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Forum Discussion

LZ's avatar
LZ
Explorer | Level 3
9 years ago

two Dropbox folders on same computer

In reponse to the question, can I have separate Dropbox folders on the same computer (one for me and one for my husband), I was told to go to the page dropbox.com/help/61

 

If you are not a business user, you are told:

 

If you're a Dropbox Basic or Dropbox Pro user, it's also possible to use a different Dropbox account for each user login on your computer. While this technically means you can have several Dropbox folders on the same computer, you'll have to switch between each user account to take advantage of Dropbox's syncing features. This method is best for groups or families that have individual Dropboxes on the same computer.

 

 

How does one enact this advice? What am I supposed to be doing?

Thanks.

  • The user doesnt need to be logged in, just the dropbox app needs to be running on that user account.

     

    Move the dropbox folders to an accessable area by both users.

    Set Dropbox to NOT start on Login.

    Create 2 On System Start task to run the dropbox app using the 2 specific user accounts.

     

    Reboot & Login as either user and observe both dropbox syncing.

     

    --above too hard?--

     

    Create a Shortcut in Username1 that has the following line in it...

    RUNAS /savecred /user:Username2 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dropbox\Client\Dropbox.exe"

     

    * Username2 should include its domain if it is one, such as YourDomain\Username2 or AZureAD\Username2 *

     

  • Mosajulant's avatar
    Mosajulant
    New member | Level 2

    The text about how to proceed when you want two dropboxaccounts on one computer is incomprehensible

    • Rich's avatar
      Rich
      Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
      It's quite simple actually. Create a new computer user account, log in to the computer as that user, then install Dropbox as you normally would.

      You cannot have two separate Dropbox accounts running under a single computer user account unless one of those is a Dropbox for Business account.
      • bodidley's avatar
        bodidley
        New member | Level 2
        Good grief! This is about the most absurd thing I've ever heard of. Why one can't have multiple dropbox accounts to log into without completely switching user accounts is beyond me. I don't know of a single other app that requires that.
  • Mark's avatar
    Mark
    Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
    You need to configure user accounts on your computer so you each have to log in when you start up your machine.

    Once you've done that you than simply reinstall Dropbox on each user account and log them in to the account needed.
    • John F.59's avatar
      John F.59
      Explorer | Level 4

      OK so I have 2 user accounts. Account A has Dropbox installed and all is fine. If I switch user (Widows 10) to the other account I just get to see the Dropbox folder for Account A. If I go to the Dropbox website I can log into Account B, but what I want to happen is that when I switch user accounts I see the Dropbox folder relevant to that account. I have Dropbox basic but believe that the above should be possible?

      • MFH's avatar
        MFH
        New member | Level 2

        The Dropbox folder is (at least, should be) within your personal user folder (where you also have "(My)Documents" etc). So when you switch to account B you shouldn't see A's Dropbox folder any more (and should not be able to access unless you're admin); you'll have a different Dropbox folder within B's user folder. If you're admin, you can maybe access to other User's Dropbox folders (but dropbox won't sync those while the corresponding user is not active/logged in).

    • acormond's avatar
      acormond
      New member | Level 2

      I cannot install Dropbox a second time on the same computer as a second user because that user does not have admin priviledges.

      • Mark's avatar
        Mark
        Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
        They will need to get admin privileges then to do the install - even if they are given just temporarily.

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