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smurphy773's avatar
smurphy773
Helpful | Level 6
3 years ago
Solved

Dropbox says I removed access to a shared folder and I can't get it back

I use a shared folder with some coworkers. Two days ago my dropbox app said I deleted the folder about ten minutes before, when I wasn't even at my computer at the time. When I view deleted folders I...
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  • smurphy773's avatar
    smurphy773
    3 years ago

    This problem was resolved. It turned out that when the folder owner retired, the folder was unshared. I want to flag this for other users because Dropbox gave me bad data about the problem and it was completely baffling. After the folder was unshared, my dropbox app told me I deleted the folder and I got lots of different messages saying I had deleted individual folders. The events page in dropbox said I terminated my own access to the folder. None of these statements were correct. The only thing that was correct was that the folder had been unshared. We were able to restore access to the folder for the owner and then the owner re-shared the folder with me and others and it reappeared in my dropbox and I have access again. 

smurphy773's avatar
smurphy773
Helpful | Level 6
3 years ago

Thanks Jay. What is an editor in dropbox? I think I've figured out that the owner is a colleague who retired last year who may have had access through a university account. Could an editor be an administrator at the university?

Jay's avatar
Jay
Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
3 years ago

An editor would be a normal member of the shared folder who was given edit access to the shared folder, allowing them to add files, but also invite and remove members from the folder as well.

 

If you were invited to the folder, you might be able to find the invite email in your inbox and who invited you, depending on how long ago it was.

  • smurphy773's avatar
    smurphy773
    Helpful | Level 6
    3 years ago

    That's great.  Thanks.

    • smurphy773's avatar
      smurphy773
      Helpful | Level 6
      3 years ago

      This problem was resolved. It turned out that when the folder owner retired, the folder was unshared. I want to flag this for other users because Dropbox gave me bad data about the problem and it was completely baffling. After the folder was unshared, my dropbox app told me I deleted the folder and I got lots of different messages saying I had deleted individual folders. The events page in dropbox said I terminated my own access to the folder. None of these statements were correct. The only thing that was correct was that the folder had been unshared. We were able to restore access to the folder for the owner and then the owner re-shared the folder with me and others and it reappeared in my dropbox and I have access again. 

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