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Forum Discussion
Cut & Paste - Not Copy
I use the desktop interface (Windows 10) to move files from my iPhone to my laptop. I recently had to wipe my laptop and rebuild it, and in doing so, my settings for Dropbox have changed. I used to be able to click and drag a file from Dropbox (in File Explorer) to the destination file on my laptop, and it would delete the file in Dropbox in File Explorer. Now it only copies it to the destination folder and does not delete it from Dropbox in File Explorer. How do I get the original setting back?
DJClark21 wrote:
I recently had to wipe my laptop and rebuild it, and in doing so, my settings for Dropbox have changed. I used to be able to click and drag a file from Dropbox (in File Explorer) to the destination file on my laptop, and it would delete the file in Dropbox in File Explorer.
Just to be clear, you're dragging a file from the Dropbox folder to another folder somewhere else on the computer? If so, this isn't a Dropbox function; it's your operating system.
I suspect that you're now working across more than one drive. In Windows (and most operating systems), when you drag a file from one folder to another, whether it's a copy or a move is determined by the destination. If you're dragging a file from one folder to another on the same drive, Windows will move the file. If you're dragging a file from one folder to another on a different drive, Windows will copy the file.
You can alter that behavior by holding modifier keys while dragging the file. Holding CTRL while dragging a file will always copy it. Holding SHIFT will always move it, and holding CTRL-SHIFT will always create a shortcut in the destination to the original.
- Rich
Super User II
DJClark21 wrote:
I recently had to wipe my laptop and rebuild it, and in doing so, my settings for Dropbox have changed. I used to be able to click and drag a file from Dropbox (in File Explorer) to the destination file on my laptop, and it would delete the file in Dropbox in File Explorer.
Just to be clear, you're dragging a file from the Dropbox folder to another folder somewhere else on the computer? If so, this isn't a Dropbox function; it's your operating system.
I suspect that you're now working across more than one drive. In Windows (and most operating systems), when you drag a file from one folder to another, whether it's a copy or a move is determined by the destination. If you're dragging a file from one folder to another on the same drive, Windows will move the file. If you're dragging a file from one folder to another on a different drive, Windows will copy the file.
You can alter that behavior by holding modifier keys while dragging the file. Holding CTRL while dragging a file will always copy it. Holding SHIFT will always move it, and holding CTRL-SHIFT will always create a shortcut in the destination to the original.
Thank you, Rich. That is very helpful and exactly what I needed to know! I appreciate your time!
Is drop and dragging a file from Dropbox somewhere else, I remember it working but it does nothing..
- Megan
Dropbox Staff
Hi sbirrittier, I'm here to help with this question!
However, before I do that, let me ask if you're referring to the Dropbox website, or our app. Which one do you use when this happens?
Let me know, and we'll take it from there!
- Thanks so much for responding.. I use both actually, I do a lot of graphic design and currently have some of my files on a SD card and I also go back and forth with onedrive. I'm really trying to only use ONE application because that's the whole point. I have so files duplicate due to this... I prefer dropbox but if I can't just drag and drop then I would always have to have the files duplicated which just takes up twice the space.
I hope that makes sense.
