How do I delete files from Dropbox without deleting them from my computer and other devices?

I just faced the same issue my all data is deleted can  get that data back?

I lost some important videos of my grandchildren from deleting them from Dropbox - even the ones on my hard drive backup were deleted.  I have never used Dropbox since and would not consider using it again/

Dropbox will not let me move (or even see) any of my files because it says that I am out of space and must get more space. Any ideas as to what I can do now.

I am also having a similar problem.  I wished to delete some files from Dropbox to save space because it was no longer synchronising because I had reached my limit.  When I deleted some files and tried adding some different files, it said it could not synchronise because I still didn't have enough space.  So, having backed up the files I wished to delete, I thought if I permanently deleted those files I would then have enough space, but I received a message saying that permanently deleting files does not free up space!  If so, that means that once you have used up to your limit, the only solution is to buy more capacity, because you can never free the space you have used!  Is that correct, or am I doing something wrong?

Its about time Dropbox sorted this problem out - there may be ways to avoid it but I could not understand a word of the answer and so many people are getting caught by, understandably, thinking that if you deleter a file it will not affect any other files on your computer and hard drives.  Who knows, before doing this that you have to make sure something about the files being synced.  Why isn't there a message pop up informing you before you click on that delete.     They obviously don't care as this problem has been going on for a long time.

As said before - I have not touched Dropbox since I lost important videos of my grandchildren.

Just don't use it - its a dangerous program and you will probably lose your files at some stage.  For Gods sake don't try to delete any of them to make space

Rich - I don't know if this is correct.   Several years ago I lost a lot of photos and videos which were stored on computer and some of them which were on an external hard drive were deleted too.   I have never used Dropbox since and its about time that Dropbox sorted out this deletion of other files stored elsewhere which they should have no access to change. 

How can one remember which is the original photo or video or whether that particular file has been safely stored elsewhere when one deletes from Dropbox .

I have read about so many people losing photos and files - its iniquitous that this is still going on.

Thank you, Daphne. Your instructions are correct. Thank you. I finally figured out that when Dropbox says the file I am deleting will be deleted on all other devices, they mean the file that exists on DROPBOX and not the file which exists independently on my computer. So if both you and Dropbox would make this crystal clear next time, it would be very helpful indeed. Many of us hate to follow technical instructions and the only tools we have are good grammar (to make things clear) and very plain language, not the jargon of the internet. The technology word has usurped so many ordinary words and started using them in new ways that it's difficult to keep up. And when each computer or system starts using their own vocabulary, things get even more confusing. So -  I appreciate your help but do cross all the Ts for people like me who are hanging onto details to help us understand EACH step of a technology process.

I want to delete files on my Dropbox but DONT want to delete on my laptop.  How do I do that?

Thanks for posting here, @RINGDING!

To make sure I get this right; do you wish to delete files from www.dropbox.com without deleting them from your local Dropbox folder? If yes, then you can ignore those files instead. 

Do you want to delete files from your Dropbox account, in general, without affecting any local copies on your laptop (outside of the Dropbox folder)?

Have you enabled computer backup perhaps, and you’d like to turn it off while returning your files to their original place on your laptop instead?

Let me know.

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[Moderator Note: The post was edited for clarity/more information/details.]