poor connectivity may prevent Dropbox from syncing or backing up files.

Check Internet Connection

Solution 2: Restart Dropbox

Your Dropbox Backup not working may be a result of the Dropbox app glitches. Sometimes, restarting the Dropbox app can solve the syncing issue. Try to quit the Dropbox app and restart it to see if this solution works.

Solution 3: Update Dropbox

The updated Dropbox app may bring some functional improvements or issue fixes. Therefore, ensure you are using the latest version of the Dropbox app. You can check for updates in your app store or download the latest version from the Dropbox website.

Solution 4: Check Dropbox Settings

If you find Dropbox Backup not working on some folders, you may forget to select the folders to sync with Dropbox. It will be helpful if you verify that your backup settings in Dropbox are configured correctly and make sure that the folders you want to backup are selected for syncing.

Check Dropbox Backup Settings

Solution 5: Check Available Storage

If you do not have enough Dropbox storage, the files and folders you want to backup may not be saved to it. If your Dropbox storage is full, you can delete some unnecessary files on Dropbox or upgrade your plan to get more storage and get rid of the issue of Dropbox Backup not working.

Solution 6: Restart Your Device

Except for restarting the Dropbox app, you can also restart your device to handle the issue of Dropbox not syncing on Mac or Windows. Shut down your computer or mobile device and reboot it. Sometimes, a simple restart can fix the syncing issue effortlessly.

Restart Your Device

Solution 7: Check File Path Length

Dropbox limits the file path length to no more than 260 characters. So, you have to name the files or folders you want to backup in this limitation. Long file paths can sometimes cause Dropbox backup issues.

Solution 8: Clear Cache

If you find Dropbox Backup not working on your mobile device, you can clear Dropbox’s cache to resolve the syncing problem. You can go to your device’s app settings and clear the cache for Dropbox.

Solution 9: Check Firewall/Antivirus Settings

The firewalls or antivirus programs on your device may block Dropbox from syncing. In this case, you can try to temporarily disable these security features and check if the Dropbox Backup starts working.

Temporarily Turn Off Firewall

Automatically Backup Cloud Files to Dropbox

In addition to backing up files from local to Dropbox, you may also want to backup another cloud drive to Dropbox or vice versa. Here is the easiest way to reach that goal - MultCloud Cloud Backup. MultCloud is a cloud storage manager that supports Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, Amazon S3, iCloud Drive, pCloud, and other clouds.

MultCloud

Cloud Backup is specially designed for cloud-to-cloud backup. Like Dropbox Backup, MultCloud Cloud Backup can also automatically upload files from another cloud to Dropbox. Besides, file versioning is provided as well to let you restore files with different versions. However, Cloud Backup uses data traffic to transfer files. Thus, you can avoid the backup issue caused by a poor Internet connection but backup files offline.

If Cloud Backup can do you a favor and want to use it, you can refer to the steps for backing up Google Drive to Dropbox below.

Step 1: Go to MultCloud and create a free account.

Step 2: Add Google Drive and Dropbox to MultCloud. To add a cloud, click “Add Cloud” in the left bar and choose the cloud logo. Then, log in to the cloud account in the pop-up window and accept MultCloud to access your cloud files.

Add Google Drive and Dropbox

Step 3: Select “Cloud Backup” and choose Google Drive as the source and Dropbox as the target in the boxes. Then, click “Backup Now” to start this task.

Backup Google Drive to Dropbox

Step 4: To restore files from Dropbox to Google Drive, select “Task List” in the left bar > find the backup task > click the 3-line icon > choose “Restore” > finish restore settings > click “Restore” to start this task.

Restore from Dropbox to Google Drive

Notes:

  • If you want this backup task to run regularly, you can set a backup frequency in “Schedule”.
  • MultCloud provides you with 5 GB of free data traffic each month. If you want more for file transfer, you can consider upgrading your plan.
Backup Schedule

Conclusion

The former gives you 9 solutions to resolve the Dropbox Backup not working issue. Since all the solutions are easy to operate, you can try them one by one until you find the right one. What’s more, the post also shows you an automatic way to backup another cloud to Dropbox which is via MultCloud Cloud Backup. This function can directly save files from another cloud to Dropbox and allows you to restore files with different versions. Also, you can use Cloud Backup for other clouds like backing up iCloud Photos to Google Photos.

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