To move the Dropbox folder on your PC, click the Dropbox icon in the taskbar, click your avatar in the bottom-left corner, choose Preferences, open the Sync tab, and click Move… next to the folder location. Pick the new location, and Dropbox moves the folder and everything in it for you.
These steps are for the Dropbox desktop app on Windows 10 and Windows 11, and the same Move… button exists in the Linux app. On a Mac, the newer Dropbox for macOS on File Provider no longer lets you pick any folder; that exception is covered below. The steps follow Dropbox’s own help article, How to move the Dropbox folder to a new location.
Why Move the Dropbox Folder?
On Windows, Dropbox puts its folder inside your user folder by default, at C:\Users\YourName\Dropbox, and it appears in the File Explorer navigation pane. That is fine until the folder grows. The most common reasons to move it:
- The C: drive is filling up. Many laptops have a small SSD for Windows and a larger second drive for files. Every file Dropbox keeps on the computer takes up space on whichever drive holds the folder.
- You added a new drive. If you just installed a second SSD, the Dropbox folder is one of the easiest large folders to put on it. A new internal drive has to be set up before Windows can use it, so initialize the SSD in Windows 11 if it doesn’t appear in File Explorer yet.
- You want it with your other files. Some people keep everything under one folder, such as Documents or D:\Files, and want Dropbox there too.
Moving the folder changes only where it sits on this computer. It doesn’t change your Dropbox account, your shared folders, or the copies on your other devices.
Before You Move the Dropbox Folder
A few minutes of checking prevents most failed moves. Dropbox lists these requirements and limits:
- Free space. The new drive needs enough room for the files Dropbox keeps on this computer. Right-click the Dropbox folder in File Explorer and choose Properties to see its size, then compare it with the free space shown under This PC. Leave extra room, since the drive needs space for the files you add later.
- An NTFS drive. Dropbox’s system requirements list an NTFS-formatted hard drive for Windows. Most internal drives already use NTFS. A USB drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT won’t meet that requirement.
- No shortcuts or links. Dropbox doesn’t support symlinks, shortcuts, junction points, or networked folders. Don’t point the move at a folder that is really a link to somewhere else.
- Some file metadata stays behind. Extended attributes that Dropbox doesn’t support aren’t stored in Dropbox and won’t move with the folder. For ordinary documents and photos, this rarely matters.
- The right account. If you’ve linked a personal and a work Dropbox account on this PC, both appear in Preferences. Select the account you want to move first, since each one has its own folder.
It’s also worth letting Dropbox finish syncing before you start. If the Dropbox icon shows files still syncing, wait until it says your files are up to date, so nothing is mid-upload when the folder moves. If a file only exists on this PC and matters a lot, copy it to another drive as a backup first.
How to Move the Dropbox Folder Location
- Save your work and close any apps that may be using your Dropbox files, such as Word, Excel, photo editors, or a File Explorer window open to the Dropbox folder. Turn off any computer backup program that is running.
- Click the Dropbox icon in the taskbar notification area near the clock. If you don’t see it, click the up arrow to show hidden icons. The Dropbox window opens.
- Click your avatar (your profile picture or initials) in the bottom-left corner of that window. A menu opens.
- Click Preferences. The Preferences window opens.
- Click the Sync tab. Under Dropbox folder location, you see the current path.
- Click Move…. A folder browser opens.
- Choose the folder that should contain your Dropbox folder, such as the top of your D: drive, and click OK or Select Folder.
- Confirm the move when Dropbox asks. Dropbox copies the folder and its contents to the new location and shows its progress.
- Wait for the move to finish. Keep the PC awake and plugged in, and don’t open or edit Dropbox files until it’s done.
- Sign out of the Dropbox desktop app and sign back in, so the rest of your preferences move with the folder.
Dropbox creates a folder named Dropbox inside whatever folder you pick. If you choose D:\, you end up with D:\Dropbox. Don’t make an empty “Dropbox” folder yourself and select it, or you’ll get a Dropbox folder inside another Dropbox folder. The folder keeps its current name, and you can’t rename it during the move.
How long the move takes depends on how much data Dropbox stores on the PC. A few gigabytes usually take minutes, and a very large folder can take much longer, especially on an older hard drive.
Confirm the Move Worked
- Open File Explorer and go to the new location. You should see the Dropbox folder with your files inside it.
- Click the Dropbox icon again. It should report that your files are up to date.
- Open Preferences > Sync and check that Dropbox folder location shows the new path.
- Make a small test change, such as creating a text file in the folder, and check that it appears on dropbox.com or another device.
If the old location still has a Dropbox folder after the move, check it before deleting anything. Dropbox moves the contents, so the old folder should be gone or empty.
Don’t Move It in File Explorer
Always move the folder from Dropbox Preferences, never by dragging it or using cut and paste. Dropbox won’t sync the folder if you rename or move it through your operating system. If the app loses track of the folder, it tries to sync the whole thing again from its last known location, which can mean downloading everything again onto the drive you were trying to clear.
This is the main difference from ordinary files. With your own documents, cut and paste is fine. The Dropbox folder is tied to the app’s settings, so the app has to make the change.
For ordinary folders outside Dropbox, you can move files instead of copying them with cut and paste in File Explorer.
Where Should You Put the Dropbox Folder?
Dropbox’s advice depends on the type of drive:
| Location | Works? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Internal drive (second SSD or hard drive) | Best choice | Windows connects it at startup, so Dropbox finds the folder as soon as the app launches. |
| External USB drive | Possible, not recommended | It can disconnect during a sync, or mount after Dropbox starts, and then Dropbox can’t find the folder. |
| Network drive or NAS | Not supported | Network drives don’t send the file-change notices Dropbox uses to spot edits. |
| SD card or other removable media | Not recommended | Dropbox needs constant access to its folder. |
If you do use an external drive, keep it plugged in whenever Dropbox is running, and connect it directly rather than through an unpowered hub. Windows can also assign a different drive letter to a USB drive after you plug in other devices, which leaves Dropbox looking in the wrong place. You can give the drive a fixed letter in Disk Management to avoid that.
Choose a short, plain path such as D:\Dropbox rather than a folder buried several levels deep. Avoid putting Dropbox inside another sync folder, such as OneDrive, because two services syncing the same files can cause conflicts. Also remember that anyone who can open the drive can open your Dropbox files on it, so pick a drive only you use if privacy matters.
If you only need room on C: for new files, you might not need to move Dropbox at all. Windows can change the default save location for new documents, and you can extend the C drive when the disk has unallocated space next to it.
Downloads can go elsewhere too: here is how to change the default download location in Windows 11.
How to Move the Dropbox Folder Back to Its Default Location
Dropbox has a shortcut for returning the folder to your user folder on Windows:
- Close any apps using your Dropbox files.
- Click the Dropbox icon in the taskbar, click your avatar, then click Preferences.
- Click the Sync tab.
- Under Dropbox Folder Location, click Move.
- In the box next to Folder:, type
$Home. - Click OK, then click OK again to confirm the move.
- Sign out of the Dropbox app and sign back in.
The Dropbox folder returns to C:\Users\YourName\Dropbox. Make sure C: has enough free space first, or the move can’t finish.
What If You Use a Mac?
If you use Dropbox for macOS on File Provider, you can’t move the Dropbox folder anymore. On that version, the folder lives in ~/Library/CloudStorage and appears in Finder under Locations. Dropbox is rolling out support for moving the folder to a compatible external drive for some users, and it says you can return the folder to its original location by opting out of Dropbox on File Provider.
If your Mac still uses the older Dropbox app, the steps match the Windows ones, except the button on the Sync tab is labeled Dropbox location. To go back to the default there, open the dropdown beside Dropbox location, choose Other…, open your hard drive’s Users folder, select your username (marked with a home icon), click Select, and then click Move.
Troubleshooting
The Move… button is missing. Update the Dropbox desktop app and look again on the Sync tab. Older Dropbox versions kept the folder location on the Account tab. If you only see a Select folders to sync option and no folder location, you may be in the Mac File Provider version described above.
The Move… button is greyed out or nothing happens. Close Preferences and open it again, and make sure you’ve selected the account you’re signed in to. Close any program that has a Dropbox file open, then try again.
Dropbox reports that it can’t move the folder there. Check that the destination has enough free space, that your Windows account can create files in that folder, and that the drive is NTFS. System-protected folders such as C:\Windows or C:\Program Files are poor choices. A very long path can also cause errors, so try a folder near the top of the drive.
Files stop syncing after the move. Confirm the drive is connected and that you moved the folder from Preferences, not File Explorer. Quit the Dropbox app and open it again. If you used an external drive, check whether its drive letter changed; if so, assign the old letter back in Disk Management.
You see “conflicted copy” files. Dropbox makes these when the same file changed in two places at once. Open both versions, keep the one you want, and delete the other.
The drive is too small for everything. Use selective sync so the PC only keeps the folders you need. In Preferences > Sync, use the option to choose folders to sync, uncheck large folders you don’t use on this computer, and click Update. Those folders stay in your Dropbox account online. Dropbox’s selective sync overview has more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does moving the Dropbox folder delete or re-upload my files?
No. When you use the Move… button, Dropbox moves the existing files on your computer to the new location. Your account and your other devices aren’t affected. A full re-sync only happens if the app loses track of the folder, usually after someone moved it in File Explorer.
Can I rename the Dropbox folder?
Not with the move. The folder keeps the same name and can’t be renamed during the move. Renaming it in File Explorer breaks syncing, the same as moving it there.
Does moving the folder change anything in my Dropbox account?
No. This process only changes where the folder sits on your computer. Shared folders keep their members and permissions. To reorganize what’s inside your account, move files and folders within Dropbox instead. To remove photos from your account using your phone, you can delete a picture from the Dropbox iPhone app.
Can I put the Dropbox folder on a network drive or NAS?
No. Dropbox doesn’t support networked folders, because network drives don’t report file changes the way Dropbox needs. Use an internal drive in the PC instead.
How do I find where my Dropbox folder is now?
Open Dropbox Preferences, click the Sync tab, and read the path under Dropbox folder location. You can also open File Explorer and click Dropbox in the navigation pane.
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Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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