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To move the Dropbox folder on a Windows PC, use the Dropbox desktop app’s folder-location setting—not File Explorer. Open Dropbox Preferences, select Sync, choose Move beside Dropbox folder location, and select the new destination. Close apps using Dropbox files and turn off computer backup before you begin.
Move the Dropbox folder using the desktop app
- Prepare Dropbox: close applications that may be using files in your Dropbox folder and disable computer backup. Dropbox says the move requires disk space.
- Click the Dropbox icon in the Windows taskbar.
- Open the account avatar or menu, then select Preferences.
- Open Sync.
- Under Dropbox folder location, click Move or Move…. The wording can vary; use the folder-location control shown in Sync settings.
- Select the new location and let Dropbox move the folder and its contents. Keep the folder name unchanged.
- When the move is complete, sign out of the desktop app and sign back in so Dropbox can move its preferences as well.
Dropbox’s folder-move instructions describe the Move control and preparation steps. Its desktop preferences guide, updated September 29, 2026, confirms that Windows users can change the folder location in app preferences.
Important things to know before changing the location
Do not move or rename the folder in File Explorer
Use Dropbox’s Move control rather than dragging the entire Dropbox folder to another location in File Explorer. Dropbox warns that it will not sync a folder that has been manually moved or renamed through the operating system. It also says the folder keeps its existing name and cannot be renamed during the move. If Dropbox loses track of the folder, it may try to sync it in full from its last known location.
Choose the correct account
If you have two Dropbox accounts linked, select the tab for the account whose folder you want to move before changing the location.
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Check the destination before proceeding
Dropbox says disk space is needed for the move. Its Windows instructions reviewed here do not establish whether a particular external drive, drive format, or connection setup is supported. Check Dropbox’s current guidance for your configuration before selecting an external destination.
Moving the folder is different from moving files inside Dropbox
This procedure changes the location of the local Dropbox sync folder on your PC. It does not reorganize files within your Dropbox account. To move files or folders within Dropbox, follow the separate instructions for moving Dropbox files and folders.
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If your goal is to free up space instead
If you want to keep the Dropbox folder where it is but store less of its content on your PC, consider selective sync. It lets you remove chosen folders from the local drive while keeping them in your Dropbox account. Dropbox says selective sync is available to all users, including Basic, and that each computer has its own folder selections. See Dropbox’s selective sync overview, updated September 15, 2026.
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| Option | Changes the local folder location? | What stays on the PC? | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move the Dropbox folder | Yes | The folder and its contents move to the selected location. | You need a different local path and want the folder in that location. |
| Selective sync | No | Only the folders you choose to sync locally. | You want to reduce local disk use while keeping the folders in your Dropbox account. |
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