How to free up space without doing an upgrade

[Bob C]

Dropbox  has 1,249 files. 2.83 GB used

[Rich]

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@Bob C wrote:

Dropbox  has 1,249 files. 2.83 GB used

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You can free up space by removing files from your Dropbox. If you don't need the files, simply delete them. If they're needed, move them out of the Dropbox folder on your computer or download them from the Dropbox website to your computer and then delete them.

You can also earn additional space through referrals.

• https://help.dropbox.com/storage-space/earn-space-referring-friends

[Bob C]

I discovered that I was backing up files from an external hard drive to my DropBox. How do I delete them? 

I removed my external hard drive from my desktop. 

[Rich · Accepted solution]

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@Bob C wrote:

I discovered that I was backing up files from an external hard drive to my DropBox. How do I delete them?

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• https://help.dropbox.com/organize/delete-dropbox-backup

[montanophoto]

I have earned additional space from referring users. Will I lose that space if I upgrade temporarily?

[Rich]

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@montanophoto wrote:

I have earned additional space from referring users. Will I lose that space if I upgrade temporarily?

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No. In fact, the amount of space you earned through referrals will double to 1GB for each referral for as long as you're on a paid subscription. If you cancel the paid subscription and go back to a Basic account, all referral space will be halved back to 500MB per referral, just as you have today.

[Bob C]

I deleted the external hard drive from Dropbox. I still have the 2.37 GB in storage.