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Asked: 2024-09-26T12:44:44+05:30 In:

What are the steps to remove Dropbox from an Ubuntu system?

I have been using Dropbox on my Ubuntu system for a while, but I’m considering switching to another cloud storage service. I want to remove Dropbox completely, but I’m not exactly sure how to go about it. I’ve done a bit of searching, but the instructions I found seemed a bit scattered and confusing.

Could anyone lay out the steps for me in a simple way? I need to make sure that I don’t leave any residual files or settings behind that might cause problems later. I’m not a total noob with Ubuntu, but let’s just say I’m not a wizard either—so keep it straightforward, please!

Honestly, I’m a little nervous about doing this because I’ve had some bad experiences with removing software in the past where things got a bit messy. Like, once I tried to uninstall a program and ended up breaking some important systems because it was connected to other stuff. I really don’t want that to happen again.

I want to remove the Dropbox desktop application, of course, but I also want to check if there are any hidden files it might have created all over my system. I’ve heard that sometimes, even after you think you’ve uninstalled something, there are still leftover folders or config files that can take up space or cause errors. It would be great if someone could point me in the right direction for that, too.

Also, if possible, how do I handle it if Dropbox is running in the background? I mean, is there a specific command I need to use to stop it before I start the uninstallation process?

Any tips or experiences you can share would be greatly appreciated. I’m eager to hear what you all have to say because, at this point, I just want to make this process as smooth as possible. Thanks in advance!

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    2 Answers



    1. Uninstalling Dropbox on Ubuntu

      To completely remove Dropbox from your Ubuntu system, you first need to ensure that it is not running in the background. Open a terminal and use the command dropbox stop to stop the Dropbox daemon. After confirming it’s stopped, you can proceed with the uninstallation. Use the command sudo apt-get remove --purge dropbox to uninstall the Dropbox application along with all of its configuration files. This command also cleans up residual files that were created during installation. Once the uninstallation is complete, you can clean up any unnecessary dependencies by running sudo apt-get autoremove.

      Next, to check for any hidden remnants of Dropbox on your system, you will need to look for configuration files and directories that may have been left behind. In the terminal, run rm -rf ~/.dropbox to remove the Dropbox directory from your home folder and rm -rf ~/.config/dropbox to remove any related configuration files. It’s a good idea to check ~/.local/share/applications/ for any Dropbox-related desktop entries as well. Finally, once you’ve done this, you can search your system for any additional leftover files with find / -name "*dropbox*" and remove them accordingly. Following these steps should ensure that Dropbox is completely removed from your system without leaving any residual files or settings behind.




    2. How to Uninstall Dropbox on Ubuntu

      Uninstalling Dropbox from Ubuntu

      It sounds like you want to make sure you get it done right, so here’s a simple guide to help you uninstall Dropbox properly without leaving any clutter behind.

      Step 1: Stop Dropbox if it’s Running

      First things first, you need to make sure that Dropbox isn’t running in the background. You can do this by opening your terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) and typing:

      dropbox stop

      This will stop the Dropbox service if it’s currently active.

      Step 2: Uninstall the Dropbox Application

      Now, let’s go ahead and uninstall Dropbox. Type this command in the terminal:

      sudo apt remove dropbox

      Enter your password if prompted. This command will remove the Dropbox application from your system.

      Step 3: Remove Any Residual Files

      After uninstalling, you might want to clean up any leftover files and folders that Dropbox may have created. You can do this by running the following commands:

      sudo apt autoremove
      rm -rf ~/.dropbox
      rm -rf ~/Dropbox

      The first command removes any unneeded packages, while the next two commands will delete the Dropbox configuration files and the Dropbox folder in your home directory.

      Step 4: Double-Check for Hidden Files

      You can check for other hidden Dropbox files by searching for anything related to Dropbox. Run this command:

      find ~ -name '*dropbox*'

      If you find anything, you can manually delete those files using the rm command as shown earlier.

      Final Thoughts

      That should cover everything! Just make sure you’re careful with the rm -rf command, as it will permanently delete files without asking. You can also create backups before deleting things just to be safe. Good luck with your new cloud storage solution!


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