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Adam L.4
11 years agoNew member | Level 1
Deleted folders keep reappearing
I'm hoping someone can help with this problem. I have been using Dropbox for a few years across a number of devices (2 desktop Macs, a laptop, an iPhone and an iPad). This last week, when I try to delete a folder it reappears a moment later. If I move it into another folder, the same thing happens. I have checked and all my other devices are switched off or not trying to sync while I am doing this. Any advice on how to stop it?
Thanks!
The web interface should only recreate the folder if a device connected instructs it to.
So one of your devices must not be selectively synced, or has some greater issue.
(1) Check each device to see if the folder is present on the device, and remove it. If it comes back its not that device that ordered it created. If it wont delete then thats the device that cant delete it so orders it recreated. Fix that device.
(2) Failing that, take all devices off line, delete the folder via the web, then bring devices online one by one, and watch for the folder being created, when it is, it was the device you just brought online.
83 Replies
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- G C.410 years agoNew member | Level 1
I had this problem, tried a couple of the suggestions near the top of this list to no avail (but did clear out a lot of devices and apps that didn't need to be linked anymore via the website). I then thought I would try deleting the problematic folder from the website itself and bango...all gone. Noticed that a bit futher down this list Coe I. mentioned this working for him as well.
- Moris C.10 years agoNew member | Level 1
OK, but what if we are sharing between a coulpe of colleagues? Whenever I try to delete or rename a file/folder it reappears from someone else' computer?
Do you think dropbo business solve this issue?
- Ziaul H.110 years agoNew member | Level 1
Easy solution here :)
Just delete it form the browser! (Not from the local app!)Easy!!
- Casey K.310 years agoNew member | Level 1
@Ziaul I think your solution is a good one if the folder/item is showing in the browser. In my case it it not. I have a folder that keeps getting put on my computer from Dropbox. . . and when go to Dropbox using the internet browser this folder is not where to be found. I know Dropbox is putting it on my computer because if I exit dropbox. . . then delete the folder off my computer it will not come back. The minute I re-connect dropbox, the folder re-appears (even though it is not showing as a folder in my dropbox at all).
- Ziaul H.110 years agoNew member | Level 1
@Casey Sometimes if the folder is empty, it re-appears even after you delete it. My suggestion is that try adding some docs in the folder and then delete it, if that is the case otherwise!
- DaveC210 years agoNew member | Level 1
Add the folder to the cloud via the web browser, then once all is in sync delete it, if all parts think it exists, then all parts should be happy to remove it at once.
- rivory10 years agoNew member | Level 2
I have the problem of folders reappearing moments after I try to delete or move them. They have files in them already, but just in case, I added another. They still reappear. :(
- rivory10 years agoNew member | Level 2
Did not work for me. The only devises that show are accurate.
- maxfactor10 years agoHelpful | Level 6
I have had the same issue.
The problem was that the folder on Dropbox (web) contained a file that not existed in the folder on my pc (because of an old selective sync).
I have manually deleted that file from the web and then I have succesfully deleted the folder from the pc (without it being reappeared).
P.S.: you could argue that selective sync doesn't work on single files, but it is not completely true...
- PMicml10 years agoExplorer | Level 4Other strategies didn't work for me. This one did. Thanks.
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