Trying to recover a file

[DREAMSLOTH]

I recorded an interview in 2014 that was saved to my Dropbox account, and I kinda forgot about it until I started to refresh my portfolio.

I have the exact URL for the file [Removed as per Community Guidelines], which was originally made available to the public. However, the file appears to have disappeared from my account.

I don't believe I ever deleted the file, so I'm not sure why it would be gone. Can anyone help me figure out if there's a way to recover the file? The steps from the chatbot were not helpful, unfortunately.

Thanks in advance.

[Jay]

Hi @DREAMSLOTH, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Do you see the missing file on the events page or the deleted files page?

This will help me to assist further!

[DREAMSLOTH]

Hi Jay, there's no content in either Events or Deleted Files. Appreciate the reply.

[Hannah]

Hey @DREAMSLOTH, sorry to jump in here.

Are you sure that the file was saved to your Dropbox account? And particularly to the Dropbox account you're searching for it in?

If this is your only Dropbox account, can you check your links page, to see if you can locate it?

[DREAMSLOTH]

It's possible the file is associated with a now-deprecated email address ([personal information removed per the Community's Guidelines]), though I am certain the Dropbox account itself was not deleted. I was under the impression the account would exist in perpetuity even if the email is no longer in use.

[Rich]

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@DREAMSLOTH wrote:

I was under the impression the account would exist in perpetuity even if the email is no longer in use.

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No, that's not accurate. You can sign in to a Dropbox account even if the email no longer exists (assuming you still know the password and there's no verification code sent to the email), but if the Dropbox account sits idle for more than a year then it gets deleted due to inactivity.

The fact that you're seeing no activity on your Events page would indicate that either the file was deleted beyond the amount of time that the Events page covers and can't be restored or, most likely, you're in a new, empty account that has no activity yet.

[DREAMSLOTH]

> Dropbox account sits idle for more than a year then it gets deleted due to inactivity.

This is most likely what happened then, the file I'm trying to recover is from 2014. Is there any way to restore the account, and if so would the file be available upon account restoration?

[Nancy · Accepted solution]

Hi @DREAMSLOTH, hope it’s OK to jump in, too.

If the Dropbox account has been deactivated due to inactivity and/or a new one has been created in its stead, I’m afraid it’s not possible to recover it or the file that had been previously stored there. 

In this case, I’d suggest checking if the file could also be saved on another location on your computer, or even a second Dropbox account, in case you have one.

[DREAMSLOTH]

I lost any local copies and can't find it elsewhere, so it sounds like the file is lost. Appreciate y'all trying to support all the same!

[Mesaboy1969]

I read your post. Thank you. 
So..I reached the limit on the storage without paying..I went to inspect my files and pics and noticed a bunch of duplicates..so I deleted them. Signed out. Today I go to look and Dropbox app is treating as if I'm brand new.. 0.0% storage available etc.. 
What happened? Irreplaceable pics of my sister who passed last year..HELP.. 
Reach me please at [removed per the Dropbox Community Guidelines]