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Re: 'Couldn't delete item' - I can't delete any folder or file or change how has access to anything

'Couldn't delete item' - I can't delete any folder or file or change how has access to anything

Matt Busfield
Explorer | Level 4

Afternoon

 

I'm trying to free up space on my dropbox account but keep getting the message 'Couldn't delete 1 item'

 

MattBusfield_0-1684928799198.png

 

I also get an error when trying to remove access to some on a file.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Matt

34 Replies 34

Nancy
Dropbox Staff

Welcome to the Community, @Matt Busfield!

 

Just to clarify, are you receiving this error message only for a specific file, or multiple ones? 

 

Is this happening for a personal file that you created on your Dropbox account or a shared one instead? 

 

Let me know, and we’ll take it from there.


Nancy
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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Matt Busfield
Explorer | Level 4

Hi Nancy

 

Thanks for the reply. It is happening on all files / folders. Even ones I have created and not shared with anyone.

 

Regards

 

Matt

Nancy
Dropbox Staff

Thanks for that, Matt!

 

Out of curiosity, do you currently have the desktop app installed on your device? If yes, I’d like you to try and delete a file from there and let me know if any type of error message pops up.

 

Other than that, can you also switch web browsers, and see if the error persists?


Nancy
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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Tricia51
Explorer | Level 4

I am having the same problem

All my files are resisting being deleted but i am getting plenty of messages to expand my drop box capacity! If you find an answer, I'd be most grateful.

Jay
Dropbox Staff

Hi @Tricia51, are you trying to delete the files from the Dropbox site, the mobile app, or via the Dropbox folder on your machine?


Jay
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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Matt Busfield
Explorer | Level 4

Morning

 

I don't have the desktop app installed (I've always used it through a browser) and I tried this on Chrome, Edge and on an IOS device and get the same results unfortunately. 

 

I could try downloading the app and giving it a go on there if you think that would work?

 

Regards

 

Matt

Hannah
Dropbox Staff

Hey @Matt Busfield, just to clarify, are you trying to delete your files from the "all files" page or the "Home" page on dropbox.com?


Hannah
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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Matt Busfield
Explorer | Level 4

Hi Hannah

 

I'm trying to do this from the 'All files' section. If I try and delete from the Home section under 'Recent' I get this message....

 

MattBusfield_0-1685026113321.png

 

Megan
Dropbox Staff

Hey @Matt Busfield, interesting, thanks for letting us know about that! 

 

Are you certain that the files/folders aren't shared with someone? Also, can you send me a screenshot from the mobile app, when you try to delete the file from there?


Megan
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support


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