We’re Still Here to Help (Even Over the Holidays!) - find out more here.
Forum Discussion
I received an email about my space being full and my files deleted - how come?
Hello, i got this email stating i'm over space limit and i must upgrade before a specific date or files MAY be deleted. I guess it's a way to push up to pay for more.. Or not?
I searched online but wasn't able to find any annoucement/article mentionning this change of policy (until this day, AFAIK, files are being kept as long as you log-in from time to time/not leaving the account as dead. If there's a page mentionning this new thing (if it's real), please link? Thanks!
8 Replies
- Mark
Super User II
"Only files you own will be removed" sounds strange : what does it means?! I mean, files in my dropbox are mine, i guess..?!
files you added, not, shared ones.
For a while = you mean since last update in Sept 2025?
The policy has been in longer than that. Just the help document was updated that - it could be due to pay link changes or updating images etc. Its actually always been in the T&C's (if you read them, or like me, dont!) but I dont think its particularly been enforced.
- Dell_Dropbox
Community Manager
Yeah, from this viewpoint I understand you wanting to seek a conclusive answer. I would operate under the assumption that your data will be deleted if its over quota, it's the safest route.
- Hannah
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hey fulldb0924p, just to clarify the "files you own" part, it means that it involves the files you have created or uploaded to your Dropbox account, not shared files added by others.
I hope this helps!
- Rich
Is this for all accounts or only recent ones?
All accounts, but it likely takes being over quota for a while before they start to warn you. When they plan to delete files, you'll get several email warnings before it happens.
It says "may be" so i guess it's just a may.
If your account remains over quota for an extended period, it will happen.
It says "may be" so i guess it's just a may. It's too young policy to know what will really happen yet i guess.
"Only files you own will be removed" sounds strange : what does it means?! I mean, files in my dropbox are mine, i guess..?!
For a while = you mean since last update in Sept 2025? That's not so long ago i'd say.. Is this for all accounts or only recent ones? Cause for an old one (few years old/unused) over the limit, i didn't get that mail at all.
- Dell_Dropbox
Hey there fulldb0924p. The email you received from Dropbox is indeed real, and I would definitely recommend reviewing your files to ensure you're under the quota in the timeframe laid out in the communication you received directly.
Your email from dropbox is the official communication you're looking for
- Mark
This has been policy for a while now due to abuse: https://help.dropbox.com/storage-space/over-storage-limit
"If you don’t bring your account under quota, your least recently modified files first may be deleted to bring your account under the limit. Only files you own will be removed. We’ll notify you before this happens to give you an opportunity to save your files"
