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Running Ubuntu on a Dell XPS, dual-booting with Windows that I hardly use. I encrypted my home folder when installing 16.04, and now Dropbox won't sync anymore as they no longer support .ecryptfs.

What's the simplest solution so that I can keep using Dropbox? (I would consider switching but I share folders with other people who use it so it's more convenient to stick with it.)

I came across this solution: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ubuntu/comments/9b1qyk/dropbox_syncing_stopping_in_november/e50a17j/ , but I'm worried that I might erase the dropbox folder I already have.

I'm still a bit of a newbie and get a bit nervous when messing around with filesystems, so I'd appreciate any detailed tips. Thanks in advance.

nonreligious
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  • See this question and duplicates associated with it. – user68186 Nov 17 '18 at 17:43
  • Thanks for the pointer. I would like to move Dropbox to an unencrypted folder, but unfortunately "/home" is also encrypted. Can I move to another unencrypted location? – nonreligious Nov 18 '18 at 12:35
  • Yes, you can move Dropbox to another location. /var/ may be appropriate. – user68186 Nov 18 '18 at 13:40
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    Thanks - I had an issue with this at first, but fixed it, thanks to the answer by @florian-echtler on https://askubuntu.com/questions/1066045/dropbox-ext4-isnt-ext4 which says that "The target folder (or Dropbox sync folder) needs to be at least two levels beneath the mountpoint, as described in this post. This is obviously a facepalm-worthy bug" – nonreligious Nov 18 '18 at 16:40

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What's the simplest solution so that I can keep using Dropbox?

The simplest solution is not at all simple, but if you wish to try anyway see this answer for how to stop protecting your home directory using encryption:

"How to stop using built-in home directory encryption?"

Alternatively, stop using Ubuntu and switch to an operating system that is better supported by Dropbox, such as Windows or macOS. You'll have to decide which is a higher priority for you, basic security for your data on Ubuntu or the ability to keep using Dropbox (running on something else).

Tom Brossman
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    Stop using home encryption, or stop using linux are the "simplest"? Ugh... moving the dropbox folder has a GUI "click here to move" IIRC – Xen2050 Nov 19 '18 at 09:05