Migrating to New PC / Business & Personal Linked / Only Personal Shows in File Explorer & ERROR MSG

[bob47]

Thanks in advance for any help.  

I'm migrating to a new PC.  How do I get both Personal & Business directories to show in File Explorer? My old PC is Windows 11 and File Explorer shows both my Dropbox (Personal) and  Business Dropbox directories.   Been a few years (5 actually) and don't recall how I managed that before. 

My new PC is also Windows 11.  Dropbox installed my Dropbox(Personal) in File Explorer but the Business Dropbox does not show up in File Explorer. 

Found this which seemed most pertinent: 

https://help.dropbox.com/account-access/link-unlink-two-accounts

When I check the accounts are both Linked - as of course they must be to both show in File Explorer on the old PC. 

(EDIT - crossed the following section out as I logged out, logged back in seemed good)

This may be very pertinent - as I was moving between accounts last night on the New PC the "blue progress box" icon stayed on the screen for several minutes and finally generated an error msg. It is still doing that on the new PC when I tried again just now:  (See msg below ) .  I tried moving between accounts on the old PC and it took just a second to switch while showing the blue progress icon for a brief moment and moved between accounts without generating the error. 

Error

Something went wrong. Don`t worry, your files are still safe and the Dropbox team has been notified. Check out our Status Page to see if there is a known incident, our Help center and forums for help, or head back to home.

I went to the Status page and have not found anything that describes this problem on the community forums.  

So my question remains, how to I get File Explorer to have both Dropbox accounts in the new PC?   This Error Msg seems to be the crux of the problem but it isn't telling me anything helpful.  

 Should I Unlink and then Link them again?   When I search on Link/Unlink I find question about removing once and for all.  Didn't want to experiment with the Link and Unlink and try to Link and be stuck with both the Old and New PCs not showing the business account.  My old PC needs to have a working Dropbox File Explorer directory as I have work to do today and tomorrow. 

Please let me know if I need to clarify or provide other details. 

Thanks for your help. 

*************
Ok, discovered edit....

Note that I "solved" the error msg as I posted.  

)

I got rid of the Error Msg by logging out of my Personal and logging into my Business from the New PC.  Now I can toggle back and forth between accounts in the Dropbox browser tab.  

FWIW I uninstalled and reinstalled the Dropbox app on Win 11.  I also logged in with my Business and it synced up.  Of course, now my File Explorer shows the Business directory but not the Personal/Family directory.

I was trying to follow the Dropbox app instructions for preferences for linking accounts and honestly was confused by the mix of directions for Win and iOS and perhaps two alternatives with Win.  Regarding Dropbox app: I see something that looks like File Explorer when it opens - the only place I see an Avatar is on the Dropbox web/browser.  There of course I see that the accounts are linked.   So what I did was using the avatar on the browser Dropbox tab. 

I'm probably missing something basic - the "old" simpler Dropbox was easier to wrap my head around.  I'm obviously a bit lost with all the features. 

[bob47]

NOTE - I'm replied and now deleted a Post as I didn't initially see how to Edit my original post nor do I see how to delete this one.  Apologies for my confusion. 

[Megan]

Hi @bob47, let's jump right into this! 

Just to make sure we're on the same page: it now seems you've been able to sync both your Business and your Personal account using the app, but you have some issues when trying to switch between accounts, right? 

If not, feel free to clarify more. 

When you open your File Explorer are you able to locate both Dropbox folders there? Also, do you follow these steps in order to switch between accounts?

Feel free to send me some screenshots of the steps you follow on your end, and what you see in order for us to have a clear visual.

Keep me posted!

[bob47]

Hey Megan -

Thanks for your help. 

I'm probably a bit confused about the correct nomenclature. I really don't have any  use of the app.  Honestly, all I want is to use Win File Explorer and see both my Personal/Family and Business like it is on my old PC

I rarely if ever go to Dropbox on the web/browser nor do I ever recall a need to use the Dropbox icon/app on the taskbar to open my files.  I'm Explorer all the way as it seems to integrate seamlessly with Excel, PowerPoint etc.

So right now I can toggle between my accounts on the Dropbox web/browser (Chrome in my case) - and that works now without the spinning blue box and error message.   

Opening up the Dropbox app shows only the Business. (before it was only the Personal)

Opening up File Explorer only shows the Business directory (before it was only the Personal)

Both Dropbox App and File Explorer look virtually identical - with the exception that Dropbox focuses on the Business directory upon opening.   

Imagine I'm missing something very basic and simple. I'll be offline for an hour and will return then.  thanks. 

thanks

Bob  

[bob47]

Megan -

Thanks again for your help

Doesn't take much to confuse me - which this section of switch-between-accounts does:

Switch accounts in the Dropbox desktop app

There’s no need to switch between linked accounts in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac). Once you link them and sign into both in the app, both Dropbox account folders can be opened from wherever you store them in File Explorer/Finder.  ( actually that is the problem. They are Linked but they both DON'T show in Windows 11 File Explorer on the new PC.  They show up in the old PC in File Explorer just fine.   Not sure how to "tell" FE to grab both)

To switch accounts in your taskbar or menu bar:

1. Click the Dropbox icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).
2. Click your avatar (profile picture or initials) in the top-right corner. (Actually there is NO Avatar when Dropbox opens on Windows.  You get a Dropbox version /clone of File Explorer)
3. Under Switch accounts, click the account you’d like to switch to at the bottom of the dropdown menu  (Again, this is not how Dropbox app behaves in Windows, Dropbox App (on the taskbar or from Start/Dropbox) opens up a Dropbox "App" that is very similiar look and feel to MS File Explorer.  There is NO Switch Accounts there - if you'd like to switch accounts - go to Dropbox Web/Browser and the instructions in this switch-between-accounts is consistent) 

FWIW I don't really understand these instructions.  The "App" looks to me a clone of File Explorer.  There is no Avatar, there are no switch between accounts.  I can (now after logging in and then logging back into accounts) get past the Error Msg I had trying to Switch on the Browser/Web between Accounts.  Now I can switch just fine (on the old PC it wasnt a problem, was a problem at frist on the new PC).  BUt switching isn't what I want.  The accounts are LINKED.  They just don't seem to be recognized as Linked by EITHER File Explorer or Dropbox App (File Explorer Clone) 

FWIW I also un-installed and re-installed Dropbox app on my New PC.  No difference.  I also restarted the new PC several times. 

Hope this makes sense.  I'm confused as I can't be understanding the APP when the instructions are so different between the behavior stated in the switch-between-accounts and  the Dropbox App I have.

I also opened Dropbox App on my old PC.  It acts just as the Dropbox App on my New PC of course - looking like File Explorer.  The difference is that on my Old PC  FE and Dropbox App both show Dropbox(Personal) and Business .   So I assume the accounts are correctly Linked - but I'm missing out on how to set up the new PC to have both appear  at the same time in FE and Dropbox App. 

thanks again for your time and assistance. 

[Jay]

Hi @bob47, just so we're on the same page, could you attach a screenshot of the Dropbox desktop application from when you click on the icon in the system tray near the clock? 

[bob47 · Accepted solution]

Hey Jay - 

All good now -  I was using CaptureWiz pro and checked the systray and saw the Dropbox logo and notification box in red -  bingo - THAT is the Dropbox APP to connect the two accounts.  Around the same time a co-worker got back to me with the sys tray direction.  

Perhaps there could be some clarity in the switch-between-accounts or other help pages using the phrase "the desktop app" so that it prevents confusion between the Dropbox Apps under the Start menu or on the Taskbar  and the other Dropbox app under hidden icons in the System Tray.  Pretty basic Windows stuff I know - but as much as I use PC's I'm rarely (like once every 5 years) doing a fresh install.   I usually look for apps on my Taskbar or in Start but of course should have remembered to look for hidden icons in the system tray where "the desktop app" referenced in the help page(s) resides.   

So if I was to state the Windows 11 procedure for a new PC (and perhaps to help anyone who stumbles across this thread): 1) download the Dropbox software which will load a directory in the Start menu with two visible "apps": the Dropbox "Icon"  (File Explorer Clone -not sure of the official name) and Dropbox Website icon.   The installation of Dropbox also places the Dropbox "notification" app in the System Tray.  At the same time the active Dropbox account will be active in the File Explorer list of "directories/drives".  The Dropbox "notification" app in the system tray will be the process used to Link two accounts etc by logging into the second account and allowing the system to sync. 2) then I think the existing instructions follow. 

Again pretty basic Window stuff but had me puzzled. 

thanks again for the help. 

[Jimmyinstt]

Hi Jay,

I have the same issue.  New PC. Files are linked in browser.  I have installed DropBox and can see my business account on my file manager.  I cannot find a way to show the personal and business account on my file manager. I cannot add my personal account to my file manager.

Each account has a different email address id that matters, and both are paid subscriptions. I am running Windows 11 Pro.

Cheers

Jim

[Hannah]

Hey @Jimmyinstt, sorry to hear about this.

Are you able to link your Business and personal accounts, if you follow the steps in this article?