All my files disappeared from Macbook after deleting dropbox. When i re-installed drop box i only got some of them back because the most recent ones (since september 2020) weren't synced to my dropbox. Is there a way i can get my files back please? I contacted Apple and they told me to contact dropbox.

Hi Jackson. Thanks for your email. I see that also you answer in a conversation with the community. I never use dropbox and of course that I didn’t how works.I installed dropbox for a minute because someone send me a dropbox file to see through email. Then the page request me to download the app. I did it but I saw that some set ups in my mac changed and I didn’t like. So I delete the Dropbox mac in my computes. All my files from “Downloads” (Many years of work, my job , everything information super important for me) disappeared from my Macbook after deleting dropbox .When I re-installed dropbox I only got some of them back because maybe when I delete the app my files were syncing, so the files weren't synced to my dropbox. I contacted apple and they tolde to contact you guys.I'm desperate, I hope you can give me a solution I lost a lifetime of work.What I don't understand is, how easy is all that files get deleted if they weren't synced in the first time, a lot of people maybe don’t know about dropbox and that power that your app gets, the access to all the files, it’s dangerous.I still have faith that there is some way to get them back 😓Thanks Jackson

Hi Megan , I searched in all places. I'm desperate. I lost many years of work. What it happened is just you take power over my files and I gave you that permissions by mistake, and I didn't know that I was giving you that access. I deleted your app and all the stuff about Dropbox from my computer after 5 min that I downloaded your app. So basically you just sync the 1% of all my documents and files. But the rest 99% it's gone when I delete your app. It's crazy how easy you can lose years of information, your job, all of that.

Hi amalb, thank you for your screenshot! If you see no sign of the files, then is there a chance that you have another Dropbox account and that they got uploaded there? Also, Krisshaceracho it seems you're referring to our computer backup feature. You can find detailed instructions on how to disable it here. If you need anything else, let me know.

Dropbox whacked my Macbook Air M1. Like others, my desktop and downloads folder are gone. I only used dropbox for a very short time because it KILLED my storage and seriously pushed my 8GB of RAM to the limit even when running only basic apps. How do I recover my desktop and my Downloads folder?

All my files disappeared from Macbook after deleting dropbox.

29 Replies

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Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
4 years ago
Hey amalb, welcome to our Community!

If the files were never synced to your Dropbox account online, then the chances of recovering them are very slim.

If I were you, I'd look at the events page to see what's going on.

Keep me posted on the results.
amalb
Explorer | Level 4
4 years ago
Hey Megan

Thank you for your reply. This is the only thing i see when i click on the events page.
What i don't understand is, how did those files get deleted if they weren't synced in the first place 😞 I hope i can get them back.
Krisshaceracho
New member | Level 2
4 years ago
didn’t notice that my mac’s desktop and downloads folder file path is routed to dropbox. This morning, i decided to delete my dropbox app on my mac and now all my files are gone. Is there a way that i can retrieve my files?
Krisshaceracho
New member | Level 2
4 years ago
Same issue!!
Krisshaceracho
New member | Level 2
4 years ago
I was just on the phone with apple support and they just checked the terminal and it shows that my desktop and downloads are actually routed to dropbox. So when i deleted dropbox this morning, all my files are now gone
Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
4 years ago
Hi amalb, thank you for your screenshot!

If you see no sign of the files, then is there a chance that you have another Dropbox account and that they got uploaded there?

Also, Krisshaceracho it seems you're referring to our computer backup feature.

You can find detailed instructions on how to disable it here.

If you need anything else, let me know.
amalb
Explorer | Level 4
4 years ago
Hi Megan

Is there a way to know which accounts are made on my name. I have many e-mail adreses and i tried to sign in with all of them but there are no other accounts. If i remember correctly this is the only account i have. I signed out last year on my laptop that's why the files didn't sync.
Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
4 years ago
Hey amalb, sorry for jumping in here.

I'm afraid there's no way for you to check how many accounts you might have created.

A workaround would be to try to sign in with each of your email addresses, try the forgot password option and check if a password reset email reaches that address.

Regarding your files, have you searched your computer, like your trash, for example?
mtnkate
New member | Level 2
4 years ago
Dropbox whacked my Macbook Air M1. Like others, my desktop and downloads folder are gone. I only used dropbox for a very short time because it KILLED my storage and seriously pushed my 8GB of RAM to the limit even when running only basic apps. How do I recover my desktop and my Downloads folder?
Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
4 years ago
Hi mtnkate, I'd be happy to answer this for you!

It seems you've enabled our Computer backup feature.

This Help Center contains detailed instructions for disabling it and restoring your content.

If you need anything else, let me know.