My storage usage is over the Basic limit and I can't access my files to delete them.

CTFT wrote:

I didn't want to sync all my files to dropbox and now I'm over my limit and can't access any files so I can go below this limit.

Being over your limit doesn't block access to your files. If you're using the Dropbox folder on your computer all of your files are still accessible and you can move files out of the folder that you no longer want in your account. Restarting the Dropbox application after that should reindex your files and syncing should resume if you're back below your limit.

Additionally you should be able to access your files through the Dropbox website and delete files to go back below your limit. Just make sure you've moved those files out of your local Dropbox folder as well or they could be deleted when syncing resumes.

CTFT wrote:

Syncing has been stopped but what happens to my files on my computer if I cancel my dropbox account - will they get deleted ?

No, your files will not be deleted if you close your Dropbox account. The best way to accomplish this would be to exit and uninstall the Dropbox application on your computer first, and then delete your account. Uninstalling first, while not necessary, ensures there's no longer a connection to Dropbox.

CTFT wrote:

I've since changed computers and transferred files / folders to the new desktop. Does dropbox have a link to my computer?

If you didn't install the Dropbox application on the new computer, then there's no connection between it and Dropbox.

Hi CTFT, thanks for the info.

It is as Rich said in relation to your files.

In general, are you looking to free up quota on your Dropbox account, or to simply delete the account entirely?

This will help me to assist further!

Hey CTFT, were you able to access your Dropbox files in the end? Let us know if you’re still having trouble with this.

I have the same problem. I've received a warning from Dropbox that I'm over the limit. I've gone to Dropbox in Finder and and all that's showing is a pdf telling me how to use Dropbox.  I  logged into the website to delete files and it's the same there. No access to any files. There is this message : 

You’re so productive, you’ve gone over your storage limit

If you’re still over your storage limit, sharing and file previews will be restricted on 8 December 2025. Upgrade now to make sure everything keeps working properly.

But it isn't 8 December yet and they seems to have restricted my access already so I have no choice but to upgrade, which I don't want to do as I hardly use Dropbox and it's full of old files shared to me by other people or else is backing up stuff it's not supposed to.

Any advice gratefully received.

Hey UmiS - did you check your backups page as well?

What is your account's settings page showing in regards to your quota?

I went to back ups - nothing showing. I then went to Account settings and it showed this - Screenshot 1. I managed to find two back up disks (one an external drive that I didn't intend Dropbox to back up and the other I didn't recognise - could be a friend's thumb drive with a book she sent me to edit.) I deleted both and now it's showing this - Screenshot 2. 

So I guess I deleted everything pretty much everything on Dropbox. How do I now stop it backing up my external drive each time I plug it in? - and I'm wondering if it the external drive also backed up everything from Dropbox and whether I can delete those files.

Sorry about this. I'm 73 and not a techy person as you can probably gather.

Thanks for the update UmiS​. Based on what you shared, it looks like you found two old backups in your account settings and deleted them. That explains why your storage dropped back under the limit.

To answer your questions:

Why those backups appeared

Dropbox Backup can automatically offer to back up external drives when they are plugged in. If you accepted the prompt in the past, Dropbox created an External Drive Backup for that device. These backups are stored in your account even if you no longer have the drive, which is why they were using space.

Did the external drive also back up everything from Dropbox?

No. External Drive Backup only copies data from the drive into your Dropbox account. It does not copy files in the opposite direction. So your external drive should not contain a mirror of all your Dropbox files unless you manually placed those files there yourself.

How to stop Dropbox from backing up your external drive in the future

When you plug in an external drive, Dropbox may show a prompt asking whether you want to back up that drive. To prevent this:

1. Open the Dropbox desktop app.
2. Go to Preferences.
3. Open the Backups tab.
4. Turn off any setting related to automatically offering to back up external drives.
5. If Dropbox shows a prompt in the future asking whether you want to back up the drive, choose “Not now” or “Don’t ask again.”

These steps ensure that external drives will not be backed up unless you explicitly start a backup.

Let me know if you have any other questions!