Transferring files from Dropbox to an external hard drive is a straightforward process that requires some basic steps. You can transfer files in batches or individually, depending on your needs.
First, ensure your external hard drive is properly connected to your computer and has enough storage space to hold the files you want to transfer. You can also consider using a USB 3.0 or faster connection for faster transfer speeds.
To select files for transfer, navigate to the Dropbox folder on your computer and choose the files you want to move. You can select multiple files by holding down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Mac) while clicking on each file.
Once you've selected the files, you can drag and drop them into the external hard drive folder on your computer.
Why Back Up Files
Backing up your files is a crucial step in protecting your data from loss. You can lose access to your files if you delete them in Dropbox, and they will be gone forever after 30 days.
External hard drives offer a safe and cost-effective solution for backing up your files. They can store large amounts of data at a low upfront cost, and you only need to pay for the drive once.
To avoid data loss and ensure you have a backup of your important files, it's essential to back up your Dropbox files to an external hard drive.
Backing Up Files
Backing up your files is a great way to ensure that your important data is safe in case of a computer crash or other disaster. An external hard drive can be a great backup option, as it can prevent hackers from intruding and storing everything in minutes.
You can use an external hard drive to backup your Dropbox data, which is a good choice for double insurance. This way, you'll have a local copy of your files in case something goes wrong with the cloud.
To backup Dropbox to an external hard drive, you can download all your Dropbox folders and files to the external drive. This can be done by clicking on "All Files" on the left side, pressing Ctrl + A to select all files, and then clicking the "Download" button.
Here are the steps to download all Dropbox folders and files:
- Click "All Files" on the left side.
- Press Ctrl + A to select all files.
- Click the "Download" button.
Once you've downloaded all your files, you can move them to the external hard drive. This will complete the backup process.
Why?
Backing up your files is crucial, and Dropbox is a great place to start. Dropbox is not a backup service, so there may be data loss if you rely solely on it.
External hard drives offer double data protection, ensuring your files are safe even if you delete them by mistake. Dropbox only keeps deleted files for 30 days, after which they're gone forever.
Backing up to an external hard drive is also a safer option, as it's not as vulnerable to hacker attacks as Dropbox. This means your files are protected from unauthorized access.
The cost-effectiveness of external hard drives is another reason to back up your Dropbox files. Free users only get 2GB of cloud storage, but with an external hard drive, you only pay once for the storage space.
You can't access Dropbox files offline, which can be a problem if you're working on a project without an internet connection. But if you back up your Dropbox files to an external hard drive, you can access them anytime, anywhere.
Transferring Files to External Hard Drive
Transferring files to an external hard drive is a great way to ensure your Dropbox data is safe in case of a disaster. You can download all Dropbox folders and files to backup by clicking on "All Files" on the left side, then pressing Ctrl + A to select all Dropbox folders and files, and clicking the Download button.
The downloaded Dropbox.zip file will be saved to your computer, and you can then move it to the external hard drive that you've connected to. This method is easy and straightforward, and it's a good option if you want a local copy of your important files.
To make the process even easier, you can use the Dropbox desktop app to backup your files to the external hard drive. Simply connect your external hard drive to your computer, ensure it's detected, and then choose the external hard drive as the Dropbox default folder location.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Download all Dropbox folders and files to backup
- Move the downloaded Dropbox.zip file to the external hard drive
- Use the Dropbox desktop app to backup your files to the external hard drive
Alternatively, you can use third-party tools like AOMEI Backupper Standard to automatically backup your Dropbox files to the external hard drive. This method is more convenient and can save you time in the long run.
Automatic Transfer Methods
Automatic Transfer Methods can be a lifesaver when it comes to backing up your Dropbox files to an external hard drive. You can use a powerful data backup and sync software like AOMEI Backupper Standard to transfer files between two locations easily.
AOMEI Backupper Standard offers various backup and sync functions that can help you transfer files between two locations easily. It allows you to auto backup Dropbox, Google Drive, as well as OneDrive to external hard drive in Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10/11.
To use AOMEI Backupper Standard, you need to connect your external hard drive with your computer and make sure it can be detected. Then, download and install Dropbox desktop app on your computer, which will create a Dropbox folder on your computer.
AOMEI Backupper Standard also allows you to run the sync task automatically. You can select Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event triggers, and USB Plug in to make it run automatically.
Here's a summary of the automatic transfer methods using AOMEI Backupper Standard:
Qiling Disk Master Standard is another free yet powerful file sync software that allows you to sync Dropbox to external hard drive automatically. It offers various features such as differential and incremental backup, which can help you backup only changed files.
To use Qiling Disk Master Standard, you need to connect your external hard drive to your computer and download the software. Then, select Files Backup and choose the Dropbox folder as the source location. Finally, select the external hard drive as the destination location and click the Start Sync button.
Qiling Disk Master Standard also allows you to run the sync task automatically. You can select Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event triggers, and USB Plug in to make it run automatically.
AOMEI Backupper Standard is still a free backup software, so you can use its backup feature to compress the infrequently used Dropbox files. To backup Dropbox to external hard drive, select Files Backup and enable differential and incremental backup.
Manual Transfer Methods
You can manually transfer your Dropbox files to an external hard drive by downloading all folders and files. Click All Files on the left side and press Ctrl + A to select all folders and files.
To initiate the download, click the Download button. You'll see the Dropbox.zip file downloading, so be patient.
Once the download is complete, open the download folder to find the Dropbox.zip file. Then, move it to the external hard drive you connected to before.
Alternatively, you can also change the Dropbox folder to the external hard drive. To do this, tap the Dropbox icon in the system tray and click your Dropbox account icon at the top right corner, then select Preferences.
Efficient Transfer Techniques
There are three efficient ways to transfer Dropbox files to an external hard drive.
You can choose to automatically backup your Dropbox files via a third-party tool, which is a great option if you want to set it and forget it.
Manual methods are also available, including downloading from Dropbox to an external hard drive via the Dropbox website.
Additionally, you can use the Dropbox desktop app to backup your files to an external hard drive.
Here are the three manual methods in a concise list:
- Download from Dropbox to external hard drive via Dropbox website
- Backup Dropbox to external hard drive via Dropbox desktop app
Location and Device
The Dropbox folder is usually located on your main system hard drive, specifically on the "C:\Users\Username\Dropbox" folder, where Username is your account name. You can find it by typing %HOMEPATH%\Dropbox into the address bar and hitting Enter.
To change the download location, you can select files or folders you want to backup and click the Download button to save it to your external hard drive. Choose the external hard drive as the Dropbox folder location to save all the files from Dropbox.
Although Dropbox doesn't support backing up to removable media, you can still move the Dropbox folder to an external USB flash drive or SD card by mounting the device and moving the folder to it directly. Access your USB flash/thumb drive/SD card through the mounted location (C: DB Mount) to do so.
To move the Dropbox folder to an external hard drive, you can use the Sync tab on the Dropbox desktop app and click Move... button behind the Dropbox folder location. Select the external hard drive as the destination to do Dropbox automatic backup.
You can also directly move the Dropbox folder to your external hard drive using the Desktop app. Connect your external drive, access all the available drives on your computer, and select the external hard drive as the new Dropbox folder location to save all the files from Dropbox.
Downloading and Syncing
You can download Dropbox files manually to an external hard drive by changing the download location in your browser.
In Chrome, select files or folders you want to backup, click the Download button, and then choose the external hard drive as the Dropbox folder location.
Syncing Dropbox to an external hard drive automatically is also an option. You can use free file sync software like Qiling Disk Master Standard or AOMEI Backupper Standard to automate the process.
These tools allow you to select the Dropbox folder as the source location and the external hard drive as the destination location.
You can also run the sync task automatically, for example, daily, weekly, or monthly.
Here are some key features to consider when using these tools:
- Schedule sync: enable it to run automatically at set intervals
- Verify file integrity: ensure files are intact during synchronization
- Sync deleted files: automatically sync deleted files
- Run specified programs or scripts: enable paid features for additional functionality
Both Qiling Disk Master Standard and AOMEI Backupper Standard offer free backup software features, including compression of infrequently used Dropbox files and differential and incremental backup.
Sources
- https://www.cbackup.com/articles/backup-dropbox-to-external-hard-drive-6688.html
- https://www.qilingtech.com/articles/backup-dropbox-to-external-hard-drive-5740.shtml
- https://www.cbackup.com/articles/backing-up-dropbox-5740.html
- https://www.edsurge.com/news/2014-06-19-from-dropbox-to-flash-drives-tips-and-tools-for-backing-up
- https://www.ubackup.com/articles/backup-dropbox-to-external-hard-drive-5740.html
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