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Forum Discussion
Unlinking my device and deleting files on my laptop: what happens?
Hey!
I want to unlink my laptop from my dropbox account because I prefer to access my dropbox files through the webpage only. I don't want to have a dropbox folder on my laptop, even if it is o...
Hey Pippa_, thanks for posting your question to the Dropbox Community!
Unlinking a device from your Dropbox account will basically disconnect it from your Dropbox.
That means, that any changes made to the files on an unlinked computer, no longer affect the files in your Dropbox account online.
The "Delete files from my personal Dropbox next time this computer comes online." option is our remote wipe feature, which helps delete the files from the unlinked device, the next time it gets connected to the internet.
This is useful in case your device gets lost or stolen, for example, but your files online won't be affected.
I hope this helps, but let me know if you have any questions.
Hi Hannah,
Can Dropbox be clearer about this please. Perhaps a video showing each option with a step by step process.
I think what you’re saying is that any important files moved into Dropbox need to be moved outside the Dropbox app and folder or the unlink device feature will delete these original files or folders first placed into Dropbox ?
Also. Can any deleted file or folder due to the unlinking be restored / put back or is it completely lost ?
im having my MacBook Pro serviced and I’d like to not have any Dropbox folder accessing the Dropbox storage online. So do I unlink the device through settings and then delete the app and folder on the MacBook with the assumption that all files are still in the cloud Dropbox storage ?
Hannah
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffThanks for your comments and feedback, RM009, I'll make sure to pass it along to the team.
Unlinking a computer from your account won't delete any files from your local Dropbox folder; the files will need to be manually deleted.
There is a remote wipe feature that will allow you to unlink a computer and delete your files the next time the computer is connected to the internet, which is for cases when someone loses their computer or it gets stolen.
If this option is not selected though, unlinking a computer, won't delete the Dropbox folder.
If you're taking your computer to get serviced, you should definitely unlink it, to keep your files in Dropbox safe.
Just make sure that everything in your Dropbox folder is reflected in your account on dropbox.com first.
