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Can't delete a folder in Dropbox

After I delete a folder(not an empty folder). It will appear again after few minutes and all the files in the folder are gone, like an empty folder.
No matter how many times I delete it, it will appear again. All the folders in my dropbox has this problem.

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Rich

If a file or folder returns when you delete it, it's because it was unable to be deleted on one of your connected devices.

You delete a file on computer A. Dropbox is informed that it has been deleted and syncs that change to your account. Dropbox on your other devices is notified that the file has been deleted, so they also remove the file. On computer B, Dropbox is unable to remove that file for whatever reason (permission, locked, read-only, etc.). The result is that the file remains in place. Dropbox sees the file is still there, thinks it's been added and uploads it back to your account. All your other devices are notified of the "new" file and they sync it back down.

So the problem is that the file or folder in question on one of your devices is unable to be deleted. Figure out which (use Previous Versions to see which computer is adding it back) and fix what is holding it there, and you'll be able to delete it.

All comments

Iris L.1

I am not running on a MAC, but some of the folder sharer are using MAC, how do we solve this problem ?

M R.

I too having the same problem. I cannot seems to delete any folders on my dropbox account. I did not use a Mac. I am currently using a PC.

Can anyone please help.

I uninstall the old version of dropbox and reinstall the newer version.

M R.

The only way is to wipe out deleting all the folders. And the the folder that have been reappears need to delete the files and then delete the folder. I have to do this way. I have no choice. That is the only solution that I got. I even updated to the latest version of dropbox by uninstalling and reinstalling the newer versions.

Please take note: -

Make sure before you delete all the folders. Back it up first!

Susan D.

I am having the same problem. I have some old folders that I want to delete. If I delete them, they pop right back up. I even tried re-naming them so at least they would be at the bottom of the list. The re-named folder goes to the bottom and the original one stays at the top. These folders were shared with me and I filed the information into my docs, so the folder is actually empty, I just can't delete it. Please help :-)

M R.

Susan D, backup all the folders to your computer if you do not have any copy folders in your dropbox. If you do have a copies of the same folders.

Simply delete all the folders completely. Check your folders again that have been reappearing. And delete the files one by one within the folders.

Leesa T.

I also cannot delete a folder no matter how many times I try. The folder is in a folder that is shared by numerous people. We have all deleted it but it keeps coming back. Nothing is in the folder except two subfolder and they all keep showing up again. I tried to rename it DO NOT USE but it reverted back to the old name. Argh...help!

M R.

Leesa

Before you proceed, make sure you remember your sign in ID and password to your dropbox account.

You need to inform the people with whom you have shared your files with.

Tell them Is it okay of you to delete all the files in your dropbox.

Because you have continuing issues with your dropbox.

Just make sure, before you delete any files, you have to backup all the files in your computer first.

If it keep reappearing.

Click on show deleted hidden files and remove all those files.

Then if it keep reappears again.

Remove the remaining files within that folder one by one. And then delete the folder.

Now download a new version of dropbox.

Next uninstall the old version of dropbox.

Then install the newer version dropbox which you have downloaded previously.

Taimur K.

Just login from dropbox website and delete it from there. Apparently it doesn't deletes from app folder directly.

Eleonore L.

Hi M. R, I've tested your solution.

It doesn't work for me unfortunately.

If I'm on the website, there are 3 folders (among many) that I can't delete because in them, a few files won't accept to be deleted. They always appear back a few seconds after being deleted. Those folders are not shared with other parties.

Has anyone some further ideas?

Thanks a lot!

Eleonore L.

hi again,

I found a solution some may be happy to use if experiencing the same trouble (files / folder reappearing after being deleted).

On Dropbox's website, I've activated the display of deleted elements. They now appear in gray among the other files (in black). I've right-clicked on a problematic file I want to delete and selected to delete it. It turns into grey (deleted but visible 'cause I've made visible the deleted items). They quickly I've right-clicked on the file again and selected to delete it for good (I'm using the French version of Dropbox so I don't know the exact word for this in English, should be something like "definitely delete"). Then the file disappears for good, finally.

Taha G.

Hi,

I had the same problem, and solved by actions all done on the website; moving the files into a new folder and deleting the olds, etc. I think that folder and files in it had a sync problem..

Paul P.18

I had the same problem until I signed in to Dropbox online and deleted the folder there instead of on my computer.

Kirk D.1

Im trying to do delete folders\ files

Ive tried it on my pc and on the website. Im not having any luck.

This use to be no problem. I deleted them on one pc or tablet and they were gone.

Jurgita G.

I can't delete the empty folder from my dropbox,

if i try, it appears again after few seconds

Levente L.

For me, using the web interface (dropbox.com) solved this issue.

I just logged in from a browser, then right clicked the folder and hit delete.

Liz P.5

Eleanore L.'s solution from 7/24/15 is the only one that worked for me. Thanks!

Mara B.1

Hi everyone!

I have a folder on my dropbox online that I actually erased from my dropbox app on my computer. The thing is that folder contains a lot of documents that I don't want it and I tried to erase from de dropbox online but this message appear every time: "That folder contains a lot of files, delete it on computer app", or something like that.

I tried to created another folder, just to check if both, the app and the online dropbox are in communication, and that work perfectly. I do not understand what happen, and I need to erased it, takes like 3 GB of my dropbox.

Any suggestion?! Thank you

Igor G.3

May be somebody from Dropbox team will finally join the discussion and give if not a solution but at least a hint for this? It is rather annoying problem preventing from convenient usage of the app.

Mick S.4

Same problem here. None of the solutions I read here worked. The problem cropped up after I got a new iPhone se which had Dropbox restored to it. I deleted the app from my iphone, and disabled icloud on my work imac too. No difference. Nothing i do seems to get rid of the empty folder titled "iphone 4" in my camera uploads folder.

I, too, would like to hear from Dropbox about this issue.

Rich

Don C.11

Hi All,

Try going to your account settings (top right corner of the web interface), select the Security tab and then disconnect all connected devices. I had about 20 devices listed and some of these were more than 2 years old.

This seems to work....

I now plan to uninstall Dropbox and purge folders and files on my current devices, before I eventually reconnect them to my account.

Cheers, Don

Mick S.4

YES! Thank you Don. I had a a zillion (well, 30 at least) devices in there. Nuked them all, which took a long time, and the offending folder was finally gone when I logged back in to the Dropbox app on my current devices. It was not a permissions issue.

aparente001

Don's idea didn't solve the problem, but it was satisfying to do some housekeeping and get rid of five-year-old connections.

Rich's idea was intriguing, but didn't work for one of the stubborn folders that refused to die, because it appeared to be an empty folder, and it turns out you can only look at previous versions of files, not folders.

Here's what seems to have solved the problem: I had to reshared (restore the sharing), then unshare. That automatically deleted the folder, and I was finally able to "permanently delete." So far the deletion has been sticking.

For one of my other stubborn folders that refused to die -- I discovered that Notepad++ was saving backups to that folder. This was causing frequent updating, and dropbox protected me from accidently deleting my work.

mwillis1724

I have folders that I wish to delete but when I delete them they pop right back up. I can delete some folders but not others...WFT???

Jane

Hey @mwillis1724,

Welcome to the Community!

Have you checked if Rich 's reply above helps you determine the cause of the re-appearing folders? Are these added back by one of your devices?

Please look the previous version of your files online & keep me updated here in case you need more help.

Thanks!

kallemoen

I had the same problem and realized I had selectively synced some files, which made the folder look empty when it really wasn't. I opened the dropbox folder through the website and moved/deleted the files, then I was able to delete the folder afterwards.

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