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Forum Discussion
Robert F.41
10 years agoHelpful | Level 6
Empty folder deletion?
How do you delete an empty folder via the Dropbox website? I've logged into the website and deleted all the files in the folder. However, I can't find any option to delete that folder. I don't believe the folder is being shared because if I hover over the folder with my mouse, I see the Share button. Why isn't this easier to do? This is a very basic function.
- The web interface is the same regardless of Operating System.
Can you post a screen shot of what you are seeing?
12 Replies
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- Rich10 years ago
Super User II
Robert F.41 wrote:
How do you delete an empty folder via the Dropbox website?
You simply select (or right-click) the folder and click Delete.
Robert F.41 wrote:
Why isn't this easier to do? This is a very basic function.
It's actually very easy. What happens when you try?
- Robert F.4110 years agoHelpful | Level 6
Thanks Rich, but I don't get those options when I right-click on a folder. All I get are "Upload...", "New Folder", "Share a Folder...", and "Show Deleted Files". There's no option to delete the folder. I'm logging in to dropbox.com via Chrome browser for Mac.
- Rich10 years ago
Super User II
Robert F.41 wrote:
All I get are "Upload...", "New Folder", "Share a Folder...", and "Show Deleted Files".
You're likely not right-clicking on the folder, but the whitespace around it. See examples below.
Right-clicking the folder
Right-clicking the whitespace
- Robert F.4110 years agoHelpful | Level 6
Thanks for sticking with me on resolving this problem but I am right-clicking directly on the folder icon, not on any whitespace around it. I tried to attach a screenshot by clicking on the "camera" (insert/edit image) icon but the popup window doesn't allow you to upload an image so that I can show you. I'm really stuck.
- Robert F.4110 years agoHelpful | Level 6
Rich, are you on Windows? The screenshot you provided doesn't look at all like what I see on my Mac. Maybe that's the problem, that the UI works differently on Windows than on a Mac.
- Mark10 years ago
Super User II
The web interface is the same regardless of Operating System.
Can you post a screen shot of what you are seeing? - Robert F.4110 years agoHelpful | Level 6Sure. I have a screenshot but this UI won't allow me to upload a file. Can you suggest a website I can upload it to that will create a temporary URL that I can post here? Thanks!
- Robert F.4110 years agoHelpful | Level 6Rich, I just discovered the problem which is that you _don't_ want to right-click _directly_ on the folder to bring up the menu you described. You have to right-click anywhere on the horizontal bar that contains the folder _except_on_the_folder_itself_. When you RC directly on the folder, you get the menu I've been describing. Yeesh.
- Rich10 years ago
Super User II
Robert F.41 wrote:
Rich, I just discovered the problem which is that you _don't_ want to right-click _directly_ on the folder to bring up the menu you described. You have to right-click anywhere on the horizontal bar that contains the folder _except_on_the_folder_itself_. When you RC directly on the folder, you get the menu I've been describing. Yeesh.Sort of, but not exactly. If you right-click on the folder icon without the row being selected, you won't get the Download option. If the row is selected, you will. (Note, when I referred to the white-space earlier, I was not referring to the row, but the space above and below it.) Right-clicking the row anywhere will select it and give the Download option at the same time.
- kiteo9 years agoNew member | Level 2
I have the same problem Rich brought up in October, and it doesn't appear the matter was resolved. So here we go again....
I have deleted the contents of several folders and now wish to delete the folders, too. I right click on the white space to the right of the folder and select Delete and the folder is gone (you removed XXX from dropbox), only to have it reappear in a second or two (you have added XXX to dropbox). Sometimes I'm fortunate enough to also select permanently delete, but the folder still reappears.
I've even tried moving the folder(s) back to my documents to delete them, but I apparently a copy of the folder remains in the dropbox, so the problem remains.
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