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Forum Discussion
Iris L.1
11 years agoNew member | Level 1
Can't delete a folder in dropbox
After I delete a folder(not an empty folder). It will appear again after few minutes and all the files in the folder are gone, like an empty folder.
No matter how many times I delete it, it will appear again. All the folders in my dropbox has this problem.
If a file or folder returns when you delete it, it's because it was unable to be deleted on one of your connected devices.
You delete a file on computer A. Dropbox is informed that it has been deleted and syncs that change to your account. Dropbox on your other devices is notified that the file has been deleted, so they also remove the file. On computer B, Dropbox is unable to remove that file for whatever reason (permission, locked, read-only, etc.). The result is that the file remains in place. Dropbox sees the file is still there, thinks it's been added and uploads it back to your account. All your other devices are notified of the "new" file and they sync it back down.
So the problem is that the file or folder in question on one of your devices is unable to be deleted. Figure out which (use Previous Versions to see which computer is adding it back) and fix what is holding it there, and you'll be able to delete it.
26 Replies
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- Taha G.11 years agoNew member | Level 1
Hi,
I had the same problem, and solved by actions all done on the website; moving the files into a new folder and deleting the olds, etc. I think that folder and files in it had a sync problem.. - Paul P.1811 years agoNew member | Level 1
I had the same problem until I signed in to Dropbox online and deleted the folder there instead of on my computer.
- Kirk D.111 years agoExplorer | Level 3
Im trying to do delete folders\ files
Ive tried it on my pc and on the website. Im not having any luck.
This use to be no problem. I deleted them on one pc or tablet and they were gone.
- Jurgita G.11 years agoNew member | Level 1
I can't delete the empty folder from my dropbox,
if i try, it appears again after few seconds
- Levente L.11 years agoNew member | Level 1
For me, using the web interface (dropbox.com) solved this issue.
I just logged in from a browser, then right clicked the folder and hit delete. - Liz P.510 years agoNew member | Level 1
Eleanore L.'s solution from 7/24/15 is the only one that worked for me. Thanks!
- Mara B.110 years agoNew member | Level 1
Hi everyone!
I have a folder on my dropbox online that I actually erased from my dropbox app on my computer. The thing is that folder contains a lot of documents that I don't want it and I tried to erase from de dropbox online but this message appear every time: "That folder contains a lot of files, delete it on computer app", or something like that.
I tried to created another folder, just to check if both, the app and the online dropbox are in communication, and that work perfectly. I do not understand what happen, and I need to erased it, takes like 3 GB of my dropbox.
Any suggestion?! Thank you
- Igor G.310 years agoNew member | Level 1
May be somebody from Dropbox team will finally join the discussion and give if not a solution but at least a hint for this? It is rather annoying problem preventing from convenient usage of the app.
- Mick S.410 years agoNew member | Level 2
Same problem here. None of the solutions I read here worked. The problem cropped up after I got a new iPhone se which had Dropbox restored to it. I deleted the app from my iphone, and disabled icloud on my work imac too. No difference. Nothing i do seems to get rid of the empty folder titled "iphone 4" in my camera uploads folder.
I, too, would like to hear from Dropbox about this issue.
- Rich10 years ago
Super User II
If a file or folder returns when you delete it, it's because it was unable to be deleted on one of your connected devices.
You delete a file on computer A. Dropbox is informed that it has been deleted and syncs that change to your account. Dropbox on your other devices is notified that the file has been deleted, so they also remove the file. On computer B, Dropbox is unable to remove that file for whatever reason (permission, locked, read-only, etc.). The result is that the file remains in place. Dropbox sees the file is still there, thinks it's been added and uploads it back to your account. All your other devices are notified of the "new" file and they sync it back down.
So the problem is that the file or folder in question on one of your devices is unable to be deleted. Figure out which (use Previous Versions to see which computer is adding it back) and fix what is holding it there, and you'll be able to delete it.
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