Can Dropbox Sync Files Outside of Dropbox folder?

As a matter of fact, Dropbox can only sync folders located in the Dropbox folder. Although you could move the folders to the Dropbox folder and make it synced, it’s troublesome and not the ideal solution.

Don’t worry, there still have four ways to let Dropbox sync folders outside of Dropbox folder to backup files to Dropbox.

Way 1. Create Dropbox Symlink to Sync Folders Outside Dropbox Folder

To make the Dropbox sync files outside folder, you have to take advantage of the command prompt and use the syntax of mklink to create Dropbox Symlink:

mklink /d "New Folder" "Original Folder"

• /d: creates a directory symbolic link(symlink).

• New Folder is the location of Dropbox folder. To differentiate from other folders, you could create a linked folder in the Dropbox folder to store the files and folders from the original folder.

• The Original Folder is the location of the folder that you want to sync to Dropbox.

For me, the New Folder location is C:\Users\ailsa\Dropbox, and the original folder location is D:\Work.

Steps to create Dropbox symlink for Dropbox sync folders outside the Dropbox folder:

1. Input cmd in the Windows search box, right-click the Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.

2. Input the command:

mklink /d "C:\Users\ailsa\Dropbox\linked\work" "D:\Work"

Now, just check the work folder, and you will find all the files and folders in D:\Work has been synced to Dropbox automatically.

After that, any changes to the D:\Work folder will be synced automatically to Dropbox. And you could use this way to make Dropbox sync any folders outside the Dropbox folder.

If you want to Dropbox sync multiple folders outside Dropbox folder, you have to repeat the above command using the corresponding folder location.

Way 2. Sync Folder Outside of Dropbox Folder via Right-click Menu

Now, here is an easy way for you to move folders that are not in the Dropbox folder, then sync those folders to the Dropbox cloud:

1. Ensure you have installed the Dropbox desktop app on your computer, then log in.

2. Right the folders on your computer outside of the Dropbox folder, and choose the Move to Dropbox option, it will automatically be moved to the Dropbox folder, and sync it to the cloud.

Way 3. Sync Folders Outside the Dropbox Folder with Dropbox Folder Sync

Dropbox Folder Sync is the addon for you to automatically sync folders outside of the Dropbox folder just by using the right-click menu on the folder in Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8. But now, Dropbox Folder Sync is discontinued.

To let Dropbox sync folder outside Dropbox, right-click the folder you want to sync to Dropbox, and choose Dropbox Folder Sync > Sync with Dropbox. That’s all.

This way is not recommended, because the software has been discontinued and your data security cannot be protected well.

Way 4. Automaticly Sync Folders Outside of Dropbox Folder via CBackup

To be honest, there is a reliable way to make Dropbox sync outside folder automatically - try the free cloud backup service CBackup. It allows you to sync folders outside of Dropbox folder automatically in Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11. In addition to Dropbox, this tool also supports syncing files to Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.

Please download the CBackup and give it a try:

Then follow me to sync folders outside of the Dropbox folder automatically with CBackup:

1. Apply for a CBackup account, then sign in to its desktop app.

2. Head to Storage, select Dropbox, and follow the guide to allow CBackup to access your cloud storage.

3. Select the Sync tab, and then choose Sync PC to Public Cloud.

4. Customize the Task Name, and select the folders outside of the Dropbox folder.

5. Click Settings at the bottom left of the window, and choose Daily, Weekly, or Monthly to automatically sync folders outside Dropbox folder easily.

6. Tap the pointed-right triangle icon to open the Dropbox cloud and choose a folder or create a new folder to save your synced files. Press Start Sync to let Dropbox sync folders outside of the Dropbox folder automatically.

After a while, you will find the specified folders have been auto-synced to Dropbox.

Bonus tip: Increase your Dropbox space for free

Dropbox only provides 2GB of free storage. If you keep syncing files from local to Dropbox, this space will be used up quickly. Here, we provide you with a free method to expand your Dropbox space indefinitely. You only need to use the free backup tool - CBackup, which can connect multiple Dropbox and other cloud drive accounts and combine their storage into one large space. You not only combine the multiple Dropbox accounts but also merge different cloud drives, like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.

Now learn how to implement this operation to increase Dropbox cloud space:

1. Log in to the CBackup desktop app.

2. Go to Storage > + Add Cloud, then choose Dropbox, and hit Add. Then follow the steps to allow CBackup to access your Dropbox account.

3. Edit the Cloud name, and Storage path, then tick the Note option, then hit OK.

4. Just repeat the 2-3 steps to add all of your Dropbox and other cloud drive accounts. And then click Storage > + Add Combined Cloud, and then follow the on-screen guide to merge multiple cloud drives and combine their storage.

Now, just backup computer to Dropbox freely without worrying about the limited storage space.

Besides, you could backup files to the secure yet stable cloud storage CBackup Cloud by clicking Backup > Backup PC to CBackup Cloud.

Besides, you could enjoy other valuable features with CBackup while protecting your data:

Backup files to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, CBackup Cloud, even the combined cloud, and other cloud services also supported.

Perform cloud to cloud backup and cloud to cloud sync to transfer everything or specific files from one cloud to another cloud quickly, which is very useful to switch cloud accounts.

Offer 5GB free cloud storage space of CBackup Cloud, and then you can upgrade to get 1TB or 5TB as well.

CBackup uses 256-bit AES encryption, an OAuth authorization system to protect your data securely, and you don't have to worry about data leakage.

Write in the End

Although Dropbox only syncs folders automatically in the Dropbox folder, you still have 4 ways to make Dropbox sync any folders outside of Dropbox folder:

• Create Dropbox Symlink

• Right-click Menu

• Dropbox Folder Sync

• CBackup

It’s easy to operate according to the above steps. Just find a suitable way to sync any folders outside of Dropbox folder. Moreover, you might encounter Dropbox is full message after syncing existing folders to Dropbox, just refer to the link to find solutions.