Deleted folders keep reappearing

If the folder is empty, insert a file into it, and then delete the folder, this is a known glitch (unknown cause)
.
If the folder has a file appearing in it, then right click the file and check previous versions, for the machine that is uploading it again, this machine is normally failing to delete the file, and following that finds the file still there so thinks its a new file and uploads it again.

Hi,

I have exactly the same problem and it the issue also started recently - I do not recall seeing this earlier. I note that I have just upgraded to PRO.

I hope we will get a good explanation or answer soon.

Note: The issue occurs on the mac but also when deleting in the Dropbox browser interface.

This issue is still happening here too, and the suggestion here failed to resolve it.

@Charles V. : I gave advise for an empty folder option, and a file present folder option.

Which do you have?

Just saying you still have it and nothing else wont do anything to help you out, its like ringing 911 after your last call and repeating you need help and hanging up again without an address supplied.

I had the reappearing folder issue, and in my case, it was caused by deleting the folder on two computers, rather than deleting the folder on one computer, and letting it sync to the other. The folder was filled with subfolders and files, and deleting it on my computer or on the Dropbox site didn't work, it just kept coming back. I finally deleted it by a weird combo of actions, but it may have just required deleting it from my other computer. Not sure if this will aid anyone, but Dropbox Support is pretty helpful, so if you don't get it solved here, contact support! And if support helps you out, can you say what they did, so others can learn from this thread?

Think I found an answer for this. Log on to the browser version. Go to Settings (on the dropdown under your sign in). Click on Security tab. Scroll down until you see your devices. I had several devices listed that I don't use anymore. Once I removed those devices, the delete function started working, both online and on my desktop. You will be able to see if you have such a problem by looking at the last time the device was accessed.

I have had this happen a few times over several years of using Dropbox. The solutions on this page did not work for me unfortunately - i tried them all. Then i figured I would try saving a new folder with exactly the same name on my desktop, drag it into the Dropbox folder and when prompted 'An item named “_______” already exists in this location. Do you want to replace it with the one you’re moving?' I chose to 'Replace'.

This allows Dropbox to re-synchronise with a new non corrupted/ non problematic version of the folder, and can be deleted without issue. Hope this helps.

If it helps, in my case, it was about presence of folders that I explicitly marked for not syncing. Since there is not .ignore folder for dropbox (AFAIK), it syncs the folder the moment we add, and then we have to go into settings and unselect it for sync. This leaves a copy on the server. To overcome the problem of reappearing parent folder I reincluded the folder I excluded earlier, let it sync, and then deleted the parent folder.

@Seetharama D. : excellent additional info, on imagining it, that is very logical, when a folder is erased all the files one by one are ordered removed from the DB cloud, but the not synced folder is never present so is never ordered to be removed. The end result is there is a path to that not synced folder that never is removed from DB so reappears but empty.