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deleting folder from dropbox but not every device
I want to remove a large folder from dropbox to save space. I have copied it to my computer files. When I delete it from my dropbox account I get a message "do you want to delete X from all devices. ...
Hey Robert31, thanks for checking in with us.
The message you're seeing refers to the connected devices that you have the desktop app and mobile app installed. The folder will be removed only from inside the apps.
If you have the folder copied in any other location outside of the Dropbox folder, that copy won't be deleted as it's not syncing to your account.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Thank you, Lusil, that was the sort of information I had hoped for. It had not occurred to me to change ownership, only to delete files. However, I got some surprises.
1. The overall enclosing folder is owned by my collegue, not me. We've had it for so long I mistakenly thought I was the owner.
2. The subfolders within, which I had created and were the ones i originally asked about deleting, also have my collegue as the owner, not me. I didn't expect that.
3. The link you provided "remove yourself from the shared folder" only appears to work for the overall enclosing folder. For the subfolders, no dropdown of member names appears.
It's clear I have a lot more reading to do. Thank you again for your assistance.
Lusil
Dropbox Staff
Dropbox StaffI have a similar situation - I put a file in dropbox so invited users could view it for a limited time. That time has expired and I want to remove it, but not from anywhere else.
I must say, the message is really scary -it gives the impression that it will be deleted from all devices.
I suggest you reword the message so as to give clarity. From the many similar posts, it is obvious that a lot of other users get the same fright when they see it!
- Rich
Super User II
RoyGee wrote:
I must say, the message is really scary -it gives the impression that it will be deleted from all devices.
It WILL be deleted from all devices. That's what it's telling you. The misunderstanding that most people have is that they believe it will be deleted from every location on their computer, and not just the Dropbox folder. That's not the case.
The file will be deleted from the Dropbox folder on every device linked to your account. The file will not be deleted from other locations outside of the Dropbox folders.
Thanks for the reply, Rich. That is exactly what I mean - when it says it will delete from all devices, we read that as ALL devices, including the home computer! This is the message that should be amended to reflect the actual situation.
What do I do to only take it out of dropbox without deleting it from anywhere?
