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LynnMGallagher's avatar
LynnMGallagher
Helpful | Level 5
7 years ago

How do I delete files from Dropbox without deleting them from my computer and other devices?

I do not use Dropbox for backup storage; I use a different service for that.  But friends and fellow students sometimes want to share files in Dropbox, so I set up a free account.  Somehow, I don't k...
Delete
deleting
Dropbox Basic
FAQ
Sync and upload
  • Daphne's avatar
    Daphne
    6 years ago
    Hey peeps! 
     
    So I think there may have been some confusion here DG123. If you made a copy of the music folder into your Dropbox folder, then when you deleted the files from your account, you are right that the Dropbox folder copy will have been removed. The original folder will not have been affected at all as it has no connection to Dropbox.
     
    However, if the music folder was moved into the Dropbox folder and then the files deleted then you essentially moved the original copy and then deleted it. 
     
    If you no longer have the music folder on your desktop, then I can suggest you restore the folder from your Deleted files page. Then, allow the folder to sync to your desktop and then move the newly synced music folder out of the Dropbox folder onto your desktop.  
        
    Also, keenum_law, sorry for the tardy reply, I'm hoping that at least answering your question will help others with the same query!
     
    In this case, you can copy the content from the Dropbox folder and paste it in another location. If you remove the files from your account then, as it is shared, it will remove the files from the other connected Dropbox accounts. However, if their files are also saved on their devices, then these will not be affected by the copied being removed from their Dropbox.
     
    Let me know if you have any other questions - Thanks!
Daphne's avatar
Daphne
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

Hey there peeps, thanks for your updates here!

 

From what you've mentioned tommarinotax, you enabled the computer backup feature when installing the Dropbox app on your computer. You can check out more about this feature here.

 

Were you able to restore the files that you deleted when deleting the Dropbox folder from your computer?

 

Also, Anna456 I can see that your previous posts both received a response from both myself and Super User Rich previously, did you miss those perhaps?

 

Have you also enabled the backup of your Desktop, Downloads and Documents folders on your computer? If so, you can disable this with the steps outlined here so that you can just choose which files to move into the Dropbox folder on your computer to sync with your other devices.

 

When you no longer need to have the file in Dropbox, you can simply move it out of the Dropbox folder on your computer as I outlined in my previous reply to you here.

tommarinotax's avatar
tommarinotax
Explorer | Level 3
5 years ago

Hi Daphne,

 

Thanks for your response.  I tried to turn off computer backup per the instructions at the link you provided, but i can't access preferences it's locked.  I'm really getting frustrated - all my settings are defaulted to a location that no longer exists.  I just want to get my downloads and desktop back without dropbox as part of the file path.  This is incredible how dropbox won't let me back to the way i was before.  i don't understand how this is possible, i've never had software intrude on my pc like dropbox has.

  • tommarinotax's avatar
    tommarinotax
    Explorer | Level 3
    5 years ago

    I think i'm finally free of Dropbox.  I saved the files that dropbox had "owned" in a secret location, then deleted dropbox from my PC, then deleted my account at dropbox.  It took awhile to permanently delete all dropbox folders from my PC, they are very persistent.

  • Daphne's avatar
    Daphne
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    5 years ago

    Thanks for getting back to me here tommarinotax.

     

    It's rather strange what you mentioned that the Preferences were locked, this is not something that I believe is possible. However, I'm glad to hear that you seem to have resolve the issue your own way.

     

    If there's anything else I can help with, please do let me know.

     

    Thanks!

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