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Deleting files doesn't remove them from 'full' storage
This information is not required, but it makes it easier for our Community members and support team to help you. Dropbox Plan Basic Device iMac but irrelevant Operating System/Browser (if using the web) macOS14.6.1 but irrelevant Dropbox App Version (if using the app) N/A Question or Issue I keep getting warnings that my Dropbox is "almost full". I only use it for storing UpDraft backups from 2 websites. My Updraft settings (which theoretically direct DropBox what to do) are set to only store the latest 2 backups, but DropBox is storing UpDraft backups from years ago. Even when I delete the old backups, my total storage doesn't go down at all. This seems like a rort to me, to try to get us to upgrade to a paid plan. There are so many similar complaints here.
Why did I receive an email that my files will be deleted?
Dropbox Advanced Plan (Unlimited) Question or Issue Hello Dropbox Community and Support Team, I am writing this post out of genuine concern and urgency, hoping someone from Dropbox can provide clarity, accountability, and a viable resolution. I was a long-time user of the Dropbox Advanced plan, back when it offered unlimited storage. At the very beginning of my Dropbox journey, I asked Dropbox Support one very specific and critical question: If I use Dropbox for years and end up storing a large amount of data (for example, 50TB), and later decide to stop my paid plan, what happens to my data? Will it be deleted, or will it remain safe on my account? I was clearly told by Dropbox Support that: All the data I had already uploaded would remain permanently on my account My data would not be deleted as long as my account remained active The only limitation would be that I would not be able to upload any new data This was a fair and reasonable policy, and it was a major factor in my long-term trust in Dropbox. Discontinuation of Unlimited Plan & Reconfirmation from Support When Dropbox discontinued the unlimited storage plan and moved to per-terabyte pricing, the cost became completely impractical for a personal user with ~50TB of data. Before making any decision, I again reached out to Dropbox Support to reconfirm what would happen if I chose not to continue with an active paid plan. Once again, I was explicitly told: My existing data would remain safe My data would not be deleted As long as my account stayed active, Dropbox would retain my files This was escalated and reconfirmed by higher-level support in March 2024. Sudden and Alarming Deletion Notice Now, completely out of the blue, I received a notification stating that: My data will be deleted by January 30, 2026 I am required to reduce my account usage to under 2GB This is extremely alarming and directly contradicts multiple written assurances I received from Dropbox Support over the years. My Concerns How is this allowed? This is the exact scenario I proactively asked about—multiple times—and was clearly assured would neverhappen. How am I supposed to download 50TB of data? Even with fast internet, downloading this volume of data within a limited time window is unrealistic, costly, and technically challenging. Why is Dropbox not standing by its own commitments? Trust was built on explicit support assurances. Changing this retrospectively puts long-term users at severe risk. What I Am Asking For A formal clarification from Dropbox on why previous commitments are no longer being honored An exception, grandfathering, or alternative solution for legacy unlimited-plan users like myself At the very least, a realistic and humane transition path that does not put decades of work and data at risk This situation is extremely stressful and disappointing for someone who trusted Dropbox for years as a long-term data archival solution. I sincerely hope someone from Dropbox can step in, review my case, and provide a fair resolution. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I look forward to a response. — A long-time Dropbox user and supporter
I'm concerned about what will happen to my files after downgrading my account
Hello Dropbox Community Team, I’m writing to raise a serious concern regarding a written assurance from Dropbox support that now appears to be contradicted. At the time of using Dropbox, a Dropbox support assistant confirmed via email that I had unlimited storage for life, and that even if I changed plans in the future, my existing files would never be deleted. Over time, the cost of the newer plans became ridiculously expensive and simply not affordable for me. However, based on Dropbox’s assurance, I believed that at the very least, my existing files would remain safely stored on the platform, even if I could not continue on an upgraded plan. I’m now facing a situation where: My plan has shifted from unlimited to limited storage I’m receiving warnings about storage limits My files are being deleted or are at serious risk of deletion This directly contradicts the written assurance provided by Dropbox support and puts important personal and professional data at risk. I’m not asking for additional storage or new benefits — only that the files already uploaded under the original promise remain intact, as explicitly communicated by Dropbox. I respectfully request: Immediate protection or restoration of my existing files A clear explanation for why the earlier assurance is no longer being honored A fair resolution that respects the commitment made by Dropbox support I would appreciate this being reviewed and escalated by a Dropbox moderator or support representative. Thank you for your time and understanding. Chirag
The System Data on my macOS computer shows 7.9TB used when it's not
Dropbox Plan Business Standard Device MacBook Pro 14" Nov 2024 Operating System/Browser (if using the web) Mac OS Tahoe 26.0.1 Dropbox App Version (if using the app) 238.4.6075 Question or Issue I bought this Macbook in August 2025. I spec'ed it with 8TB SSD because I travel a lot and often don't have reliable internet access. System Storage looks like this: Note two things: 1) Mac Documents are 3.33TB 2) System Data is 3.96TB But now look at the screen print belowFinder shows a) Dropbox Personal of 911GB, OtRExp Dropbox [company] of 1,590GB, and Movies 832 GB = total of approx 3.33TB which is exactly what's shown in System Storage/Mac Documents = 3.33TB. Also note that System is a 23.78GB, a bit high, but nothing unusual. So far so good. b) But then, back to the first screen print above, on top of that, the System Storage/System Data figure is 3.96TB as shown above. The result being that out of the 8TB my Mac has 7.81TB are used up. There is, it seems, some double counting going on in the Mac OS. I've spent countless hours with Apple so-called "senior" advisors with no resolution at all except for to tell me "Reinstall Dropbox". Sure, I can do this, but a clean re-install means several days of syncing all my Dropbox (Personal and company) data back to my laptop. More than happy to do this if someone here can tell me: yep, that's going solve your problem. Very grateful to anyone who can shed led on how to solve this problem. At the moment, I feel like having wasted a huge amount of money on SSD of which 1/2 is "missing". Cheers,
My account shows 2000% usage when I don't have any files
My dropbox Basic account shows over 2000% all files storage usage. All files, backups and deleted files are empty (expent 700 MB file). I believe there are orphaned / hidden computer backups on my account. Can a Dropbox staff member please remove them? Thanks!Referral ineligible for no apparent reason
Dropbox Plan Basic Device Operating System/Browser (if using the web) Windows 11 Dropbox App Version (if using the app) 238.4.6075 Question or Issue I sent referral invitations to friends and colleagues, three of them registered and installed the app. I'm sure that at least two of them did it on computers where Dropbox had never been installed(the other is not sure) and with new email addresses, but I did not receive the 500 MB for any of the three, and the status of all of them is "ineligible". I read all the conditions for receiving the bonus and they have all been met, so I don't see why I wasn't given it.My Dropbox app keeps indexing files and I'm running out of hard drive space
I was running out of room on my MacBook Air (2 TB, Sonoma 14.7.8) and was told to make all Dropbox folders Online only to free up storage. It started indexing and freed up almost 1 TB so I was happy for a few minutes. Then it kept indexing and a few days later I was out of memory again. This has been going on for 6 weeks! ChaptGPT calls this a "rehydration" DropbBox Death loop. Chat said to mark the whole DropBox master folder as Online Only, then stop and restart DropbBox ap. Did not solve the problem. Possible clue: My main computer (MacBook Pro (4 TB, Sonoma 14.6.1) is doing fine except the Finder now shows that there is a 20 GB "Conflicted" copy of my DropBox files. Can anyone help me?
