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Email address already taken

Email address already taken

rlloyd
Explorer | Level 3
Go to solution

My main dropbox account is linked to an old email address that I no longer use.

I have tried to change the email address to the one I use but it is already taken, by me.

I have paid for a space upgrade for Dropbox on my PC (old email address) but can't access the extra space on my lap top (new email address). I don't want to pay for another upgrade.

I think I might have to cancel both accounts completely and start again. But doing that I'll lose my upgrade?

1 Accepted Solution

Accepted Solutions

Hannah
Dropbox Staff
Go to solution

Sorry to jump in here, @rlloyd and sorry to see you're having trouble. 

 

Do you have access to your Dropbox accounts, both free and paid?

 

If so, a workaround for this would be to login to the free one, replace the email address with a third, placeholder address , which will free up the one you want to use.

 

Then, you can login to your paid account and update it with that email address.

 

I hope that makes sense!


Hannah
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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View solution in original post

42 Replies 42

Walter
Dropbox Staff
Go to solution

Hey @rlloyd, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

 

The message you get means that there's already a Dropbox account associated with the email address you're trying to use.

 

Have you tried resetting its password to regain access to that account by any chance?

 

Keep me posted!


Walter
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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rlloyd
Explorer | Level 3
Go to solution

Thanks for comment. I'll have a look when I get time. It's been like that for 5 yrs but I will get to it sometime. In the meantime I rely on external drives.

Walter
Dropbox Staff
Go to solution

Feel free to take your time @rlloyd - just keep us posted with any updates!


Walter
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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CRMDVM
Explorer | Level 3
Go to solution

We had a similar issue when upgrading from Personal to Business - in our case, there was an orphan secondary email address associated with the original login credentials - the address could not be deleted because, by default, editing of the secondary email address is prevented.

The solution was to go to admin settings and toggle on the ability to edit secondary email addresses - you can then delete the problem address and proceed with whatever function that was blocked in the first place - you can then go back and toggle off if you wish - this prevents users from adding secondary email addresses without admin permission.

rlloyd
Explorer | Level 3
Go to solution

Thanks all for your suggestions.

Another hour has gone by. I wont waste any more time as I should be earning a living..

I cant find settings on Dropbox

The email account that Dropbox was linked to has evaporated..I think Office 365 became Microsoft 365 and it unlinked that email for some reason. Unfortunately that's the email address that's on my website.

Microsoft won't recognise any passwords and I can't reset because I don't see that email account anymore that they would send the reset to.

Drobox has taken over my PC (I can barely see the files for the green ticks) but wont help me on my laptop.

I shall dry my eyes, limp on and get someone clever into my office sometime. 

Hannah
Dropbox Staff
Go to solution

Sorry to jump in here, @rlloyd and sorry to see you're having trouble. 

 

Do you have access to your Dropbox accounts, both free and paid?

 

If so, a workaround for this would be to login to the free one, replace the email address with a third, placeholder address , which will free up the one you want to use.

 

Then, you can login to your paid account and update it with that email address.

 

I hope that makes sense!


Hannah
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


Heart Did this post help you? If so, give it a Like below to let us know.
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apprehendSeaside
New member | Level 2
Go to solution

Hi DB-Community,

I have a private account and lately one for business. Now I wanted to switch the e-mail adresses, because I pay for the private one and want to use the features for business. Reason is, when I share a folder with a customer my -notSoProfessional- private adress appears.

 

Problem here:

I changed the business account to a third adress. Everything is fine.

I tried to change the private adress to the -now not in use- business adress. Get the respond, that this adress is already taken.

 

My question:

Is this just a matter of time? Or can I do something to solve this problem? On saturday without official support.

 

Greetings from germany, Damian

 

(Couldn't find an answer. Sorry if repost)

Megan
Dropbox Staff
Go to solution

Hi @apprehendSeaside, happy Monday! 

 

If you get a message stating that there's already a Dropbox account under that email address, then that's most likely the case. 

 

Can you try accessing the Dropbox account of said email address, and see what you'll find there? 

 

Keep me posted of the results.


Megan
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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james573_
New member | Level 2
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change email with problem for new email drop box says new email is used. How do I fix

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