Lost file that was previously syncing to Dropbox

[aguirre2018]

First of, I hope this is in the right category.

I use an App called Scrivener on my Macbook for a big project. The app stores all the data in a *.scriv file (size about 1,5 GB).

The location of that file is in my dropbox folder. I open and save the file (only) there.

This dropbox folder gets synced among 3 devices: My Main Macbook (big), my secondary Macbook (small) and my Iphone.

I wanted to travel and therefore wanted to sync the file to my secondary Macbook. Because the file there was very messy (unresolved conflicts), I decided to delete the *.scriv file on the secondary Macbook. I also deleted the file in the trash folder. I thought nothing of it in that moment because I thought, I still had the file (even open) on my main Macbook.

Then dropbox immediately synced. It deleted the file in the dropbox folder, in the cloud and in the main Macbook.

I still have the file on my Iphone. But it is more than a month old because I rarely sync it.

Is there any way to recover the file from one of the 2 Macbooks?

Of course I have no time machine backups. I tried dropbox.com but the file is not in the deleted folder there.

[Calvin2DBX]

Hi @aguirre2018, 

Thanks for reaching out!

I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble restoring a .scriv file there. Let's see what we can do to help.

You mentioned deleting the file out of the trash folder. Was that on the Mac side, or did you use the permanent delete option from the deleted files page?

Have a look to see if there's any sign of it here still: https://www.dropbox.com/events — that page will show any files added, edited, moved, or deleted (except if permanent delete was used.)

Let me know what you find!

[aguirre2018]

Thank you so much for your answer.

In the events link I can see a lot of activity on sunday. There is also the crucial activity that I deleted about 15.000 files (thats what the .scriv file consits of).

Does this mean I can somehow rewind the dropbox account and get these files back?

I dont have a computer with me right now. Ill try it as soon as possible.

[Calvin2DBX · Accepted solution]

Hi @aguirre2018,

Yes, absolutely. Check if you can see a "Restore" button after you click the blue line of text in the description of that event as you might be able to undo the action with just that.

If not, you can Rewind the folder involved, or even Rewind your entire Dropbox account if the events are spread across multiple folders.

Here's how:

1. Click All files in the left sidebar. Choose the folder you want, or leave all folders unchecked to Rewind the entire account.
2. Click the "…" (ellipsis) then choose Rewind folder.
3. Click Get started. You’ll see a graph that measures your folder’s activity by day.
4. Click on the graph to pick a day. 
5. Click Continue.
6. From the Fine tune list, find the earliest change you want to undo and click to put the blue line below it — the account will go back to how it was under the blue line, reversing any the changes above the blue line.

I hope that helps!

[aguirre2018]

Thank you so much. The restore button let me restore the whole file. What a life saver! Thank you also for your swift and helpful replies!

[Calvin2DBX]

Hi @aguirre2018,

That's no trouble at all, glad to help any time!

Thanks for letting me know!