We’re Still Here to Help (Even Over the Holidays!) - find out more here.
When Things Go Wrong: How to Restore Files with Dropbox
This thread ‘File corrupted and cannot be restored from the version history’ here on the Community got me thinking ... it reminded me of how important file recovery tools can be, especially when things go a bit sideways 😬. So I thought I’d put together a quick guide on how to restore files using Dropbox, just in case you ever find yourself in a similar situation 🛠️. We’ve all been there. You delete a file by mistake 🗑️ or maybe overwrite something important and suddenly you realise you need to get it back. The good news? When you’re using Dropbox, restoring files is straightforward ✅. Here’s how it works and what you need to know ⬇️ 🔍 Check your Deleted files If you have accidentally deleted something, start by checking the Deleted files page on Dropbox.com. You can find it in the left-hand sidebar once you’ve signed in. From there: Browse or search for the file or folder you want to recover Click on it and select Restore By default, Dropbox keeps deleted files for 30 days (or longer if you’re on a Business, Professional or team account with extended version history). So as long as you’re within that time frame, recovery is possible 🕒. 🕰️ Restoring earlier versions If you didn’t delete the file but made changes you regret, Dropbox can help with that too. We keep a version history of your files, so you can go back in time and restore a previous version. Here’s how: Open Dropbox.com and find the file Click the three dots beside it, then choose Version history Pick the version you want to bring back and click Restore This works really well for documents that get edited regularly 📝 – especially if you’re collaborating with others and need to undo changes. 📱💻 Using the mobile app or desktop While the web version gives you full control over file recovery, you can also use the Dropbox mobile app to view deleted files or earlier versions. It’s a bit more limited, but good for quick fixes on the go. On the desktop app, any restored file will sync back to your device automatically once you’ve completed the restore online – so there’s no need to manually re-download it 🔁. ❓ What if I still can’t find a file? If you’re still not seeing the file you need or you’re unsure when it was deleted, it’s worth checking with your team admin (if you’re on a team account), or you may be able to find your answer here on the Community 🤝. 💬 Got questions? Or maybe a story to share? Hey, if you’ve ever had one of those moments where Dropbox saved the day – whether it helped you recover a last-minute report, saved your college project 🎓, or just rescued a file you thought was gone for good … drop a comment below ⬇️. It’s always so cool to hear how these features are helping our Community members 💙.
