Dropbox files and Time machine

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Level 1

77 points

Dropbox files and Time machine

Hi-

I have been using Dropbox and Time Machine together on my iMac for years with no issue.

While corresponding with Dropbox support on some other matter, the subject of Time Machine (TM) came up. Dropbox support tells me that I should absolutely not use Dropbox and TM on the same machine. (Please see Dropbox support comments below). This is disappointing news - before I abandon Dropbox, I was wondering if others might have a point of view on the comments below and whether they make sense.

"Please note that the Time Machine is a backup service that is not compatible to Dropbox. When using them together, you risk mass deletion events as the Time Machine can corrupt Dropbox files or it can violently disconnect the Dropbox folder.

For the above reason it is highly recommended to not use those 2 services on the same files. If you wish, you can copy the Dropbox files and them back the copies inside the Time Machine."

"Please note, that it is highly recommended to not use Time Machine with Dropbox files and folders, as it could cause issues with the function of both devices and you may risk data loss."

Thanks!!

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Feb 11, 2022 11:04 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

James Brickley

Level 5

5,686 points

Feb 11, 2022 4:18 PM in response to akfromnyc

Sounds like old advice from a long time ago. Modern Time Machine uses APFS and snapshots and delta copies. Snapshots are made to the file system without impacting the files and they are read only and can be mounted like a file system. It would be highly unlikely to cause Dropbox any problems. But back when Time Machine was using HFS+ and hard links? Yes, it could be a problem.

Cloud storage solutions such as Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, GoogleDrive, etc. Backup in the cloud so you really don't need to backup with Time Machine but like they said, you could exclude the Dropbox folder from Time Machine and copy the files to another folder and backup that folder as a precaution. It certainly wouldn't hurt. But Dropbox will have its own backups providing the files successfully sync'd to Dropbox.

Heads Up! As of Monterey 12.3, which hasn't shipped yet. Both Dropbox and OneDrive and perhaps others will have to give up their use of kernel extensions per Apple. There are apparently solutions in place and some functionality will be lost. No doubt you should upgrade Dropbox, etc. when Monterey 12.3 is released. It may well result in a lot of confusion and frustration.

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Answer 2

Feb 11, 2022 5:07 PM in response to akfromnyc

There is no such thing as too many backups that will always be true. But it is also true that you should consider listening to a vendor when they tell you things like Time Machine and Dropbox are a bad idea.

So follow their advice and exclude the Dropbox directory from Time Machine as well as setting up a script or something that automatically copies the data from the Dropbox folder into another folder and then allowing Time Machine to backup that folder.

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Answer 3

akfromnyc Author

Level 1

77 points

Feb 11, 2022 4:45 PM in response to James Brickley

Thanks James - great to know. Re TM and dropbox possibly being redundant (I think that is what you said, effectively), isn't it true:

It can never hurt to have multiple backup schemes (I use Backblaze in addition to TM to two different disks :))
TM can provide one with access to an older version of a file, which dropbox can't (other than for 30 days).

So, would you say I am taking undue risk including my dropbox folder in my TM machine backup?

Thanks.

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