Creating a local backup of Dropbox means downloading all your Dropbox files to your computer or another local storage device so that you have access to them even if Dropbox is unavailable. Here’s how to do it:
✅ Option 1: Use Dropbox App with Smart Sync or Selective Sync
If you already use the Dropbox desktop app:
- Ensure all files are available locally:
- Open your Dropbox folder.
- Right-click on the root folder or any subfolder.
- Select “Make available offline” (on Windows) or “Smart Sync > Local” (on macOS).
- This downloads all files to your local drive.
- Manual copy to external drive (optional):
- After syncing, you can copy the entire Dropbox folder to an external hard drive or another location.
✅ Option 2: Manual Download from Dropbox.com
For a one-time or occasional backup:
- Visit https://www.dropbox.com.
- Navigate to “All files”.
- Select all files/folders you want to back up.
- Click the “Download” button.
- You’ll get a
.zipfile with your Dropbox data.
⚠️ Dropbox only allows you to download folders with up to 20GB or 10,000 files at a time. Use the desktop app for larger backups.
✅ Option 3: Use Dropbox CLI or API (Advanced Users)
You can script downloads using the Dropbox API or tools like rclone:
bashCopyEditrclone sync dropbox:/ ~/DropboxBackup
You’ll need to authorise rclone with your Dropbox account first.
🛡️ Backup Tips
- Schedule regular backups with a script or backup software.
- Use versioning tools like Time Machine or rsync snapshots.
- Verify integrity of your backups periodically.
Further readings: